Right, I need a cheap holiday - closer to free the better poss camping?

[SecurMummy]

We live in North Yorks and I have a large tent with most of the relevant equipment but no car

So, we have a few days away to do activity stuff and have a couple of big days out planned but would really like to get away for a week, just to be somewhere else for a bit!

However, we have no money to speak of and I will have to seriously rob peter to pay for this (IYSWIM) so any ideas anyone?

I am not too bothered about doing stuff, I would be happy with a camp site with a play area (and a pool if I get really lucky)

err - I think I may have missed the question out....

So, does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I am not pickey at all - but would like to avoid stag and hen parties if possible

we're just back from a week in a cottage in Sleights near to Whitby. Great for 2 adults and 2 kids, cost £350 for the week.

had a great holiday.

is that any good, I'll give you more info.

bit rich for my blood really - but I would be interested in some info - if nothing else comes along it may just have to do - I am soooo in need of a break!

It was called Moor View Cottage, in Sleights.

Agency is called Sykes Cottages, phone no. 01244 356666.

honestly I'd completely recommend it.

description

wow it worked!

that's great ssd thanks!

Gosh... was the cottage £350? that's good.

Hi SM, I am in exactly the same situation as you are in. We've had a few days camping at The Plassey, Wrexham; www.theplassey.co.uk, see my thread on Camping. It cost us £39 for two nights, that's 2 adults, 2 children and 2 infants. It was a beautiful site with a small indoor swimming pool and is extremely popular. I'm probably doing myself a diservice my announcing on Mumsnet how good it is! HTH

What about youth hostels?

My problem with friends/family is that we fill a car on our own - so if anyoen else drives us we are 1 too many for the car IYSWIM!

I do have a family rail card so can do sites near to stations!

I know nothing about Youth hostles - do they take children? (lots of children )

Browny - I will look at the site - it sounds great!

With kids I would stick to Youth Hostel Association Hostels which are much more standardised and traditional than the backbacker ones. They have single sex dorms unless booked as a family room unlike other hostels where they have 20 bed mixed dorms, which sounds a bit scary to me even without kids. They can vary from tiny cottages to huge castles. The little ones have great atmosphere and you meet loads of people (unless they are all watching Eastenders in the TV lounge .

Family Info.

OOOOHHHHH RENT A TIPI Just found this I want to do this !!!!!!

Skribble, thanks for that - but they don't accept children under 3 it would appear - and dd is 2 so that seems to be out (otherwise it looks like a good idea - maybe next year if we are still poor!)

Thats whay I was trying to find out as it used to be five years. .

Sorry Skrible - missed the Tipi link - thatlooks great doesn't it!

Any other ideas anyone?

Pleeeaaasssee!

Similar to the Tipi idea we are planning a weekend break in one of these .

Can you afford car hire for a week if you camp?

Or someone gives you a lift with all your gear, EXCEPT one member of the family goes on the bus or train instead of car?

Is a friend, relative or neighbour going away at the same time? Offer to drive them to the airport, and collect them, if you can use their car to go camping while you are away? (quite a good deal for them, as airport parking costs £100pw!)

Also - look on Ebay - there are self-catering hols in chalets offered.

I just got a week in a cottage on Lastminute.com for £300. (Go to Cottage Holidays and look under 'late availablity' or something, otherwise you have to look under millions of lists of unavailable places!)

Mrs Spoon - they look great!

Blu, I would rather not hire - as it costs loads and then sits there for a week doing nothing!

The idea about one getting the bus doesn't work as they are all too young so I need to be with them and none of them can go alone IYSWIM.

I will look at last minute now - is ebay reliable for these things?

Thanks everyone BTW!

hope you find something securmummy, we get one week away and I know how much we all need this!

BTW, does anyone know if Scotland has youth hostels with family rooms?

Yes Scottish Hostels do family rooms too, best to book well in advance as they will fill them with all male or female if no families booked. They are not kept specificaly for families. Age 3+ same as england and wales.

Carbisdale Castle is a stunner} Family of 4 would be £55 a night anytime of the year. We stayed in the Spook Room as kids. Have a look at the photo Gallery on the site.

Or what about something a bit more rustic?

Tobermory is popular with families for obvious reasons

Securmummy, I don't get that at all about YHs not accepting children under 3. There are some hostels that don't, as I don't think they like young children in the big dorms, but lots of them you can have a family bunk room.
I am speaking from experience here - we have been two YHs twice so far with dd, once when she was around 5 months, once around 8 months (Thorney Howe at Buttermere, and Borrowdale), and we weren't the only people with young children. YHA policy ATM is very much to attract families so it can't possibly be something they've introduced in the last few months.