Best UK holiday destination recommendations for an active 11 year old, please.

[thementalist]

I've decided, due to various reasons, to have our main holiday in the October break this year, so I've been thinking about going away for a (cheapish??) week in the summer holidays, just DD and I, but I am not really sure where to go.

DD has had a pretty rubbish year, so I am happy to indulge in things that she likes for the week and hopefully have a fun week with her, so she wont be too bored being stuck with just me

She likes theme parks, beaches, swimming, water based things (usually do jet-skiing, boat type things abroad), actually she likes most things and is pretty easily pleased.

I'm based in central Scotland, but happy to travel most places as long as they can either be reached by train or plane, or a combination of some kind of public transport.

Obviously i am assuming that I will have a full week of glorious sunshine to do lots of outdoorsy things

So if anyone has any recommendations for places that would be good for us, or your favourite places, I'd love to hear them

.

Kielder? Lots of water sports/swimming/activities

Aviemore?

Thank you.

We have been to Aviemore before, enjoyed it, but would like to try somewhere different, but thanks!

Haven't heard of Kielder, will check it out now, thanks!

I thought you might have!

Kielder is great, Northumberland.
We stayed in a log cabin and had a great week. Close to Vindolanda, which is an amazing excavated Roman settlement, and see off the English with some cavorting along Hadrians wall too.
Take a bike and lots of midge repellant

What about one of the ActiveBreak recommendations from Hoseasons? They seem really good and have a lot of activities on site

Though it (Kielder) may be tricky on public transport.
What about Centreparcs in Cumbria?
Or that outdoors/sailing place on Loch Lomand?

Kielder does look good, but I agree that it could be tricky to get to on public transport, I will investigate further....I have also made the mistake of bikes on a train before...not an experience I think I could repeat!

Have also been having a look at centreparcs, but will check out hoseasons activebreaks just now, thanks.

Loch Lomond is literally on our doorstep, which is great, but would like to try somewhere new.

Thanks for all the help so far

After a bit of investigating, I am now starting to think that it would work out cheaper to do a week abroad than a week in the UK, there is something a bit wrong there!

Kielder impossible on public transport, i tried it about ten years ago. Can't see that things will have improved much since then.

What about the Peak District? It has the advantage of a train line running through the northern part (the Hope Valley line) accessible from Sheffield or Manchester Piccadilly mainline stations. Hills to walk up. Trails for bikes and bike hire. Caves to explore (tourist ones).Could base yourself at Edale or Castleton YHA (train to Edale or Hope for Cadtleton). Edale YHA do good activity holidays too. Lots of buses around the Peaks too and some great museums in Sheffield for rainy days.

What about the lake district?

Or look at national holidays coach trips? They are an inexpensive way to travel around the country and breakfast/evening meal are usually included. A national holiday coach trip to Scarborough might be good-lovely big park with squirrels and boating lake, steam train, crazy golf, sealife centre, fairground, beautiful beaches, boat trips on the sea, fish n chips, theatre......

what about a boating holiday? canal? Norfolk broads? Lots of outdoorsy things to do there.

Loch Tay? There are loads of outdoor activity places there. We have spent time the last 2 years at Firbush, the Edinburgh University place - and are going again this year for one of their family weeks. Not cheap, but accommodation and all meals provided, plus instructors and equipment for windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, gorge-walking, hill-walking, mountain-biking etc. Different things on offer (if you want them) every morning and afternoon. Definitely not a warm place!!! but they provide full wetsuits etc so you're comfortable.

I agree with you that staying in UK isn't necessarily a cheap option - I am about to do a 5-day walking holiday in Scotland and it is costing over 400 quid just for our accommodation along the way, for 2 adults and 2 [admittedly quite large] children. Decent meals could easily shove it up by £100 a day ...