Holiday inspiration

[Aparecium]

Looking for a UK holiday this summer. Dh and me, plus 1 to 4 dc, youngest will be 17. Dh likes hill-walking, I like history. We both like outdoor swimming. Dc like a bit of everything to various degrees. If the older ones join us we will likely have two cars.

We've gone to the Lake District countless times, and Northumbria a couple of times. We went to Snowdonia, Isle of Wight and Ironbridge a lot when the dc were smaller.

We'd normally stay in self catering or youth hostels, or a combination. We like somewhere with atmosphere - quirky more than stylish - and definitely comfortable.

Any suggestions?

How about Kent, Dover, Folkestone, Dungeness etc - coastal swimming in some places , day travel on buses is about £7 so you can visit Canterbury, but pretty easy to drive as well, and you have an all the military and maritime history around there?

www.visitkent.co.uk/studying-in-kent/history/

Chartwell is wonderful, Rudyard Kipling home too, Sissinghurst..
Plus castles!

Nice idea. I visited several of these places as day trips many years ago when I lived in London, and dh is from further afield so they may be new to him.

But would there be enough hill walking for dh and our walkers?

Peak District. Matlock Bath, Hope Valley, outdoor swimming at Hathersage. Loads of walks and things to do.

The Yorkshire Dales is good for hill walking - there’s Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent and Whernside to name a few. For history there’s Stilton Castle, Bolton Abbey, Fountains Abbey….

Pembrokeshire for sure! Lots of history and beautiful beaches for swimming. Lots of opportunities for walking. I'd recommend this place to stay www.eastblockhouse.co.uk

It's very like Cornwall but so much quieter! We love it there!

Never been to Pembrokeshire, but some of our dc have and they say the beaches are lovely.

Hmm, a few days in Snowdonia so the walkers can get their fix, then drive down to Pembroke for some castles and seaside...

Exmoor/North Devon coast

Maybe not Snowdonia s well - I don't mind 4-5h drive to get to the holiday, but I don't fancy it in the middle of the holiday.

North of Scotland and Inner Hebrides