[Steezy]

My GF and I are thinking of having a few UK holidays this year (long weekends) but don't have much information or past experience of good destinations.

Ideas we've had so far:

- Peak District (although 'peak' suggests lots of... well... peaks. And we're not looking for a hiking holiday)

- Lake District (sounds more up our street)

- Isle of Wight

And that's it!!

We live in South London so we've been to a lot of places in the South (Brighton, Bournemout, etc), so we're looking for something that feels as much like a holiday as possible but keeping it in the UK (various visa issues aren't worth the hassle).

So can anyone tell me what the lake and peak district are like, any other destinations and just general tips and advice?

Thanks

[fire2burn]

The Lake District has a lot more peaks than the Peak District that's for sure! So don't just assume based on names If you do decide to visit the Lake District make sure you drive up Hardknott Pass, it's pretty fun! Although not necessarily good for timid drivers or those who struggle with steep hill starts... To be honest if you visit either the Peak District or Lake District but don't do at least a little bit of light hiking you're going to miss out on the good bits with the nice views off the beaten track and it seems a shame to visit these places without getting a feel for that.

Proof the Lake District is also very 'peaky'

I can't really comment on the Isle of Wight as it's been years since I last went there. I just the remember the novelty of travelling via Hovercraft, the two places I remember visiting were Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House. They were nice but I'm not really sure what you want from your holiday, I understand that not everyone enjoys rattling around old houses and castles

I quite enjoyed the Peak District last time I went, for an idea of places to visit it's definitely worth visiting Dovedale although try to do it early morning when there's less tourists milling about because it does get very busy. Castleton has some decent caves plus other stuff to visit if you like that sort of thing? Sweedwell Cavern, Peak Cavern (Devil's Arse), Blue John Cavern, and Peveril Castle. Also nearby are Cavedale and Mam Tor (Shivering Mountain). Many people seem to enjoy Chatsworth House and reasonably nearby you have Matlock Bath and you can take a cable car up to the Heights of Abraham. Buxton always has stuff to do on a rainy day and there's Poole's Cavern nearby plus Solomon's Temple at the top of a hill so you get fairly decent views. If you do pluck up the motivation to do some walking Kinder Scout is good and well recommended by most walkers, also definitely visit Stanage Edge great views and if you carry on walking in the area you up in Padley Gorge which is worth visiting.

I know you said you're not looking for a hiking holiday but I'm not sure what most people would call a hike... anything less than 10 miles I just class as a sedate stroll
For some fairly easy walks: http://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/see...eat-walks.aspx
For longer ones: http://www.walkingenglishman.com/peakdistrict.htm

[duracell]

Just a quick thing you may not have thought about - are you planning on these long weekends during the summer? If so, it might be difficult to find accommodation - the Lake District is really expensive and usually fairly booked up July - August, but then there's also camping if you're into that.

Otherwise, I can recommend the Lake District, but haven't been to either the Isle of Wight or the Peak District.

My boyfriend and I are going 'on holiday' to York, just because it's a city neither of us knows very well, there's a lot of things to visit/see/do/etc, we'll have the option of going out into the Dales for walking.

[21stcenturyphantom]

(Original post by Steezy)
My GF and I are thinking of having a few UK holidays this year (long weekends) but don't have much information or past experience of good destinations.

Ideas we've had so far:

- Peak District (although 'peak' suggests lots of... well... peaks. And we're not looking for a hiking holiday)

- Lake District (sounds more up our street)

- Isle of Wight

And that's it!!

We live in South London so we've been to a lot of places in the South (Brighton, Bournemout, etc), so we're looking for something that feels as much like a holiday as possible but keeping it in the UK (various visa issues aren't worth the hassle).

So can anyone tell me what the lake and peak district are like, any other destinations and just general tips and advice?

Thanks

Have you considered the Yorkshire Dales, Wales, the Highlands of Scotland or the Western Isles?

[harrietx123x]

The Peak District is a lovely area, but if you're not into hiking etc then there's probably not much to do seeing as in most areas you are in the middle of nowhere!

[Steezy]

Thanks everyone.

