places to visit in the UK

[16vmini]

ok , we are just getting plans together for our summer holiday .. last year we went to france ... and it was great .. but this we want to stay in the UK , but spend more time traverling ... , 2- 3 weeks we hope..

so just wondering what sights people can recomend .. we want to go to scotland , so no destination is out of reach...

things like , best fish and chip shop , best ice cream , best pub , nice park , kids park, national trust places etc...

we have a 11 and 14 year old to help you out with ideas

things on our list :

Monkeyforest
2 ft ice cream codes somewhere in yorkshire ! (sister knows it)
bletchly park
mt snowden
Matt

[fullsunian]

ok , we are just getting plans together for our summer holiday .. last year we went to france ... and it was great .. but this we want to stay in the UK , but spend more time traverling ... , 2- 3 weeks we hope..

so just wondering what sights people can recomend .. we want to go to scotland , so no destination is out of reach...

things like , best fish and chip shop , best ice cream , best pub , nice park , kids park, national trust places etc...

we have a 11 and 14 year old to help you out with ideas

things on our list :

Monkeyforest
2 ft ice cream codes somewhere in yorkshire ! (sister knows it)
bletchly park
mt snowden
Matt

Fish and chips
Mallaig (only one chippy I think)
Sit and eat on the habour and watch the seals swim in.

[16vmini]

Fish and chips
Mallaig (only one chippy I think)
Sit and eat on the habour and watch the seals swim in.

knowing nothing about seals .. is that a certain time of year ? or day ?
sounds great ...

Matt

[Silky]

Ooh, where to start? I love the UK, we have a fantastic country and so many hidden treasures. I don't know which direction you're looking to head in, but these are some of my favourite locations:

* Pembroke - Stackpole area. Barafundle Bay is beautiful, miles of unspoilt beaches and not as busy as Cornwall. Nearby Tenby ticks all the boxes for the kids seasidey stuff.

* Shell Island, near Barmouth North Wales. Great site right by the sea but with Snowdonia as a backdrop. My kids always disappear off in the dunes for hours on end. Nantcol Waterfalls is nearby, again lost of seasidey places with their attractions too.

* Norfolk - Hunstanton, Sheringham, Wells on Sea. Great beaches, lovely little towns, seals galore.

* Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay. Seaside towns but still with character and great beaches. Great headland at Whitby, fab fish & chips.

* Peak District - Matlock with its cable car, caves and Gullivers Kingdom to tick the theme park box but at a cheap price. A good central point if you're crossing the country

* Northumberland - Seahouses and Bamburgh. Great for wildlife, fabulous beaches and the fish and chips by the harbour at Seahouses are unbeatable

We've run trips for families to all of the above and end up going back time and time again.

You're simply spoilt for choice in the Lake District or Scotland (Loch Lomond, Mull & Iona my faves), a few of us on here are trying to organise a trip to the latter this year with our vans and just can't make our minds up on what to choose.

Silky

[thebobster]

I agree with Silky. Some brilliant destinations there.

If you want to go up to the Highlands up in the far north of Scotland there is a great little town you can use as a base. It's called Lairg. You can stay there for five nights and have a different day excursion each day with four different types of scenery. Day one, set off North and then east as you get to the North coast. You pass by John O' Groats then down the East coast heading South West along the coast and so back to Lairg. Day two, Head North again to the coast, but turn left (West) and along the west coast back south to Lairg. Day three, head west from Lairg and then south when you get to the coast and back to Lairg. Day four, head east, and then south when you reach the coast, round and back to Lairg. You can of course plan your own trips in your preferred order. If you spent a week up there, you could have a non-driving rest day between trips too if you wished or even take two days over each leg. The choice is yours.

Each day's run is do-able comfortably with opportunities for picnics and plenty of photos. (I did it this holiday once in a 1600 cc Bay with three other adults and it coped ok)There are two campsites at Lairg. One is behind "The Crofter's Restaurant" (http://search.visitbritain.com/en-GB/De ... tID=539477) and although small, is clean, sheltered, and well equipped. The other site is on a farm just outside the town. It is a lot bigger, but not very level. It also gets quite windy up there too unless you are lucky with the weather. I have stayed at both and prefer the one in the town. (nearer to the pub without driving for a start.) It is a few years since I was up that far north, so it might be worth checking on the interweb thingy to see if anything has changed much. If you come back down south on the west coast, you can check out the chippy at Mallaig and also the Isle of Skye. The only downside to that is the midges. They will eat you alive, especially if you use the anti-midge sprays they sell. The thing I have found with the midges is that if it's damp weather they stay home but if it dries out and the sun shines, they become very active, especially later on in the year (after July).

