Run out of ideas....need some inspiration

[Cherubb]

I am looking to book a long weekend away in August. We live sort of between Manchester and the Peak district. Ideally I would like somewhere inland as all coastal options are very pricey and mostly booked up also quite a long drive...

So far have considered:

Peak district - nice but not much available
Shropshire - where to look?!
Lake District - can't find anything half decent for our dates

Where else can I look? Max drive time 3 hours. 'All we really want' is a cottage with some walks and ideally cycle paths nearby. Some sort of watersports would be an added bonus but not essential at all, even just a river to swim. I just can't find anything under £800. Also happy to do glamping but all seems to be booked up. Don't want a hotel / caravan if we can avoid it and would prefer more rural / remote to busy. Can anyone inspire me with places to look. Thanks

Bala Lake in North Wales?

Shropshire - round Ironbridge and the museums? I think there are river activities. Lots of nice walking and scenery. Bridgnorth is nice, with the Severn Valley railway, funicular railway up the cliff and Castle ruins.

The Forest of Bowland has stunning walks and wild swimming at Crook O Lune and near Killington.
You could also try the area around Rutland Water - perhaps Oakham.
My last suggestion is the Lincolnshire Wolds.

Pushing your 3 hour drive time but Scottish Borders or Dumfries & Galloway. Scottish schools go back around the 17th August so there might be more availability north of the border.
I think anything under £800 for a week in august is going to be a long shot, particularly at short notice with the increase in demand for UK holidays this year.

North Wales has loads of stuff both on the coast and inland
Some ideas here
www.donthibernate.co.uk
One specifically for Shropshire
www.donthibernate.co.uk/shropshire-autumn-weekend/

I’d head up towards Scotland - and apparently the beaches in Dumfries &Galloway are lovely

Sorry, just reread it and realised it’s only a long weekend, in which case £800 is a bit steep but you’ll probably find it difficult to get self catering accommodation for less than 7nights in peak season unless you go through Airbnb.

Thank you, some good tips here. Hadn't considered Scotland as always thought we would go but make it a week trip but I will check the journey time.

@emmathedilemma are there any specific towns / locations in the Scottish borders / Dumfries and Galloway that you would recommend?

Somewhere inland in Wales ie Bala, Ruthin?
Or shrewsbury way?
Or Yorkshire ie near Harrogate, north york moors?

For Shropshire I'd aim for near Ludlow or Church Stretton.
Lakes will be busy but might be something at North Lakes - stayed in Penrith recently and it was a great base and surprisingly nice.

If you’re looking at the borders then check out the towns on the borders railway line as that would give you the option of a day trip into Edinburgh. Or Peebles is a lovely little market town.

Cumbria, plenty of places outside the Lake District that are beautiful and rural but just not as naice.

Seconded the beauty of South West Scotland.

Dumfries and Galloway - Kirkcudbright, Garlieston Bay or New England Bay are all lovely places but might be pushing 3hours.

Lucksall Caravan Park near Hereford have vans for hire - it's one of our favourite sites, right on the banks of the Wye.

Welsh Marches?

How about the area near Ross-on-Wye (Herefordshire/Wales border)? Symonds Yat has spectacular views, and I'm sure there's a cycle trail near there too. We saw people canoeing on the river near there. Ross-on-Wye is small, but a pleasant place to have a wander round. Ditto Monmouth which is a bit bigger. There's a Premier Inn just outside Ross-on-Wye.

Avalable for weekend of 30th Aug at a great price
edge of the Yorkshire Wolds lots of lovely walks, cycling & small villages. Short drive to York if bad weather.

Meant to add water sports at Allerthorpe just down the road. Or try gliding!

Keilder water

Rutland? Water sport things at Rutland water?

We have booked a last minute break in a pod this August at Burton constable holiday park.
Really struggled with availability at such short notice.

Have you tried looking on VRBO??