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Fresh out of ideas. Where's nice to go for weekend away with Mrs Merman? Let's restrict it to England and Wales. We've done all the cities. Where's some left-field suggestions I haven't thought of that can keep us entertained for a couple of days?
Forget the southwest of England, cos that's where we are.
Aldeburgh in Suffolk
https://www.cleywindmill.co.uk/ in Norfolk
Assuming you've done the SW to death but not seen much of the East coast
https://cat.org.uk/visiting/plan-your-visit/visitor-centre-tickets/
Staying in Aberdyfi. Take a bike and ride Dyfi or walk up Caer Idris.
Double uplift day at BPW making sure you stay in a nice hotel.
ADDENDUM: Didn't think it needed stating, but since this is posted in the 'Chat' and not in 'Bike' forum, weekend away is nothing to do with mountain biking.
Assuming you’ve done the SW to death but not seen much of the East coast
You assume correctly. Though we did have a weekend away to the Norfolk Broads already this year.
Losehill House Hotel, Hope in the Peak District.
Stunning hotel which does great food.
Lovely walking, a few good pubs close my and a few towns to explore too.
Though we did have a weekend away to the Norfolk Broads already this year.
I was going to suggest that a canal boat might be a sensible idea - you can stay warm and dry inside as much as needed, its relaxing whilst at the same time just using the thing provides entertainment etc - but if you've been to the broads already this year it may not appeal as much.
For weekends away - to me its about getting the sensible balance between sitting in the car getting there versus actually doing, so it will depend how far SW you are...
We've just done a weekend at Alnmouth in Northumberland, staying in a hut:
alnmouth huts
Probably not the thing if you like catered accommodation, or like loads of space, but just above the beach, wonderful coastal walks, nice wee towns nearby and very relaxing.
We loved it.
Forget the southwest of England, cos that’s where we are.
Eh...long drive though!
sensible balance between sitting in the car getting there
South Downs and/or Kent aren't too many car hours away from the SW. Plenty of walking, esp in the SD, prior to a pint in front of a roaring pub fire.
https://www.piltonmoorstables.co.uk/little-hill-end-barn/
Cracking little self-catering place, 5/10 minute walk to Rhossili beach and all the beautiful Gower walking around it
Northumberland. Coast. Castles. Towns. Beautiful area.
We just went from S. Wales to the far SW for a long weekend. Great time but I couldn’t help thinking 5hrs+ in the car was too much each way for a weekend. Whereabouts in SW are you?
Somewhere in the South like New Forest or Winchester/South Downs? We stayed in Arlesford for a long weekend a few years back when I did a bike race nearby and it was very nice.
The Northern Riviera for the lights and a couple of days out on the lash
How left field? Rochdale maybe?
Lavenham is a lovely not-a-city but a pain in the backside to get to. It all depends what you actually want of your weekend away doesn't it?
Hope in the Peak District.
We've done Castleton recently. Gorgeous area.
Alnmouth in Northumberland,
Yeah, we'd like to do Northumberland, but it's a bit of a shlep to get there for a weekend. Might be worth a week away.
South Downs and/or Kent
Done Arundel, Eastleigh (don't ask), Brighton, Hastings, Canterbury and Margate in recent years.
Rhossili beach and all the beautiful Gower
That was our first weekend away 🙂 Nice B&B/pub in Llangennith.
Whereabouts in SW are you?
Stroud, but we feel we've pretty-much exhausted the SW.
Northern Riviera
Maybe not Blackpool, but was thinking: is Lancaster worth a look?
The Inn at Whitewell if you want rural Lancashire loveliness
I read this ( https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/nov/22/lake-distict-walking-cumbria-england-coast-path) today. You can stay in a train carriage at the Ravenglass railway.
What about Weymouth? A few nice pubs with good seafood. Walking around Portland, coast would be spectacular in a winter storm
Slightly leftfield, but Winchester is a nice, small, city.
Weymouth? A few nice pubs with good seafood. Walking around Portland
Know it well 🙂 And walked round Portland when we did the SWCP.
Winchester is a nice, small, city.
Agreed 🙂 I've been there a few times (first when I rode the SDW) and we both visited a couple of years ago.
Keep them suggestions coming!
I'm going to assume you've already been, but Lyme Regis
Or Wells
Or Cardiff
Somewhere on Cranborne Chase. Has dark sky status. Must be some star gazing trip available capitalising on it.
Salisbury for a day time wonder if you want city stuff
Do you count Dorset in the SW? Lulworth cove might be my favourite bit of this island.
Oh, and not Cambridge, it's busy enough thanks!
Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds or Newmarket (Horses on Saturday and Ely on the Sunday).
or Newmarket
I spent a few months working in Newmarket. It's nothing special. At all
Lake District? Or is that too far?
The Angel Inn at Bowness on Windermere is rather nice
Oxford: good pubs and eateries, good museums, historic buildings, everything's walkable and it's nicer than Cambridge. Stay in a college?
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Lake District? Lovely place but stayed at an amazing place near Elterwater a couple of years ago.
Oxford? Mrs Merman went to Oxford Uni 🙂 And it's day-trippable from here 🙂
Train to Edinburgh. A really great city to visit. Maybe the sleeper.
I'd say a few nights in Oxford even if you've done day trips. Based on being a wife who went to Oxford and lots of day trips.
I also loved Bath
I also loved Bath
Me too. I'm from Bath. Spent the first 20+ years of my life there 🙂
Is Lancaster worth a look?
For a weekend, yes although I'd add in Silverdale, Arnside and Morecambe, for the prom and the bay.
