Last min adult trip debate with DH - help!

[Mildoom]

DGP are having the kids next week for 6 precious nights of freedom! It happens once a year, but last year I was ill, and year prior it was shorter following Covid, so we are beyond excited at having some adult time😊

We’ve left it stupidly late to book anything and now we’re debating where to go (in UK) but have settled on 3/4 options - please help us make a decision as we’re going in circles now..

1. Devon (south hams area to be close to beaches, but stay in countryside/somewhere peaceful).
2. Lake District (not sure where is nicest/least full of kids off school though!).
3. North Wales (somewhere in or around Snowdonia Nat Park).
4. NE Yorks coastline (village-y type place near beaches).

We’re in the SE, so travel to all of the above is similar journey time ish. The only area I’d the 4 we’ve spent much time in before is Devon, which we love, but maybe nice to go elsewhere for a change!

Main concerns are: not being surrounded by holidaying young families (given we’re having a rest from our own kids!) and beautiful views / places to visit without too much effort involved.

Love to hear everyone’s thoughts / suggestions.

Budget is mid range and up a bit, but we’re not rolling in it and can’t go mega posh😅

Well I'm in Devon and the weather next week looks better than it has in ages. Sunny and 23 ish.

Another vote for Northumberland. We go for a child free long weekend every year and stay here: https://www.beaconhill.co.uk/hideaways/
It is beautiful!
We stop to eat in The Feathers Inn on the way which is phenomenal. And go for breakfast in The Running Fox (there are several in Northumberland).
Enjoy!

Northumberland is probably the only part of England I'd consider moving to - utterly stunning. People v friendly as well.

Northumberland is the one! It’s absolutely stunning up there.

Devon and the lakes will be absolutely packed with families and a traffic disaster. North Wales is likely to be similar - very busy there at this time of year especially as the weather is finally looking up!

I love Pembrokeshire, but if you’re looking to avoid family crowds then probably best to pick somewhere else.

I had a great time with DH in the Peak District last year - good walking and not too many families as there isn't loads for them to do. We've enjoyed Hayfield (Kinder Scout etc) and the Edale valley (we stayed near Hope) - both have branch train lines so you can do walks and get the train back. Not lovely food though. You could combine 2/3 day there with a couple of nights in a hotel (spa?) in Manchester (or Sheffield) and do some city stuff too?. There are some great NT places on the Peaks side of Manchester. Journey time from the SE makes it good bang for your buck of travel time - lovely countryside, not mountains but good walks and striking rocks, NT places, and a city too.

Will all you people singing the praises of Northumberland please stop, we don’t want the whole world to know about our glorious sandy beaches and fabulous culture. Joking but only kind of 😬

Is there a reason you don’t want to go abroad? I’d be immediately heading to an adults only all inclusive in the sun tbh!!

it’s hard to find anywhere not overrun with everyone else’s children in the holidays so I wouldn’t be taking any risks!

With the options you are looking at and what your after, I would go to the lake District, plenty of little cottages in the middle of no where to rent. Snowdonia can get crazy busy, and if you have already been to Devon a few times then it will be nice to explore somewhere new.

I have been to all over the years and although I loved York itself we didn't do much in the surrounding countryside bar drive through, personally prefer the views in the lake District, went here many times as a child with my nan and I don't remember seeing many other children lol.

North Wales is my recommendation. If you go to touristy places, you will find people yes, but there is so much off the beaten track there even in August. Try Anglesey, the walks on the coast path are fantastic and a week is a great amount of time to explore and wind down. Grab a sunset at Newborough beach (head out to Llanddwyn island from there, just avoid 2 hours either side of high tide). Take a circular walk from Bull Bay or Cemaes in the north of the island, walk in red squirrel woodland or head out to the mainland. Feel free to DM me!

Northumberland is a great shout.
If you like NT properties don't miss Cragside.
Alnwick Gardens is amazing.
What's the haunted house/castle there was a big thread about it on here last week!
Plenty of walking, other castles, never too busy... gorgeous 😍

It is a trek for you though. North Norfolk is lovely too.

