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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

South west coast holidays vs north sea - discuss

65 replies

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 11/02/2021 08:58

If you've been to both coastal holiday locations in the south west (cornwall, Devon, wales etc) and those on north sea (north norfolk, yorkshire), which do you prefer for a summer holiday and why?

I'll start it off: south west every time. Better beaches, warmer, more nice pubs/restaurants.

Yabu = north sea
Yanbu = south west

OP posts:
Lockheart · 11/02/2021 09:01

This is not an AIBU - discuss.

Original poster
NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 11/02/2021 09:09

Posted here for voting capacity & traffic.

AIBU to think south west is miles better than north sea coast for a summer holiday?

There.

OP posts:
billybagpuss · 11/02/2021 09:14

It depends where you live,south coast is a bloody long drive from Leeds from Exeter not so much. We live in sw and I would love to visit Northumberland but the 6 hours + in a car puts me off and we avoid DH home town in summer. Too many grockles (emmetts if you cross the border)

HalfTermHalfTerm · 11/02/2021 09:20

I’ve been to both, but I prefer the the North Sea areas and especially Yorkshire. The beaches are beautiful in Devon/Cornwall but there are some lovely beaches by the North Sea too. I’ve also found that the people have been considerably more friendly in Yorkshire and Norfolk although perhaps that’s just my experience. The weather was nice in Devon and Cornwall (warmer than Yorkshire!) but it didn’t feel any warmer than where I live normally. I know there are some amazing seafood restaurants in the South West and I understand that is a big factor for some people but we don’t eat meat so it’s not for us!

Distance is a big factor for me too, it took us 7 hours to drive to Cornwall. If I’m going to travel for that length of time I’d rather go abroad or spend a bit longer on a train and go up to Scotland.

LostInMoab · 11/02/2021 09:22

Sorry, but definitely North Sea for me. Agree that the people are much friendlier; the beaches are typically less busier; the scenery inland is way more beautiful.

But I’m horribly biased because I live near the North Sea (in Scotland) and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the UK!

NotGenerationAlpha · 11/02/2021 09:24

South west only because I live in Hampshire. North Sea is too far away.

WaltzForDebbie · 11/02/2021 09:28

North sea is very cold so it depends really. North Norfolk and Suffolk for lovely walks. South West for beaches with kids. I'd also love to have a holiday visiting lots of gardens in Cornwall and Kent/Sussex, but I'll have to wait until the kids are older or leave home for that!

ErrolTheDragon · 11/02/2021 09:36

You've missed out North Wales. Lovely coast, and more other stuff (mountains, castles etc) if the weather is poor than much of the south west.

Similar with Northumberland.

I'd also love to have a holiday visiting lots of gardens in Cornwall and Kent/Sussex, but I'll have to wait until the kids are older or leave home for that!

Me too, though I'd aim for late spring/early summer not summer hols, I think.

Original poster
NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 11/02/2021 09:37

Anyone who doesnt like south west, apart from distance/travel time, what don't you like?

OP posts:
Original poster
NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 11/02/2021 09:38

Errol - noted. I didnt focus on north wales and south east places on the channel as I've not been to either myself!!

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 11/02/2021 09:40

I love the south west but a lot of it gets too crowded. And after a few visits to cornwall in iffy weather, there's only so many tin mines you want to go down.

Followthelarch · 11/02/2021 09:41

I've voted for SW, but wouldn't go anywhere near there this summer, it's going to be completely rammed. I love Somerset too.

BikeRunSki · 11/02/2021 09:43

North Yorks and Northumberland every time.
Cornwall iovely - DBro lived there and we have visited a lot - but very busy during school holidays.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 11/02/2021 09:52

The sea is much warmer in N Norfolk than the Atlantic. IME anyway.

They are all fantastic and have different attractions.

PeteWicksSexyPirate · 11/02/2021 09:52

I live in the south west and I go on a summer holiday to my parents in the north east, beach days at Whitby and fit in a day trip to York Smile best of both worlds! So it’s 50/50 for me, wouldn’t say either is better or worse

Picklypickles · 11/02/2021 09:53

I'm from the SW, I've also lived on the NW coast! I can't cope with how cold the North Sea is, yes St Bees is usually lovely and quiet but I've never been even warm there, even in the middle of what passes for summer in Cumbria, and the sea looks all black and cold and creepy and I've never dared to even dip a toe in!

BarbaraofSeville · 11/02/2021 09:58

I do like the South West, and yes the sea is warmer - I've dived off lots of parts of the UK coast and the sea in Plymouth in February (almost coldest time of year) is about the same temperature as the North Sea in August, which says it all.

However, the south west is more crowded, more expensive and a long way away for lots of people. The weather is probably also wetter than the north east coast, especially in late August, which is often much more autumnal than summery of late.

But as far as nice beaches and nice places to eat, places to walk etc, there's lots of lovely places in Yorkshire and Northumberland too, plus attractions like steam trains, forests with mountain bike trails, castles, indoor waterparks, plus you can go an hour or so inland to places like Leeds, York, Newcastle for museums etc, so could have a lovely holiday round there. Plus fish and chips in Yorkshire are the best in the country by far.

Backtoreality1 · 11/02/2021 09:58

Definitely North Sea. Although SW is gorgeous, with lovely beaches and beautiful little fishing villages, it is very small and consequently very overpopulated in the Summer. Much more space and still spectacular beaches in the North.

HalfTermHalfTerm · 11/02/2021 10:11

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

Anyone who doesnt like south west, apart from distance/travel time, what don't you like?
A combination of it being busy (I’d forgotten how busy it was until others mentioned it!) although we did go in August so I imagine it’s quieter outside of the school holidays and just not feeling very welcome Blush That was Cornwall though and I have only been there once so perhaps I was unlucky. I went to Devon and South Wales as a child so I can’t comment on how friendly people were then... I do remember the weather was lovely though!

And yes to excellent chips in Yorkshire!

MissJeanLouise · 11/02/2021 10:26

@Picklypickles
Are you not talking about the Irish Sea?

lovelyupnorth · 11/02/2021 10:28

Northumberland all the way

Or Cumbria.

MrsMercedes · 11/02/2021 10:28

Ugh “discuss”

LegendDairy · 11/02/2021 10:30

South west in the summer for the sunsets and North sea for the winter for the sunrises.

Original poster
NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 11/02/2021 10:49

Mrs Mercedes if you haven't got anything meaningful to add why bother commenting.

OP posts:
Weepingwillows12 · 11/02/2021 10:52

I voted south west but am biased as have been there more. I love the wide quiet beaches of south wales and the cute fishing villages, lovely independent shops and restaurants and galleries of the south west. I have been to Scarborough and Whitby but they arent really my cup of tea although would go again. Having said that Northumbria is really high on my list of places I want to go so maybe I would have a different answer in a year!

I think we are very lucky with the range of beaches and places in the UK.