I'm not dead set against hiking, it's just not really what I want my holiday to be based around.

I'd like a place within walking distance of a nice town or couple of pubs, with nice views (seaside, mountains, lakes or whatever really) to relax.

I've been on a few mountainbiking holidays in Scotland and Wales and the views were fantastic, but we worked hard for those views & I'm wanting a slightly more relaxed holiday.

Any further help is appreciated!!

[ChapelTom]

Avoid the Peak District I live there, its a rip off and I would not bother visiting, there are far better places to see. Castleton is a major rip off, I work there! Not good promotion I know but I'm rather blunt.

Go to the Lakes if anywhere, or the Yorkshire Dales. I've been all over the North on holiday/out for days out, the Peak District isn't worth it at all, avoid it like the plague (excuse the unintended pun!) Eyam was the only village outside London hit by the 1666-7 if you didn't know that, a historic village.

[superwolf]

I'm a big fan of the Lake District. There are a few nice towns you could stay in and that are accessible by bus or train (Windemere's pretty nice, you can hire rowing boats on the lake and the youth hostel's decent if you want somewhere cheapish to stay), plenty of places to walk of varying difficulties if you did want to do a bit of hiking, and the scenery's amazing. Weather can be a bit variable - it's absolutely gorgeous on a sunny day, and can look quite interesting and dramatic when cloudy too, but you do get those days when it just pisses it down constantly.

All that, plus it's the home of Kendal mint cake!

[fire2burn]

(Original post by superwolf)
I'm a big fan of the Lake District. There are a few nice towns you could stay in and that are accessible by bus or train (Windemere's pretty nice, you can hire rowing boats on the lake and the youth hostel's decent if you want somewhere cheapish to stay), plenty of places to walk of varying difficulties if you did want to do a bit of hiking, and the scenery's amazing. Weather can be a bit variable - it's absolutely gorgeous on a sunny day, and can look quite interesting and dramatic when cloudy too, but you do get those days when it just pisses it down constantly.

All that, plus it's the home of Kendal mint cake!

There are plenty of reasons to visit the Lake District... but I don't think Kendal mint cake is one of them

[superwolf]

(Original post by fire2burn)
There are plenty of reasons to visit the Lake District... but I don't think Kendal mint cake is one of them

But it's full of mintiness and sugariness and ummy nummy yumminess! How else are you supposed to get all that energy for leaping around the mountains like an especially sprightly sheep?

[green.tea]

http://malhamdale.com/cove.htm

^ very nice place

http://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/headland.htm

^favorite of mine. turn left to thornic bay as you head out. danes dyke is very nice too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staithes

^ very charming. Interesting geology. Walking back across the rock beach at dusk the village is lit up nestled between the cliffs.

[WarriorInAWig]

My favourite topic.

Based on what you say, I'd go with Scarborough/Whitby, Matlock/Matlock Bath, Llandudno or my favourite, BLACKPOOL!

Scarborough and Whitby are close to each other. One has the connection to Dracula but both are very picturesque with Robin Hood's Bay not too far away.

Matlock and Matlock Bath were a favourite for Victorian holidaymakers with the spa and the cable car ride to Abraham Heights. It's quiet but come a sunny weekend, expect lots of daytrippers and bikers. Don't let the A6 put you off, it's a quiet section of it.

Llandudno on the North Wales Coast has Great Ormes Head, a pier, a beach, seaside, Conwy Castle and the Blaenau Ffestiniog railway line if you want to see a part of Snowdonia without walking.

I hope I don't need to explain Blackpool!

[green.tea]

Staithes has a nice pub and you can stay in cottages with open fires. Flamborough head you can hire a static caravan. They have a bar onsite. Never been to malham for more than a day but im sure they'll have cottages. If your at all interested in fossils and rocks i cant recommend staithes enough. Nearby you have other nice locations like robin hoods bay.

[green.tea]

(Original post by WarriorInAWig)
My favourite topic.

Based on what you say, I'd go with Scarborough

Can you believe they closed atlantis??

http://scarboroughhotel.wordpress.co...and-developed/

[ChapelTom]

Malham in the Yorkshire Dales is pretty awesome.