Suggestions please - UK coast

[peppermintteadrinker]

I have a big birthday this year so would like our annual holiday to be a really nice place.

We have v specific needs though.

I have chronic fatigue syndrome so want the drive to be max 3-4 hours.

We live in the midlands south of Birmingham.

I'm a single parent and it will be just me and ds.

Ds is 12 and is autistic (Asperger's).

I need a really comfortable bed.

I want some coast and ideally be close to it.

I want the place we stay to be not isolated but also not a holiday park with noisy folk.

I've toyed with idea of going to Brighton/Hove as I have friends there I'd like to see but don't want to be right in a bustling town ideally. Somewhere round there that's more chilled might be good but open minded to somewhere else.

We stayed previous at Rudge Farm Dorset which was amazing (thanks Mumsnet) but don't want to necessary go there again so soon. Somewhere like that, quality and set up wise would be good.

🙏🏻

Home Farm or Wood Farm in North Norfolk

Thanks for the suggestion. Norfolk is a really tricky drive from here so I don't think that's a possibility but that's the kind of place that we'd like.

How about Broadstairs in Kent. It is a quaint little town, beautful beach, lots of nice restaurants, cafes and pubs.

I rarely drive so not sure how long it takes to drove the from the Midlands.

Hastings a little further down the coast is good as well. It is a litte more shabby than Broadstairs but it has a beach, a nice historic old town, a modern art gallery and things like mini golf and traditional seaside amusements that might be appealing to your son.

Whitstable and Broadstairs both meant to be nice

South Wales? Pembrokeshire? Easy enough drive, seaside and not too loud!

Too far I'm afraid but I'd love to see Kent if I ever get a bit better with my illness. Thank you for suggesting it.

@TizerorFizz Pembrokeshire is beautiful. It's about the limit and possibly a bit further than I want to go. Id consider it for the right place but it also may bring back some memories which I don't especially want as my ex husband was from near there !

Whitstable and Folkestone are easy to reach on the train in that time. And then once there you can walk so don’t need the car

If you want to drive then Southwold?

North Somerset might appeal too.

Weston super Mare or Clevedon might suit and shouldn’t be too long a drive. Sorry, can’t recommend where to stay

Barmouth maybe?

Or I've heard Alfriston is lovely - a picturesque village in the South Downs a short drive from the coast (Cuckmere Haven and the Seven Sisters) and quite close to Brighton.

Clevedon would be my pick for North Somerset, attractive and calm, nice view, but not great beaches (the Severn Estuary looks brown unless the sun is out). People swim in the Marine Lake.

Mumbles or elsewhere on Gower if Mumbles is too lively.

Most of Kent is within your 3-4 hour drive limit unless you don't use motorways.

You say South of Birmingham so already on the right side. I've done Leamington-Folkestone and vice versa a couple of times recently and it's under 3 hours.

I would suggest you look at Weymouth- we stayed near there last year and spent most days there. The beach is lovely and plenty to do nearby.

Barmouth/ Tywyn/ Aberdyfi?

Ladram Bay holiday park in Devon is lovely, private beach and a more upmarket clientele than some holiday parks, it's not loud or super busy and very scenic.

I like Pembrokeshire and the Isle of Wight. Have you considered the later? If you are thinking Dorset, this isn't much further. Last time we stayed in Nettlecombe Farm in the South. It's not a holiday park and very quiet. I don't know what you consider as isolated, but with a car, nothing is that far on the Isle of Wight.

North Yorkshire, some of it is old fashioned holiday resort (Scarborough) some is more rugged.

You could stay in a train carriage

https://hostunusual.com/property/the-old-station-allerston/

North East coast, I think it would be 3/4 hours drive from you?
There's some busy places like Scarborough or Whitby, smaller places like Saltburn and Robin Hoods Bay, or the villages between that are small and relatively unspoilt.

There's some lovely beaches and villages to explore and the North Yorkshire moors are right there as well, with the railway and the station that was used in Harry Potter (which is also Aidensfield from Heartbeat).

Lyme Regis in Dorset. Lovely small town, nice beach, fossils to find, great walks and restaurants… lots of b&bs and small hotels there

Thanks for all these suggestions. I'm after specific places really... Like Rudge Farm.

The Norfolk one is right idea just a bit too far. I'm towards Worcester so south west of Birmingham. Makes west to east travel a pain for Norfolk or Suffolk. Leamington is over an hour from me.

Keep em coming if anyone is kind enough to think of somewhere specific.

I went to Gower not too long ago. Mumbles is great. Would maybe go again in a different place to stay in. We were at a farm conversion place about half hour away. My ds felt it was too quiet. Id booked it hoping there would be a bit of life around us with other cottages on site but everyone kept to themes. Nobody even said hello!

Id love to go to isle of wight but I wouldn't cope with ferry on top of drive. I need as easy as possible. I know it sounds daft but it's my illness. I get exhausted easily and mental effort is as bad as physical.

Some lovely places here though. Wish I was well and it would be so much simpler!

Not entirely sure anyone can advise if they haven’t stayed anywhere relevant. What about looking at holiday villages? It is not where I would go but you seem to need people around. I don’t so cannot advise really. Sorry.

Flear Farm in Devon

That looks great. Too late for this year as it's booked solid but will bookmark it.

I am south of Birmingham and Kent etc is a ballache, I'd avoid. I tend to head towards North Devon. Croyde/Woolacombe is lovely. Tenby in Wales, or Dorset. Can't suggest something specific as not been to the sort of things you're looking for but those are the areas I would head to.