Holiday suggestions please. for a week this August - a tricky brief.

[LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood]

We have the chance for the 5 of us to get away for one week from 17 August. The dates are non negotiable. It is proving really difficult to find something in budget that suits us all.

UK by preference. Could be short haul though I doubt we will find anything in budget that is appealing.

There will be me, DH, DD1(23), DD2(20) and DS(13). I feel really lucky that our DDs want to come with us so want the holiday not to be a wash out.

Complications are: our big old car that can take us all plus luggage has given up out and we cannot afford a replacement for a couple of months at least. We will need to hire a car if it's a UK holiday and that will add about £1,000. So the budget I had of £3,000 looks quite measly now as if we are staying in the UK one third of that is going on a car rental. We could spend more than £3,000 on the right holiday but the more we spend the longer it will be until we can get the new car.

We would like if possible, if it is a UK cottage, to take our cat. We have done this many times before but it does limit where we can go.

If a cottage 3 bedrooms will do us. A hot tub would really please the DCs.

I had a health issue recently (part of the reason that we are late to book anything) and whilst I am usually up for exploring and walking I am not really up to doing that so much yet. A bit of a stroll but nothing too taxing. Would love to swim though. I am getting better but won't be at full capacity still in just a month.

I have looked on the Sykes website and nothing really jumps out as exciting.

All the DCs are sporty and adventurous. Do is DH. I do not mind sitting out some days with a good book if they are having fun.

We also all like history, museums, gardens, that sort of thing.

We live in the South West. Just on the border between Devon and Cornwall so not those areas. I would like Scotland but we feel it might be a bit too far. The health issue I had means I am not driving at the moment so DH will do of that. Which he does not mind but want him to have a rest too.

We recently went to North Wales, so probably not there. Nor the Lakes or Dorset where we have also been in last few years.

It does not have to be a cottage. And we do not absolutely have to take the cat but we would quite like to.

All suggestions gratefully received.

What about centre parcs Monday-Friday?

Is it really £1000 for hire car?

I just got one (admittedly big standard compact) from enterprise for a week that was £160!

Even a bigger car shouldn't be more than £300?

Agree with centre parks.

Or find somewhere you can get a train to - Cornwall sleeper train may be exciting as kids are older?

Northumberland. Lots of castles and coastline walks.

Sorry just realised you said NOT Cornwall as opposed to looking at Cornwall 🤦‍♀️

Was going to suggest CP too.

I think the DDs are too old (or too young) really to enjoy CP that much. They would come if that is what we wanted to do (they are absolutely lovely) but it will not really thrill them. DS would love it though so I might look at it.

It is the 7 seater requirement that pushes up the cost of a hire car. And we are 5 adult sized people plus (possibly) a cat and luggage so a standard 5 seater will not do it for a holiday. I will look again at quotes though

Northumberland sounds a goodish shout. Any suggestions of holiday let sites other than Sykes who's offerings seem pretty poor for the north of England this year.

A cottage in the Peak District, the obvious is the outdoorsy stuff for the DC's, Chatsworth House for history and Buxton is a pretty little town for an afternoon stroll!

What about something like this beautiful property, in the Scottish Borders ( though you would need to arrive Friday night). Within budget and has the added bonus of the train (station 15 mins away -Galashiels) just under an hour into the centre of Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is on.

https://www.crabtreeandcrabtree.com/properties/the-mill/?startDate=17/08/2024&nights=7&guests=5

Google cheddar woods

@LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood

suggestions of holiday let sites other than Sykes who's offerings seem pretty poor for the north of England this year.

Crabtree and Crabtree have some high quality properties, including Northumberland, as in the link above.

Some cottages for Peak District:

www.peakcottages.com/cottages?getSearch=true&From=17%2F08%2F2024&Duration=6&scRegion=Chatsworth+Region&PartySize=5&Adults=4&Children=1&daysf=1&year=2024&SortBy=Relevance&rpp=12&page=1&viewmap=false&period=10

What about somewhere in Norfolk? Not as far as the NE although that is delightful? Some lovely beaches, excellent restaurants, plenty of sporting activities.

Have you checked out Ho Seasons?

Thank you. Scottish Borders might be doable. Crabtree and Crabtree looks like a good site. No heard of them. I shall look into that and the Peaks.

I am now also off to google Cheddar Woods. Bit afraid of what I might find!

Thanks all.

Forest lodges including this, three beds sleeps six in Forest of Dean. Arrivals look like Fridays though, so you might have to travel up late or lose a day.

https://www.forestholidays.co.uk/booking/cabins/?l=7123264d-f469-4332-8e31-95d59eb038d1&d=7&sd=2024%2F08%2F16&a=4&b=3&c=1&i=0&p=0&dda=false

Or Suffolk.

We cycled to a kayak hire place and had a perfect day rowing to the pub and back.

Loved Southwold too.

https://www.suffolk-secrets.co.uk/cottage/oc-1741-1-queen-street?n=7&sd=17082024

Might hiring 2 small cars be cheaper than one big one?

I'd try Airbnb. I just looked now and couldn't really see anything with a hot tub in Northumberland though. What about Kent? Around Deal is nice.

Just looked on the tui special deals and they have a few half board hotels in Spain coming in under budget now, not sure about accessibility but most modern hotels are fairly accessible.

What about staying south, and going on the train? Have you priced that up cf. a hire car?
Even taxi - train - taxi?

Fly to Jersey from Exeter?

I've just been looking at a 3 bed cottage with hot tub in Bakewell. It's a great little place with lots of scope for activities.
Or Whitby? We had a weekend there with adult DC and their partners.

Bit more unusual, how about hiring a boat and cruising the Norfolk Broads. ( you did say ‘all suggestions gratefully received😆).

https://partners.hoseasons.co.uk/NBH/boat-holidays/the-broads?adult=5&child=0&infant=0&nights=7&range=3&pets=0&start=17-08-2024

What about a barge holiday?

Or Forest of Dean / Symonds Yatt area.

would a roof box help? You may be able to borrow one from a friend

I was going to suggest this. You could get a train to say Worthing or Hastings. From there you can explore Brighton which has so much to do, have the south downs on your doorstep and visit Rye which has loads of charm. From there you could also visit London if you fancied it