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.

https://www.northfarmcottages.co.uk/

I stayed here with friends recently. Hot tub and a pool you can book slots for. Lovely place, walking distance in to Embleton village. Lots of beautiful beaches, walks, and Pubs. Bus goes to Newcastle or get to Alnmouth and get train in. Edinburgh day trip do-able on train too! Paddleboarding, kayaking and surfing all possible along NE coast.

Guernsey - you could get the ferry. You don't want to drive on Guernsey - the bus service is great. You've got tons of walking and there is Herm and Sark. Victor Hugo's house is a must see and totally bonkers. Or South downs Chichester type area and kids can train to Brighton.

Plus point for Scotland, school holidays are done by the 15th or so of August so likely less busy ...

Northern Ireland? Cheap flights and hire a car when you get there. Great shopping and nightlife in Belfast for older children. Visit titanic museum, all the Game of Thrones stuff, Giants Causeway, drive along the Wild Atlantic Way, surfing- loads to see and do!

Was basking in a warm glow of how great the suggestions were and how helpful people were being.
Foolishly googled Escape Cottages - just short of £4000 for a 2 bed in September!!!!!!

How about ferry to St Malo as foot passengers and staying in St Malo old town. Lovely Beaches and historic town.

How about isle of wight, or similar, dont take a car, just use public transport and plan accordingly. Beeches and fossil hunting?

@Thisoldheartofmine that doesn't sound right. I would give them a phone. We paid no where near that for the sleep 10.

@HelloLoves oh gosh , of course I'm wrong !!
It's just over £1000 . I was looking at the wrong property .
What a dope.
Thanks for noticing ,I rather fancy it myself !

I love these guys. If you cant find a place, try messaging the hosts direct, sometimes that can offer some alternatives.
https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/

If you can leave the cat then fly to Jersey or guernsey from exeter. NO CAR REQUIRED- they’re tiny and buses shuttle everywhere. In fact renting bikes could be a good idea.

Thanks all. I cannot recall who it was, but someone suggested the Peak District. We have booked a holiday let in the village of Duffield. It is a quirky nicely restored cottage at under £900 for the week. We can take the cat (which really makes us all happy, despite it not being essential; our house rabbit does not travel so well and he will have to stay behind with my father!)

The poster who suggested that the DCs go by train and we meet them there was really inspired. I was not thinking creatively enough. So the 3 DC will get the train (direct to Derby and at £71 each is far cheaper than hiring a 7 seater car for over £1,000). DH and I and DCat will go in the 5 seater car with the luggage. The money we save on not hiring the car we can spend on doing nicer things and meals out. The 5 seater will be big enough for days out while we are there.

We will probably drop the DC to Alton Towers one day while DH and I have a nice lunch somewhere.

I am also grateful for all the other suggestions on this thread. Quite a lot to think about for other trips away. Lots of imaginative ideas. Thanks again.

Amazing glad you're sorted

Just to say @Frumpylab the age gap has been great for us as a family. I was nearly 45 when I had our DS. The DDs were smitten with him right from the off and have remained so. And he them. They bring out the best in each other and get on really well. Both DDs are lovely and still to want to come away on holiday with us and they also put the effort in for Christmas too. DD1 still lives at home (she is just about to embark on teacher training in September) and DD2 is away at uni during term time. I am aware that in a couple more years they will both be properly independent and very much more doing their own thing. So I am relishing every chance we get to still do things as a family of 5. It does take some thought to find things they all enjoy. And it is sooo expensive taking 5 adult sized people away on holiday. But it is all really worth it. I hope you get the same pleasure from your holidays that we do.

@LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood I'm a bit late to this so glad to see you are sorted.

Wanted to flag that Duffield (I live nearby) is not in the Peaks - but I presume you are aware of that and hopefully you are OK with a drive. If you want to actually walk in the Peaks it's about an hour's+ drive to (say) Hathersage or Castleton. Very nice tho.

