Where / what was your best uk family holiday?

[sillymillyb]

I am getting myself SO confused about where to go!

What was your best uk holiday as a family?

There are 7 of us (aged 3-70) and I think what we are after is a traditional seaside break with lots to do. Can we pinch your holiday ideas please?

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You can find more recommendations, plus discounts on self-catering accommodation, in our round-up of Mumsnetters’ top UK holiday destinations. MNHQ.

We've had fab holidays in Dorset, Isle of Wight, Pembrokeshire and Snowdonia - I wouldn't embark on the purgatorial trek to Cornwall if I were you OP.

Everyone is really selling me on North Norfolk though - I'm definitely going to look into it for this summer.

I don't think I have ever seen beaches as vast as those in North Norfolk.

We went the first week of the school holidays last year. The photos are of Wells beach, Holkham beach and the seals at Blakeney.

We loved it

Ilfracome, North Devon was my fave in UK. St Ives was nice too.

Beautiful photos BunBaker. I can't wait for summer!!

I agree with the Isle of Wight. I live near the Needles and yes, you can get the chairlift down to Alum Bay provided the weather isn't too bad.

If you wanted something different though, Brighton could be a lot of fun.

I asked my 12 year old DS this question, after lurking on the thread, and he reckons the Isle of Wight. We had a wonderful week there in February half term in 2012, so it's obviously stayed with him. So, I've booked a caravan for a week in August. His face lit up when I told him yesterday.

Pembrokeshire
North Norfolk (we go each year)
Northumberland but it's a long drive from south west where we are
Scottish islands (even further!)

Cornwall is beautiful but the journey is he'll and not one I wish to repeat in a hurry.

Dorset is less than two hours from us and ticks all the boxes for a perfect family holiday.

Have you looked at Dartmouth in South Hams Devon?

Beautiful lots of lovely walks beautiful beaches could go to torquay and Paignton.

There is a steam train and a boat trip called round robin which does a bit of everything really lovely day trip (takes a while day really)

What a fabulous thread! I'm saving it. Some great recommendations on here. I think Cornwall is a bit far from Whitley Bay but if I were going I'd stay in Crantock - across the Gannel estuary from Newquay. Had a fabulous family holiday there with my MIL who sadly died later that year. So much do and see and so beautiful. We stayed here. Can't recommend highly enough.

This is great

www.homeaway.co.uk/p474968?k_clickid=0ef9595c-594d-3ee8-aaeb-00006ab36e21&gclid=CKa-1sGqt8MCFQHMtAodVBsAUA

and in a lovely area too, massive beaches at Pembrey and Ferryside, a castle, a nice town at Carmarthen, cinema at Llanelli, not to far from Oakwood theme park, or the Welsh Botanical Gardens

the Isle of Wight is the place for me, we have had stunning family holidays there, including holidays with 4 generations of us last year, the children love the very short ferry trip and the beaches are to die for.

Northumberland coast for us every time. If you stay in Seahouses you have all the traditional seaside stuff on the doorstep but we tend to go for a holiday cottage in one of the villages. We love low Newton by the Sea. There are amazing castles, lovely walks and boat trips :)

greylady op lives on Northumberland!

But for my benefit, are there any good local agencies letting out lovely quality cottages? I can only find frumpy ones more suited to my grandma!

Our favourite UK holiday was on a farm near Kingsbridge, Devon. Just 4 of us, when DCs were 7 and 4. There was another family there too, with children the same age, plus their 2 grandparents. We stayed in the converted farm buildings. The grandparents stayed in the 'Granary' which our two found hilarious. The owner commented on how much more relaxed I was at the end of the fortnight (which I was).

A good place for a group might be Lytham St Annes. Loads of hotels along the beachfront, plenty of beach for everyone, it's dead flat so it's easy on small legs / old legs / buggies, and Blackpool's close by if that floats your boat.

Coastal Retreats have absolutely gorgeous cottages in Northumberland. Highly recommended. Loads of great holidays in their cottages in a lovely part of the country.

I was about to say Center Parcs is always our best holiday but then saw you said a seaside holiday.

saythatagain - I go to Elie quite often and it's great. We spend time on the beach (if it's dry, theres a good watersports place where you can hire canoes etc) and for activities we do:

horse riding at Kilconquhar Castle Estate
Secret bunker, near Anstruther
boat trip to the Isle of May
chain walk in Earlsferry (tide and weather permitting)
1/2 day in St Andrews to mooch about shops, play himilayas, swimming, cinema
fish and chips in Anstruther or Pittenweem
day at Craigtoun Park
day at Cairnie Fruit Farm near Cupar
lunch at Balgove near St Andrews

Hope this helps!

Thanks keeprunning, I'll check that out. I was just eyeing up the national trust cottages - love the cottages, don't like the prices too much!!

Probably too far for you, but we've had two fabulous camping holidays on the Applecross peninsula on the west of Scotland. Unbelievably beautiful, rural scenery and a fantastic pub. Lots of beaches, and interesting galleries and artists here and there.
Great thread, loads of new places to add to my list!

Another vote for Cromer here. We spend some time there every year; sometimes a weekend, sometimes a week, and once we stayed a fortnight and never run out of things to do opens webpage for cottages4you

Not read the whole thread but we have just booked our third year to Llandudno. Beach, pier, tram up the Orme (although bugger all to do when you get up there!), its all on the flat so no tired legs, good supermarket if you are self catering.

The kids love it, and we do too :)

Norfolk, lovely unspoilt beeches, market towns, waterways, Great Yarmouth for some traditional seaside, crabbing in Cromer, Hunstanton - not called 'sunny hunny' for nothing, Norwich for city life, never crowded. Lovely place.