Teesdale or Weardale are both lovely. Remote enough to feel like you're a million miles from anywhere but lots of little villages with pubs and cafes. More walking and cycling than you can imagine.
A good base for the wider area is Stanhope or even Barnard Castle (no kidding)
imo, once you've done all the city breaks you care about, stop looking for a 2nd wave and start looking for a reason to go.
A book/art/music festival. A photography course. A 10km run event. A museum exhibition. A theatre play. Something at least one of you really wants to go to....then base a weekend around that.
Ludlow - several good restaurants
Good suggestion above for the Inn at Whitewell in the Forest of Bowland which is relatively close to Lancaster
Ludlow – several good restaurants
Yep, we had a weekend away there in June 🙂
Thanks for the recommendations, fellers and felleresses.
Lancaster/Forest of Bowland, or Weardale/Teesdale will be duly investigated!
Hey IHN…..that’s our little escape in Wales, well the cottage next door anyway. We were the first to stay there must have been back in around 2000.
Recently had a weekend away in Rye, East Sussex, and had a great time.
https://www.visit1066country.com/destinations/rye
Historic old town, with some very nice pubs like the 600 year old Ye Olde Bell Inn, cafes and shops.
Castle, tidal nature reserve, beach walks and a small independent cinema if the weather is really bad.
Stayed here - https://www.regentsquarerye.co.uk/ Nice central house with parking.
Ok slightly left field (and bear with me): a two centre stay in Portsmouth (well, Southsea) and Chichester. The Historic Dockyard is really interesting. There’s also Spinnaker tower (I’ve not been up it) or even the fastcat to the Isle of Wight. Then you could continue along the coast to Chichester, much prettier than Portsmouth and either do the Witterings and harbour or the South Downs. Plenty of nice pubs to stay in.
Even more leftfield - Bradford! A city that could definitely do with a surge tourists helping its economy, particularly after last week when the Government has well and truly shafted the city with the withdrawl of the proposed HS3/Northern Powerhouse Rail line from Leeds to Manchester via Bradford which has left the city geographically and economically isolated.
Lots to see and do - National Science and Media Museum, Haworth for the Brontes and walk on the moors to Wuthering Heights, Saltaire and Salts Mill (UNESCO World Heritage Site) which has lots of David Hockney paintings and some great shops (including a bike shop), a drive over the moors from Saltaire to the lovely spa town of Ilkley which has a Betty's tea room, and then back to Bradford for an amazing curry. You could also stop on the way there at either or both the Yorkshire Sculpture Park or The Hepworth, both close to the M1, for some more culture.
Hey IHN…..that’s our little escape in Wales, well the cottage next door anyway. We were the first to stay there must have been back in around 2000.
To be fair, someone on here recommended it to me about five(?) years ago after I asked a similar question, it may well have been you 🙂
I like nice hotels in interesting places eg.
Haweswater hotel, stunning location and you'll have Red Squirrels on your window sill in the mornings.
https://www.haweswaterhotel.com/
or Pen-Y-Gwryd Hotel, still run like a Victorian guest house - which is a different experience. I got clipped round the ear by the owner for not informing them my then GF was vegetarian before dinner (there isn't a menu, you just get what they've cooked).
The Pen-y-Gwyrd is an experience alright. The rooms are okay, the food is just okay, the beer average and the people who run it are odd and quite rude too e.g. demanding my friend removed his hat or he couldn't order beer, telling us what time we were having breakfast to meet their requirements. For balance the huge, deep Victorian/Edwardian/ancient baths are amazing though
However I wouldn't give them another penny if I lived to be 150yrs old.
There are lots of really nice places to stay where they have half a clue how to treat paying guests
It's nice to see that they're keeping the very British tradition of people running B&Bs being annoyed that people want to stay and eat. I've stayed at a few of those.
I did a long weekend in Jan (pre pandemic) in Ballater. It was glorious and cheap.
The Pen-y-Gwyrd is an experience alright. The rooms are okay, the food is just okay, the beer average and the people who run it are odd and quite rude too e.g. demanding my friend removed his hat or he couldn’t order beer, telling us what time we were having breakfast to meet their requirements. For balance the huge, deep Victorian/Edwardian/ancient baths are amazing though
Yep, sounds about right!
Fully booked months in advance though (or always used to be). Been run by the same family for generations.
We really enjoyed the whole experience, something different.
South Lakes, I actually reckon winter is the best time to see the Lakes, a bit quieter and the colours are stunning.
A trip to The Scilly Isles is good for the soul.
Hey IHN…..that’s our little escape in Wales, well the cottage next door anyway. We were the first to stay there must have been back in around 2000.
To be fair, someone on here recommended it to me about five(?) years ago after I asked a similar question, it may well have been you 🙂
lol....yeah I probably did. Great isn't it, we haven't been for about five years now. Always great in the Winter, although we used to go Oct half term. Such a wonderful space to walk around, if you miss the passing weather!
Anyway....on the basis you're coming from the West, the Gower is great/ if similar terrain to the Devon & Cornwall. Mentioned by others, I'd agree the Isle of Purbeck is just fabulous, from Durdle Door/Lulworth Cove (weekend walks through the ranges)to Studland Bay, overlooking Poole Harbour, Swanage, the chain ferry to check out Bournemouth, Steam Railways, Cream Teas, Thatched Roofs, fabulous walks everywhere.........and some great Pubs!
A trip to The Scilly Isles is good for the soul.
I'm a massive Scillias fan but visiting in winter can be problematic. The boat has the least cancellations but doesn't run in winter. Planes are cancelled by high wind or low visibility so can be an issue
In the summer I would thoroughly recommend. Maybe fly from Exeter.