Ideas for a holiday to celebrate turning 50

[BooseysMom]

Next year I will be 50 and I've toyed with having a party but now I think I just want to go away somewhere different. We have one DS who's 7 and none of us have passports. Me and DH haven't been overseas for 15 years due to illness and redundancy. So just wondering if anyone has any ideas. I'm keen on somewhere like the Isles of Scilly but having DS with us is a huge factor as there has to be stuff to interest him and really all he wants is adventure and games.
Thanks in advance.

Why don't just you and your husband go somewhere fabulous? Adults only time would be fantastic.

@Aquamarine1029 .I would love that but alas we have no one to look after DS. We haven't had a break without him for 7 years!

Ah no take him. I'm all for child free trips abroad but not when you've never had one as a family!

What kind of things do you like?

I am assuming from Isle of scilly you don't want anything to long haul. What time of year are you going

I'd highly reccomend Iceland (its best in dead winter but depends how you deal with cold) but even in summer it's a stunning country.

If you want more UK based try Jersey or York - lots of stuff to do in those. Or Oxford has lots of fun things like the best board games cafe in the UK (imo) and Harry Potter or ghost walks

Sorry, just realised this is uk travel.

A hotel with childcare clubs included.

Woolley Grange, Crieff Hydro, Augill Castle

Do you have to stay in this country? We took the kids to Spain for a week for about the same price as a week here (pre covid!) and it was fab.

Otherwise, have you considered (North) Yorkshire? Stunning scenery, the dales are beautiful, the lakes not far at all, cities (York, Harrogate) on your doorstep, activities like forbidden corner, lots of castles and abbeys and icecream.

Otherwise, Northumberland coast? Anglesey? Norfolk broads?

What would be an ideal itinerary?

It depends where you're based and how easy it is to get to places, and also what interests you. Would you prefer a city break, a hotel resort with activities on site or a remote Scottish island type break? York and Edinburgh are great for city breaks with kids.

Thanks so much everyone for these great suggestions! Yes UK preferably as we're on a budget and have no passports. I love bird watching and really fancy the Isles of Scilly. But would there be enough to interest DS?

Sorry forgot to say it would be early summer.
Love the idea of North Yorks too.

What about Orkney?

I'd deff consider Edinburgh too. so many amazing adventure things thing - the castle, the obscurer tower (basically a museum of optical illusion), depending on how scared DS gets the Mary King Close and ghost walks and lots of whisky factory tours (I think DS can go but can't drink the whisky)

Even with the cost of passports to factor in I have found going abroad to be cheaper, especially than somewhere like the Isles of Scilly with the added travel from the mainland, general travel and lack of weather guarantee.
How long are you going for and roughly where in the country are you starting from?

lots of whisky factory tours ......i can only think of 1 distillery in Edinburgh.....

Would you consider the Hebrides? There's something magical about getting on a ferry and leaving the mainland behind. Lots of self catering options, just load the car up and go. We visit the Isle of Islay every year as I have family there, every childhood holiday was spent there. The islands offer so much to do and see and are great for families.

Channel islands?

Isle of Wight?

Pembrokeshire. There are RSPB reserves on 2 islands, one of which you can land on.
There are lots of outdoor pursuit things there which our 7yo enjoys.
I’d suggest staying at Whitesands beach. There’s a few cottages there with hot tubs and amazing views.

If you love bird watching then near the Farne Islands and Holy Island, you can also for a day visit the seabird centre at North Berwick.

So many great suggestions..thank you everyone.

How long are you going for and roughly where in the country are you starting from?

It will be a week starting from the Midlands.

Took ours to the Isles of Scilly, youngest was 8. Fab time loved the beaches, so quiet and safe in the water. They loved trips to off Islands. You need to book 11 months in advance

@Bells3032

I am assuming from Isle of scilly you don't want anything to long haul. What time of year are you going

I'd highly reccomend Iceland (its best in dead winter but depends how you deal with cold) but even in summer it's a stunning country.

If you want more UK based try Jersey or York - lots of stuff to do in those. Or Oxford has lots of fun things like the best board games cafe in the UK (imo) and Harry Potter or ghost walks

York also has ghost walks and Harry Potter stuff , also the national railway museum, medieval walls, bust trios, actually loads to do fir kids. Interesting fur adults. Pre-Covid we visited for the day often, I’m sure we will again (dc are now 9 and 12).

Hire a long boat. Or stay in a really unusual accommodation. Maybe a farm or castle?

You can check out tours here youtravel.me/en/ or on some similar sites and go on a trip. Nothing is better than visiting another country.

There are so many fabulous places you could go in the UK with a 7-year-old. We've done great trips to Northumerland, N. Yorks, Lake District, Edinburgh, Dorset (area around Lyme Regis is great for fossil hunting), North Norfolk, Cotswolds, Pembrokeshire. There is a Footprint Guide called 'Britain with Kids' and it has a chapter on each of the best areas that are stuffed full of good things to do with DC. I haven't been to the Isles of Scilly, but if you're on a budget I'm not sure they're exactly a budget choice.

Thank you everyone. So many great suggestions, I just don't know what to do .
@Aurorie11.. if we opt for the Isles of Scilly, I must remember to book far in advance. Thank you for the advice