Thank you everyone for the amazing recommendations ⛱️

Reasons we aren’t going abroad is two-fold:
> I can’t cope with epic heat, especially right now with peri/menopause hot flashes!
> We only have 5-6 nights and can’t think of anywhere that isn’t either boiling hot (most of southern Europe!) or too rainy / cloudy/expensive (Ireland/Norway etc)..

Open to suggestions in Europe though🤓

I've just come back from Northern Ireland and planning to go back with DH. It's absolutely beautiful. Plenty of coastal paths. The roads are quiet compared to where I live and it's not overcrowded. The people there were so nice - from picking up suitcases off the conveyor for us at arrivals, spontaneously stopping with directions when DD and I looked a bit lost, the man in the cinema charging us as students'because it's cheaper'.
I cannot wait to go back.
It's just beautiful countryside and coast

Definitely the Lake District near lake Windermere! Lots of lovely b&bs and great walks

Condor ferries holidays to the Channel Islands might be worth a look

Come over to Belfast! It’s a fantastic city, with some of the best restaurants and pubs in all of the UK! Also has Titanic museum and the Black Taxi Tours. You’re maximum an hour away from everything if you rent a car as well: Giant’s Causeway, Bushmills, Portrush, Newcastle. Lots and lots of beautiful walks. Also if you fancied it, you’re 2 hours away from Dublin or Donegal - both very different but great places :) PS our weather this week has been showing as rubbish but it’s only actually rained for maybe 30 mins on the days it shows rain! It’s warm too, 20-22 degrees :)

Avoid almost everywhere around Windermere at all costs if you are trying to avoid lots of people/families. This is the busiest, most touristy bit of the Lake District and some places that used to be lovely have a real “Costa del Windermere” feel about them now.

If you are looking for calm and walking @Mildoom I can suggest the northern fells (Skiddaw, Blencathra and north of there, right on the edge of the national park). You can drop down into Keswick and nearby if you fancy a bit of national trust and more touristy things.

Also agree Northumberland.

Agree with this too. Lovely walking, lovely people.

I’ve just come back from Northumberland and the beaches were amazing. It was warm enough to paddle for a few days. We took a boat tour in Berwick and saw dolphins. Holy Island amazing. Bamburgh lovely.

I’ve been the the Lake District in summer too and some of the places were busy (Windermere) but nothing like the the south busy so still lovely.

Cairngorms national park in Scotland is amazing if you can face the drive.

Slightly off-topic - have you started HRT yet? 😊

Based on what you like doing... Dorset! And make sure you go to the Square and Compass pub in Worth Matravers
https://www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk/

Another one here for Northumberland. Lots to do towards the north of the County. Wonderful beaches - Bamburgh in particular has a great walk from there along the beach as far as Seahouses. Holy Island - again you can walk in more than one direction. The coastal path around the castle also particularly nice. Plenty of seals to see too, from the village, when the tide is out ( check tide times if you want to go)

Boat trips available to the Farne Islands from Seahouses - Great Fish and chip shops there too.

Alnwick Garden and/or Castle, both very worth a visit.

A great second hand bookshop in Alnwick called Barter books, if it's a wet day. You can spend a lot of time in there - they have sofas and the like to browse through books.

I would recommend Salcombe. Here this week and it’s beautiful.

Yet another vote for Northumberland! DS is at Newcastle Uni and we’ve had a lovely time exploring the Northumberland coast whilst up there visiting him!

East Coast.. Whitby/ Staithes/ Saltburn by the sea ( old Victorian town).Robin hoods Bay... Goathland/ Picketing.. North York moors..make your base at any of these places.
Great beaches/ steeped in history.Stunning scenery.
So much to see and do.
Fabulous restaurant .
All within East driving from one place to another.. you won't be disappointed.
Yes I'm from Yorkshire but we'll travelled and been to every place of your choices.
Do Google/ reviews.
Look on Air B&B.
/ Booking . Com.
( Plus you get more for your Money at the East Coast of Yorkshire)