Like St Ives but closer!

[thesoo]

We are trying to decide where to go this summer and are totally stumped. The last 2 years we have travelled by car from Scotland to St Ives in Cornwall and we have had such a wonderful time there. The journey would be too much for us this year, so we are looking for somewhere a bit like this but closer! Lovely self catering fishermans cottages, sandy beaches, plenty of restaurants, hustle and bustle, wet weather alternatives, things for the kids (age 9 and 7) to do etc etc... Oh, and wall to wall sunshine please. Not after much, eh? Does such a place exist? I was thinking maybe Norfolk or Suffolk but don't really know these areas so just really looking for recommendations..please?

Devon. Salcombe way? lots of nice places round there. same pricey price bracket as S Ives (where I holidayed 40 years ago through all my childhood before high prices and rammed streets)

www.salcombeinformation.co.uk/

we'd go youth hostelling in Salcombe. Beautiful, though St Ives spiritual home!

Wells next to the sea on the north Norfolk coast.

Thank you, I have only ever been through Devon on the way to St Ives. Salcombe looks lovely. Some of the self catering properties are gorgeous on that website. Will have a good look later on.

Wells-next-the-sea in norfolk would be my recommendation. Beautiful buildings. Lots of restaurants and cafes for such a small and quiet place. Glorious soft sandy beach (lots of private ones are available to hire for a day or more online). Hunstanton is just up the road and has a sea life centre and swimming pool with slides and wave machines, so a good place for a rainy day (also has a fun fair for cheesy days!).

Lol, cross post with womble !

Gahhhh, typo - lots of beach huts are available for hire.

Brixham is lovely (not biased at all as I live there!)

Love the look of Wells-next-the-sea too. Thank you I think Salcombe is a bit too far for us this year although it looks perfect in every other way..

Also OP, have a look at Whitby, I've never been, but its not too far from Scotland. It looks quaint.

Have a look at Staithes in North Yorkshire. It's the fishing village in one of the cbeebies programmes with Bernard Cribbins.

It's a beautiful village built on a steep hill.

Southwold is just delightful, have you considered Wales? Have heard great things about the Gower.

I came on to suggest Whitby. It's great fun any way, but especially do in Regatta week (although all the accommodation might well be booked by now). Can't promise the sunshine though!

From Scotland, Devon/Salcombe is barely closer than St Ives.

Northumberland coast? Not sure where you are in Scotland already but what about the East Neuk of Fife? Barra is beautiful? West Coast? Morar / Arisaig?

Whitby

Robin Hoods Bay is another village in the Whitby/Staithes part of the world.

Aberaeron in West Wales - but may be just as far. Nothing like as big or busy as St Ives and probably rainier - but beautiful.

www.cardigan-bay.com/aberaeron-cardigan-bay.php

Staithes is very sweet, but you have to park at the top of the village and walk up/down about 200 steps. No great for little legs, prams etc. It is also very much a village not a hustle-bustle town. The beach water quality was very low standard and not bathable a few years ago, I don't know if this has improved, it's worth checking. It is where "Old Jacks's Boat" was filmed, and is an easy day trip from Whitby.

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions. Would not have thought about Yorkshire so will have a look at both Whitby and Staithes

Furbys Gower is on the short list as I have never been to Wales in my 45 years which is shameful

HamletsSister Thank you. We usually have a couple of weekends away in Scotland and the places you mention are among our favourites for camping. Thinking of the Western Isles for next year. DH says Barra is amazing.

Southwold would be similar to St Ives. Wells is also lovely.

All lovely places but there is only one st Ives so think as it as a change as none really compare believe me I have tried . It captures you and that's it

I think the closest to st Ives in style is Tenby in Wales. Would that be more accessible for you?

Have you done Shetland? It's like nowhere else.

andrea315 I totally agree, St Ives is a very very special place and part of me just wants to go there every year, forever! I know there must be some other gems closer to home and feel I should give somewhere else a try. Plus I think another 1200 mile round trip might just finish our car off!

Porthmadog or Criccieth in Wales or Southwold is lovely too.