South west coast holidays vs north sea - discuss

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

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

I'm a South Coast resident, done the North Coast a couple of times. I can't deal with how cold it is up north

West coast for one main reason, sunsets! I spent a couple of my teen years near the Dorset coast, loved it there. Spectacular thunderstorms. Where we live now the storms actually split and go round us.

Currently trying to persuade DH to consider coastal retirement somewhere west/south west .

South West, whilst quaint and chocolate boxy , is very crowded during the summer.
Norfolk, Yorkshire and Northumberland is quieter, more dramatic in its scenery and has some wonderful places to visit.

North because of the distance ,Cornwall ,Devon etc whilst I would love to go would probably take us 8-10 hours to get there.

I think, like others on this thread, my negative view of the SW really pertains to Cornwall. Horrendously busy - especially in summer, but in spring and autumn too - beaches, that aren’t really a patch on those we’d have practically to ourselves at home, lined with people. A bit of an unfriendly atmosphere amongst both locals and holidaymakers. Awful roads so it takes forever to get anywhere. And the weather! Yes it can be roasting hot but it can also be horribly wet, or day after day of those grey skies that make you feel like you’re inside Tupperware. I really cannot understand its popularity.

[quote MissJeanLouise]@Picklypickles
Are you not talking about the Irish Sea?[/quote]
Er, yes, apparently I am! Just had to ask my oh, I'm not too great with geography!! I've also been to a beach somewhere near Newcastle and that was bloody cold too! As they keep telling me up there, I'm a soft Southern Fairy and I don't like cold!

I think geography dictates this to a certain extent. Born and raised near the Yorkshire Coast, there is no where i love more than Whitby and the surrounding areas. But I've had some amazing trips to the South West. Much better quality of accommodation and food and drink and some truly stunning small towns. Much more cosmopolitan. As for traffic- has anyone tried to park in Whitby or Staithes in the summer months!

I would go North Sea for the North Yorks Coast. But I'd go Devon always above the Lincs or Norfolk Coastlines

North Sea. Altogether wilder. Better beaches. Better fish and chips (overall). And far, far fewer people. (We live in the West Country. In a traditional beach resort.) We're expecting it to be rammed this summer although presumably only for day trips, with the current diktat in place.

Oh, should add, I grew up in the north. You simply don't get quite the same wildness on southern English beaches that you get in the North, or Scotland, or Ireland. But yes, the climate's warmer, most of the time.

Interesting to see so many votes for the North. I live in Yorkshire but going to the North Sea coast for a week or two just wouldn’t feel like a ‘proper’ summer holiday - it’s lovely for half term though. So the South coast gets my vote. Yes, it’s a much longer drive, but I feel like we’ve actually been somewhere different. Usually better weather, lovely coastal towns/villages and more of a holiday feel. Or maybe I’be just been and done the north too much 🤷‍♀️

Depends what you are looking for.

If you want amazing unspoilt coastline, wildlife, bracing walks and quiet villages then the NE.

A holiday in the NE will be cold- and yes there are warm spells, even heatwaves, but these are very unusual. And the sea is always cold.

Personally I would plump for a quiet island in Greece.

North sea (specifically North Yorkshire) because it has much better public transport (I'm a non driver). Devon is really, really hard to get around in if you don't drive and also hard to navigate by walking because of the very tall hedges everywhere and lack of footpaths.

Also, I always get the impression that people there don't like tourists? (clogging up our roads, taking up space in our hospital, spreading their diseases etc... was mentioned a lot on here earlier in the year)
Admittedly I have not done a full scale investigation & I do have family who absolutely love Cornwall & go there every year to surf.

South west. We live in Yorkshire so it's easier but just a bit rough. I guess it's based on the places you go but we've been to a lot of different places and it always feels like the same place. The sea isn't as nice and it's cold too.
Whereas Cornwall is lovely, it was quiet when we went, the sea was beautiful, people were lovely, it was warm and tidy.

Hunstanton and the other west-facing bits of Norfolk on the Wash are lovely. They don't take all that long for us to get to either, less than 2 hours. Whereas Devon & Cornwall takes over 6 hours, and that's with no traffic holdups.

No comparison.

The north sea is freezing all year round and if the wind direction is from Siberia the east, then it's the pits, even in the middle of summer on a sunny day.

North for me. Maybe I've been unlucky, but I've never been to Cornwall or Wales when it hasn't bloody rained and rained! And I find the north generally has more interesting things to do. Although the Eden Project is totally worth a visit.

I would love to visit Devon/Cornwall but the travel puts me off. I live in the North East.

north sea, specifically N Yorks. Better roads, less traffic, better chippies, quieter beaches, better value for money on accommodation, and most importantly, fewer red-trousered poshos.

Admittedly the weather is less good on average, but it's not like sun is guaranteed in the south.

South Coast. Live in Cornwall so totally biased.

Been to Blackpool and Skegness. The sea was a dirty brown colour, it was cold just pretty miserable

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

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

The in-laws

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

The cost, the inconvenience getting there.

It would take me 10 hours to drive to Cornwall, possibly an overnight stay for the journey, 16 hours by train- and very expensive for a family.
It's not cheap once you are there either.

I can be in Crete in 5 hours, and probably a cheaper holiday than Conwall.
No surprise I have never visited.

If it's school holidays, north, as it's easier to find places that aren't crowded. If it's term-time, SW.

The south-west is lovely when it's not too crowded, but I'd never go in school holidays.

@Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket

North sea (specifically North Yorkshire) because it has much better public transport (I'm a non driver). Devon is really, really hard to get around in if you don't drive and also hard to navigate by walking because of the very tall hedges everywhere and lack of footpaths.

Also, I always get the impression that people there don't like tourists? (clogging up our roads, taking up space in our hospital, spreading their diseases etc... was mentioned a lot on here earlier in the year)
Admittedly I have not done a full scale investigation & I do have family who absolutely love Cornwall & go there every year to surf.

I'm not getting the "hard to navigate by walking" and "lack of footpaths".

Apart from the SW coastal path, which is approx 500 miles long, almost the whole of the SW has an extensive network of footpaths and there are parts where you can walk miles and miles without crossing a road.

They're often well signposted too, unlike many parts of the country where I've been on holiday. There are places where I wouldn't recommend anyone to take a long cross-country walk unless they're a competent map reader and know how to use a compass.

Well not answering your question - but I love the Lake District. DH has swum in Windermere - but November so had to have a wet suit on - it is lovely & so many great places to visit - but yes - not a beach holiday. Also he had swum in the sea from a beach from Herne Bay - but he likes open water swimming so that is his thing - I do realise I have said NW or SE so exactly the opposite of what you asked - so do ignore me

Definitely North for me. South is too busy. Beaches in Northumberland are fantastic, scenery is much nicer, cottage rental also a bit cheaper.