Lake District, Yorkshire or Lincolnshire?

[GlitteryFluff]

End of the school holidays for 5 days. With a 6 year old and 2 year old. We want to go somewhere we haven't been to before.

We like a mix of quiet beaches and hikes in the countryside/up hills/ waterfalls/castles etc we will obviously go to a farm and a beach with all the fanfare at some point there.

I really want to go to Lake District but I’m sure I’ve read it gets far too busy in August?
I don’t know anything about Yorkshire or Lincolnshire but wondered if anyone thinks one has more of the things we're looking for? Or if they're both pretty similar with things to do there?

Any ideas?

Bridlington area.

You've got the beach at Brid. Loads of hikes in the dales, even some long distance trails there. Hornsea is a nice beachy place too.

If you’re looking for a quiet, peaceful beach in Yorkshire, Cayton Bay is your best bet. It’s very unspoilt and has a wild feel about it. It’s easy to miss this beach, even though it's only a couple of minutes from the main road, as there’s no sign to show you the way. You can pop into The Tow Inn for pint and a bite to eat, before you head back to the car park, which is just 200 yards from the seafront.

Just outside Whitby is a little village called Sandsend with a long sandy beach, divided down the middle by a stream running through it. My DC loved making dams in the stream. There are also rockpools, and views of Whitby Abbey in the distance. You can find restaurants, shops and cafes in the village.

You could also drive to Robin Hood’s Bay and do a 10 minute walk on the beach (low tide only) to Boggle Hole. Along the way, there are plenty of rock pools where you can look for fossils and sea creatures. Boggle Hole is actually a little crevice in the cliff with a tiny beach, and a fantastic pirate themed YHA. The YHA has recently been refurbished and has treasure trails, a dressing up box and a play area for families, but we often eat before heading back.

Thank you Monkey.
Will have a google, haven't heard of that area.

Thank you as well Rice.
Again haven't heard of any of the places you've mentioned so will have a google.

So it seems Yorkshire could work for us then.. off to google..

We spend a lot of time between The Lakes and North Wales, if you are going to the lakes its best to find a good weather forecast and go as its often very wet. The Beaches are a very long drive from the tourist areas.
The Lakes can be busy but some parts are still quiet.
www.donthibernate.co.uk/route-9-the-lakes/
Have you considered North Wales? I would avoid Rhyl and the massive caravan parks, they are fine for a base but too much Fish, Chips and Bingo for us, but usually a short drive away you can find lots of places and beaches.
Loads of nice places often near each other
www.donthibernate.co.uk/conwy/
The Llyn peninsular is stunning
www.visitsnowdonia.info/llyn-peninsula
Now if you are up for an adventure a good friend of ours did 24 castles in North Wales in a weekend.
www.donthibernate.co.uk/24-castles-of-north-wales/
We have done a few of the Castles but one at a time, we then did The Waterfalls
www.donthibernate.co.uk/waterfalls-of-north-wales/

Ricekrispie Great idea.
I'd go Yorkshire.
Although I'll also throw Northumberland in the mix. Beautiful castles, beaches and countryside. You've Hadrian's Wall, Alnwick, Bamburgh....

What about Northumberland? It ticks all your boxes.
Otherwise Whitby, robin hoods Bay Area in Yorkshire is lovely

Don't know where you'll find a "beach with all the fanfare" in the lakes.

Whitby or Bridlington sound more suitable

The Lakes does have some Beaches, www.visitcumbria.com/wc/west-coast-cumbria-overview/
But as you say not really Bucket and spade sort of places, personally it would be Wales due to the bigger choice of busy places and quiet ones all near each other.
Just one place Prestatyn look at what's on the doorstep? It also has a small Cinema but its a short drive and you are in the country side or on the A55 allowing you to be in Chester in 40 mins, Llandudno 30 mins Liverpool about 1 hour.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prestatyn
This beach is a short drive from Prestatyn which is a nice quiet town. Or about 15 minutes drive from Rhyl.
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g551989-d15715721-Reviews-Barkby_Beach-Prestatyn_Denbighshire_North_Wales_Wales.html
Within 10 minutes drive of the beach.
Nice waterfall with a woodland walk and a small cave for the kids to explore.
www.dyserth.com/waterfall.html
Roman Bath House, most people dont even know it exists
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g551989-d8414355-Reviews-The_Roman_Bath_House-Prestatyn_Denbighshire_North_Wales_Wales.html
The Funship, now this is quite bizarre, its a full size car ferry that's land locked, its a long story, you can walk to it but can't go on it
dukeoflancaster.net
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSS_Duke_of_Lancaster_(1955)
Holy shrine
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g609080-d602979-Reviews-St_Winefride_s_Well_Shrine-Holywell_Flintshire_North_Wales_Wales.html

North Norfolk for me - lovely beaches and plenty of them so if you go around the coast to the right you will find somewhere. I would avoid Hunstanton as it will be mobbed but anywhere in August will be massively busy

Thanks all.

We went to Northumberland in August and really enjoyed it. Was beautiful. And really quiet despite it being school holidays.

We have been to wales twice, once snowdonia way, the other south west way. Both were fab and we will go back to explore more just wanted to go somewhere we haven't been to.

I know the Lake District isn't known for its beaches, so we would have visited somewhere like black pool for the day for the kids to have the typical seaside experience with the arcades etc but was hoping there was some nice streams or lakes to paddle in.

I think Yorkshire it is then!

South West lakes can be quieter.

Grizedale Forrest is good for kids and you are near the beaches. Silecroft beach is nice.

Fell Foot is the local “beach” in Cumbria. It’s a national trust site at the end of Windermere.

You can hire kayaks and rowing boats, there is an ice cream shop and cafe. Plenty of grass for a picnic and the water is shallow enough for a paddle.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fell-foot

www.golakes.co.uk/Hawkshead-Grizedale-Forest-Visitor-Centre/details/?dms=3&venue=5014559

The places recommended by RiceKrispie would be my choice, although be prepared for them to be heaving in the summer. Parking in RHB can be difficult as it's very limited. You can also struggle in Whitby at the height of the season, so if you do stay there, find somewhere with parking (or you could use the train of course). So much to do in that part of the world as long as you don't mind it being busy.

Blackpool is a fair trek from the lakes, Morecambe bay is closer though and might have what you want, especially if there is a festival on

I'm from Yorkshire so biased. But we really do have some amazing coastlines. We frequent Filey, Cayton Bay, Humnanby, Reighton, Scarborough, Bridlington. All very different but all equally beautiful. You could take me anywhere in the world, but my heart lays in Flamborough - simply breathtaking.

I only discovered Filey this summer - it's fab! Enough for the kids to do but not big and tacky like Scarborough and no where near as busy as Whitby. Planning on going camping there next summer.

Although I love the Lakes - suggestions above. I do second the Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay, Scarborough idea too.

We’ve got your next 2 years holidays planned for you!

Problem now is I want to see more of Yorkshire as we have only done RHB, fossil walk there was great