Where shall we go? Hols content

Me and MrsR have a week booked off in mid Aug. We can’t decide where to go but we want to use the T5 camper/day van.

The default would usually be the Lakes though having said that it’s been a few years since we’ve done that. We love the Lakes but it’ll be absolutely rammed and may struggle to find anywhere to get into now anyway. Taking the bike would be a no-brainer.

I’ve also been thinking about the Welsh coast…Cardigan area and/or Pembrokeshire. Despite being from S Wales I don’t know the area at all – quite curious to try somewhere new and heard lots of nice things about it. Prob not much point taking the bike there though.

We’ve also done trip roads to D&G in Scotland 5 years ago which was ace (with bike) which was totally made up on the fly; and the west coast of Scotland 2 years ago – Glencoe/Skye/Torridon – this was 9 nights though. Wouldn’t want to replicate it so soon but the idea of winging it was brill (sans bicyclette).

We’d be looking at 6 nights away probably – like the idea of moving around a bit and taking the bike if the biking is good. She’s happy just to chill.
Can you help an idiot overcome decision paralysis with some recommendations (for sites too)? TIA!

Scottish* east coast.

White sandy beaches, cliffs, abandonned harbours, repeat.. all the way up and roind the corner to inverness. Nip inland for some hills in the Angus Glens.

Skip the East Neuk of Fife for the tourist hell hole that it is.

*I will include newcastle to the border in this.

How about the lsle of Man? It’s a great little island that is often overlooked. It has really good  biking (mtb and road) and a chilled relaxed atmosphere.   There is the added ferry cost to factor in though.

I can safely day that the Llyn Peninsula had nan quieter than usual this year so far.

Moray, Aberdeenshire and Royal Deeside. Lovely walks, riding, swimming, beaches, forests.

Forest of Dean? Ireland?

You could combine North York Moors and coast and North Pennines e.g. Weardale?

They will be quieter than the Lakes

It depends where you are starting from. Ullapool from Kent will take at least  a full day each way

We’ve been to Pembrokeshire a couple of times in recent years (staying in Solva). Its an absolutely beautiful part of the world. We were getting up most days and just choosing a section of the coastal path to walk, usually finishing at a decent pub (of which there are plenty) for something to eat

I did ask on here before we went what bike to take and was advised to take the road bike as theres not much mountain biking to be had. Sound advice (as always) and I had some great rides on lovely quiet, trafffic-free country lanes

Moray, Aberdeenshire and Royal Deeside. Lovely walks, riding, swimming, beaches, forests.

I believe i already covered that.

Isle of Arran.

Isle of Arran.

Ooft. I love Arran, its got everything… But mid august in a campervan?

I can safely day that the Llyn Peninsula had nan quieter than usual this year so far.

Whose nan?

But yeah, the Llyn and that corner of Snowdonia are stunning.

Northumberland Coast.

On the Cardigan area, I wrote a bunch of stuff in reply to a similar question about Pembrokeshire and Gower a few days ago if you can find it.

I lived near Cardigan years ago and got to know the countryside very well. There isn’t the jaw dropping scenery you’d get in the lakes but there are areas of great beauty that slowly work their magic, pristine beaches, etc. Well worth a visit.

I’ve camped when the kids were small at Cardigan camping and touring site just off the a487..  lovely place, working farm, and tje friendly farmer invited little kids into the tractor for cab rides.

If you can find a campsite near poppit sands, that would be a great location. There used to be tents/campervans in the fields above the cafe there but that might have ended as I can’t see anything on Google.

Preselli hills are the only obvious option for MTB, and it’s only a relatively short loop, but I enjoyed it the couple of times I did it. Lots of single country lanes for roadies. Otherwise you’re about an hour’s drive from the Cambrian area which has some of the best- elan valley, doethie valley, etc.

I’m heading out there in a couple of weeks, can’t wait

Can I just please congratulate you for not using the word ‘holibobs’ in the thread title.

We’re going to Northumberland this August. I’m hoping that’s largely per your requirements, and I’m pleased to see it’s been recommended as such up there.

Plenty of options on the Cardigan Bay coastline, from North to South.

Ireland?

I went to N. Ireland earlier in the year for a long weekend of cycling, it was beautiful. Also, my sister and her kids did a holiday round there in their T5 last year and loved it. Ferry from Liverpool to Belfast.

There are some tourist bits like Giant’s Causeway which can get busy but all round that coast is quiet little lanes, nice towns, a really laid back atmosphere and any number of beaches. We also rode along the north coast to Magilligan Point and got the little car ferry over to Republic of Ireland, rode all the way out to Malin Head (which was also stunning).

Malin Head was a Star Wars film location but it’s remote enough that it’s not that busy. Lots of Game of Thrones was filmed around there too.

Where are you starting from and how far are you prepared to travel.

Personally I’d go to France. Probably the Alps but it is a lot of driving if you are starting in Scotland.

Nah, Northern Ireland is shiiite.
I’m enduring it today…

Road riding around Carmarthenshire/Pembrokeshire is excellent so long as you stay off the main roads, you might not see a car one hour to the next. If you want a bit of MTB, Afan Valley and Brechfa are both sort of on the way.

Personally, as I’m a little bored with my corner of Carmarthenshire, I’m off up to Snowdonia with my road bike and tent for a  couple of nights later this week.

Cheers all – some good suggestions there