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?

Abersoch - west coast do more likely to be warm.

Agree with wells and the villages along the n Norfolk coast. We used to go there loads when we lived in Suffolk. Now live in Cornwall and go over to st Ives only out of season, on the train from st Erth. Love it but it's mental in school hols.

We live in Somerset so it's only 2/3 hours for us we go to St Ives quite as my 3 dc are 3/6/9. There are lots of beautiful places in UK but the 'feel' is what mostly draws us back to St Ives. I've found the closest thing to it is Tenby in Wales. I had an amazing time though v cold/wet/windy on an A level Geology trip to Arran many years ago and have not explored Scotland as much as I'd like to. When I suggested Shetland to my kiddies they looked at me like I had 3 heads. Will wait until they've left home for that trip

Another vote for Whitby/Robin Hood's Bay area. Beautiful and lots to do.

Whitby and robin hoods bay, stopping at Northumberland on the way down definitely!

Thanks very much everyone. I have enquired about a cottage in Southwold which does look lovely. Hopefully it's still available. Now thinking ahead to 2018! Loads of ideas now Tenby....Whitby...Devon...or back to St Ives...?

I had looked at Shetland previously, but the ferry alone, with a car and a 4 berth cabin was nearly £800

Out of interest where did you go in the end

Norfolk! It is the driest county! We,ve been to Weybourne, small central coastal village, not far from Wells, Sheringham, Holt, Blakeney. Close to the seal trips, steam train, other shandy beaches...not so well heard of but West Beach is fabulous for rock pooling. Cromer Pier. Great walks along the coastal path. Weybourne has A great pub and village shop,, linked by the Coastal Hopper bus if you don’t fancy driving.
We stay at Home Farm which has a cluster of self catering cottages around an indoor pool, games room , play area.

West Wales around Cardigan Bay is lovely. We went last year and had a fabulous time. Some beautiful beaches and not overcrowded like Devon and Cornwall can get in the summer. I can recommend a fab place to stay if you are interested.

It's a zombie thread.

We went to Southwold in the end. We loved it but in reality it still took us nearly a day to get there so we are still hunting for somewhere closer.. maybe Tenby or somewhere on the Yorkshire coast. I would definitely go back to Suffolk in the future though as it's a beautiful part of the world.

Tenby will be another long drive for you - it’s an hour for me and I’m already in Swansea.