Alternatives to Cornwall?

[Taswama]

We are thinking it's going to be a UK holiday again this year as test, vaccines etc aren't going away and with kids who won't have had 2 (or more) jabs by then but will be old enough to 'need them' in Europe it all seems like too much trouble and risk of things going wrong.

So, we went to Cornwall last year (twice) and in 2020 and are wondering if there's somewhere else we should be considering? We are in the Midlands. Scotland looks good for outdoors options (hiking, mountain biking, kayaking) but is an awfully long drive away so would probably need to be two weeks and the weather looks less reliable (+midges!) in August.

Any ideas?

We can and do swim in the sea in Cornwall. DP went on holiday to Whitby and that area as a child and doubts the North Sea has got any warmer since then!

In Scotland we thought the lochs might be swimmable as a contained body of water could hold some warmth. We have wetsuits etc.

Norfolk is lovely.

Anglesey is lovely. You just need wet suits unless you are very hardy!

Yes to Gower, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, North Wales (actually never been but it looks beautiful and I want to go), Northumberland and the Lakes.

Northumberland. I live right by the sea and there are people in swimming most days. I save it for the summer personally but I enjoyed watching the Christmas Day swimmers while enjoying the heat from my fire

Dorset , stay in the Purbeck area , kayaking , paddle boarding, castle , steam train , beaches , towns villages monkey world , the tank museum

West Dorset. Much nicer than Cornwall, in my opinion!

Plus there is Brownsea Island with red squirrels, boat trips , Weymouth , lovely beach and nothe fort , kimmeridge for fossils and rockpooling , plenty of beautiful walks

South Devon, South Hams Modbury and out to the coast Bigbury , Kingsbridge Hope cove all along that stretch. Sea warm enough to swim and not as mad as Cornwall.

We love Pembrokeshire and often swim, not just in the summer but late spring and autumn too.

Forest and the new forest was a giant car park this summer. I'd look at Norfolk or Wales or Scotland

Anglesey.

Dumfries is lovely. Threave Castle was so peaceful, a must visit.

North Devon and Somerset, particular exmoor. You can get to the beach but also staying on the moor for great walking and picnicking paddling in streams etc

I don't think Exmoor is anywhere near as impressive as Dartmoor so I would definitely recommend Dartmoor over Exmoor.

I always think of Dartmoor as being wild and rugged whilst exmoor is pretty and closed in

Anglesey, and the Lleyn peninsula, Snowdonia.
One and two for beaches. Three for walks scenery and activities.

Yorkshire coast. Pembrokshire. Jurassic Coast.

Re: Scotland. Another vote for Dumfries and Galloway. On the Gulf Stream - Google Logan Botanical Garden, it's amazing. Midges are much further north. Places like Kippford and Southerness are lovely.

Also Dunbar, North Berwick, Coldingham and Eyemouth on the east coast.

Northumberland not too cold for swimming at all! Swam there last summer - it was gorgeous and the sea is so clear. And no jellyfish, unlike Cornwall!

Another vote for Somerset and North Devon, as well as Dartmoor. Lovely area. My wife & I stayed in Bideford for a couple of nights last month and really enjoyed it. Nice feel to the place (sadly often missing in small towns these days) with a great art gallery. I know many people think it’s a bit run down, so as always down to personal taste.

Sea swimming on Gower (never ‘the’ Gower unless you are adding Peninsula ) and Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire from June onwards is fine without a wetsuit. We went to Anglesey a few years ago and I noticed a huge difference in water temperature but it wouldn’t be enough to put me off - Anglesey is beautiful.

Croyde, North Devon

Anglesey

Abersoch, North Wales

Have you never been to Barmouth if you live in the Midlands ? Lots to do, hire mountain bikes and go across the bridge/do the Mawdacch estuary trail or try paddle boarding, and lots to do in the local area, get the train up to Porthmadog, or down the coast to Aberdyfi. We have used Lounge lettings in the past and had a good experience with them.

The Gower, in particular bays like Caswell or Langland near Mumbles. I'd never bother with Cornwall again as Wales is so much more accessible and uncrowded. South and west Wales are the best.