[VWGeoff]

Ooh, where to start? I love the UK, we have a fantastic country and so many hidden treasures. I don't know which direction you're looking to head in, but these are some of my favourite locations:

* Pembroke - Stackpole area. Barafundle Bay is beautiful, miles of unspoilt beaches and not as busy as Cornwall. Nearby Tenby ticks all the boxes for the kids seasidey stuff.

* Shell Island, near Barmouth North Wales. Great site right by the sea but with Snowdonia as a backdrop. My kids always disappear off in the dunes for hours on end. Nantcol Waterfalls is nearby, again lost of seasidey places with their attractions too.

* Norfolk - Hunstanton, Sheringham, Wells on Sea. Great beaches, lovely little towns, seals galore.

* Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay. Seaside towns but still with character and great beaches. Great headland at Whitby, fab fish & chips.

* Peak District - Matlock with its cable car, caves and Gullivers Kingdom to tick the theme park box but at a cheap price. A good central point if you're crossing the country

* Northumberland - Seahouses and Bamburgh. Great for wildlife, fabulous beaches and the fish and chips by the harbour at Seahouses are unbeatable

We've run trips for families to all of the above and end up going back time and time again.

You're simply spoilt for choice in the Lake District or Scotland (Loch Lomond, Mull & Iona my faves), a few of us on here are trying to organise a trip to the latter this year with our vans and just can't make our minds up on what to choose.

Silky

You mentioned Matlock Bath, don`t forget to mention Chatsworth House, Nice place for a picnic, Great views. Yes I also have to agree with you Hunstanton is great, I was there end of October. I`ll be back this year. Mobile fone was C**p there, just to warn you if on 3.

[Gogso1]

As a Falkirk lad I have to recommend a visit to the Falkirk Wheel (http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).

And would recommend this for some off the wall and unusual sights: http://www.pocketmountains.com/product/ ... o-see-here" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (more info here: http://nothingtoseehere.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).

[Ian Hulley]

best fish and chip shop

Atlantis Fish Bar in Seahouses, between the docks and the carpark as you get off the Farne Island boats.

best ice cream

Bradwell's ice cream from the wooden hut at Calver Sough crossroads, Derbyshire.

nice park , kids park

Carsington Water visitor's center, near us in Wirksworth, Derbyshire.

best pub

The Knockerdown (aka 'Knickersdown' ) is right next to Carsington not cheap but good beer (Marston's )

Ian

[MacWilliam]

The hebrides will certainely make you feel isolated.

[Palomino]

The Knockerdown (aka 'Knickersdown' ) is right next to Carsington not cheap but good beer (Marston's )

Or the Miner's Arms at Carsington does a splendid lamb casserole and fish and chip night is on thursdays, all very reasonable.
If in Derbyshire I'd also recommend a trip to Castleton. The kids might enjoy a trip to one of the Blue John Caves, one of which even has an underground boat ride. Then there's a great leisure drive up Snake Pass from there. Was thinking of going back there in the van myself - there's a couple of smallish campsites there which look 'OK' too, though haven't tried them yet.

[Ian Hulley]

The kids might enjoy a trip to one of the Blue John Caves, one of which even has an underground boat ride.

The cavern with the boat ride is Speedwell Cavern http://speedwellcavern.co.uk/category/general/

Then there's a great leisure drive up Snake Pass from there.

It's actually Winnatts Pass


Ian

[Andrew Evers]

Continuing with the Derbyshire theme. Winnatts is a slow drive up even in my 2.1l and a fun drive down which lets you know your brakes are working. As mentioned Snake Pass is only a couple of miles from Castleton up through Bamford. We still love Bakewell with it's pudding shops and the Monsal Trail which you can cycle from Castleton to Buxton on the old trainline. Along the way is Hassop Station which does good coffee and grub. Then there's Thornbridge Hall with it's brewery and Monsal Head with beautiful views and a great pub.

[Palomino]

Re Derbyshire: its certainly a great part of England. I only wish I'd discovered it earlier in life.

Phil

[16vmini]

cheers for the great ideas , going to print of a big map of england to stick on the fridge door , so we can start putting some of these things on to see if we can work out a route plan

Matt

[StuM]

I don't eat fish, but my parents reckon the best fish supper they've had was from:

Anstruther Fish Bar

Worth a stop off if you're up that way. St Andrews is worth a wander, especially if you like golf..

At the other end of the country, I love it down at Lizard Point in Cornwall. Also, if you are down there, Senned Cove is lovely.

Reading this thread with interest as we're hoping to get away a lot more this year - would love to go to Scotland - spent loads of summers up there with grand parents, but not been back in ages, but need to test the van water a bit closer to home first!