Some other ideas:

• NT places like Kedleston and Calke Abbey, also Hardwick for Mary Q of Scots vibes
• Some sweet towns with independent shops nearby - Belper, Wirksworth, Cromford (great bookshop)
• Carsington Water if you like a walk and a bit of bird-watching or cycling
• Matlock Bath for a walk along "the front" (not actual seaside)
• Bakewell for a Bakewell pudding and a walk round the shops and scenic town
• Heights of Abraham for a cable-car ride
• Open-water swim at Spring Lakes in Long Eaton
• Dovedale and the stepping stones and Thorpe Cloud (big hill)
• Haddon Hall is another nice house as is Chatsworth - both a bit of a hike tho

Lots of these places are on the bus route (sixes) from Duffield btw if you want to avoid the car.

DD also suggests Water World in Stoke

Thank you @clary. I did not realise it was an hour plus away but did know it wasn’t really in the Peaks. It was as close as we could get that was affordable and would take the cat!

Thank you for the suggestions. Really appreciated.

I'm glad you got sorted, I hope you have a lovely time.
I think when you first posted you mentioned looking on SYKES.
I'm sure they're not all bad but there's a lot of unhappy customers. Leaving this as a warning to others.
www.facebook.com/groups/1827406157508686/permalink/3652717754977508/

Glad you’re sorted. The train will be a bit of an adventure to start and end the holiday with.

Have you booked their tickets yet? If not look at travel cards. Even one journey can cover their costs and we’ve used Tesco vouchers to buy them in the past.

Hope you all have a great time.

I would also look at the North East of the UK as things can be really reasonable there in terms of food and drink and probably accommodation, and there are so many awesome things to do with the kids and adults.

Our favourites- Brimham Rocks- This huge site with hundreds of giant natural rock formations you can climb/ scramble around on is just wonderful. As much fun for adults as well as kids- I felt like a kid again just joining them!
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187046-d211799-Reviews-Brimham_Rocks-Harrogate_North_Yorkshire_England.html

Whitby- very beautiful little coastal place to wander. There are places nearby you can drive to to see wild seals.

Beamish- historical living museum. Just incredible place- living history of different eras, ride around on different old buses etc. go into a mine.

Newcastle- If you are close enough to go here the Life Science museum is awesome, full of science experiments everywhere and a planetarium, as much fun for adults as kids. We just ended up playing all day long. Newcastle is also a lovely city to wander.

York - The train museum/ castle museum/ city walls here are really fun to do

Shildon- Locomotion - if you don't make the York train museum this is equally cool to do.

Flamingo Land- because it's always fun to try a new theme park!

Scarborough- again fairly close to some wild seal sights you can go to as I understand. There is a cool train ride for all ages up the cliffs that ends in a park with a Go Ape type climbing structure and some zorbing, and a fairly large seaside centre on the other end. Lovely place to wander and go into arcades.

Hartlepool- historic royal dockyard, museum and large boat to visit, spent a lovely day here

Plus there is so much in the way of beautiful walks in the Yorkshire dales or along the coastline up there. And depending on where you end up there are castles such as Alnwick.

Without making it all more complicated, it might be worth checking the trains via London from Cornwall- they can be much cheaper and only add 1 hour onto the journey. Also, you may be able to get a group ticket (though you often need 1 train company provider) and has been said a railcard- if the 13 year old is training with the other two children a family railcard could be the best for the 3 of them.

There is a station in Duffield itself, but trains are once/hour from Derby/Matlock.
There's also a steam train direct from Duffield- Ecclesbourne railway. There's a lovely lido in Matlock bath for a swim too.

https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/search-and-book/location/scotland/#Search

https://www.unique-cottages.co.uk/cottages/south/borders/cn5-tweed-cottage-old-melrose# they have other properties, that might suit, scroll down

https://www.cottages.com/cottages/shingle-cottage-w7403?pets=2&nights=7&range=3&start=12-6-2021&adult=2&infant=0 forgot to check availability.

https://www.holidaycottages.co.uk/cottage/95053-south-lodge
Some availability in Aug.

Great choice! If you're heading Matlock Bath way, call in at the Cromford Mills site. The Derwent Valley is the birth place of the industrial revolution, do if your DS is coming up to studying that it might help bring it to life.
About 10 minutes from Duffield is The Tiger Inn at Turnditch. On their Thursday pie night they have about 60 different flavours!
If the kids are into cycling take them up to Middleton Top cycle hire, get bikes and send them off along the High Peak Trail https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/high-peak-trail
You can have a drink at the visitor centre and wait for their return, or pop down into Wirksworth for something a bit more substantial.