Next Christmas
Discussion
Looking for a change, a break from the usual.
Requirements:
Up to a week, Wife, teenage son and I plus two dogs.
Ideally self catering (due to dogs not usually allowed in hotels) but with somewhere local for a Christmas day dinner (fish or veggie options). and other meals out
Within about 4 hours max from home (Oban) so Scottish borders, Lakes, Northumberland or Perthshire area.
So come on, throw me some suggestions please.
ps no specific budget but can't afford "The Ritz" prices.
Thanks
Requirements:
Up to a week, Wife, teenage son and I plus two dogs.
Ideally self catering (due to dogs not usually allowed in hotels) but with somewhere local for a Christmas day dinner (fish or veggie options). and other meals out
Within about 4 hours max from home (Oban) so Scottish borders, Lakes, Northumberland or Perthshire area.
So come on, throw me some suggestions please.
ps no specific budget but can't afford "The Ritz" prices.
Thanks
Lotusgone said:
It's at the furthest end of your preferred distance, but you might consider Bamburgh in Northumberland. Great beach overlooked by the castle - the Lord Crewe Arms allows dogs in the bar (or they did when we stayed there in early 2023).
You know, not such a bad idea.Despite living in west Scotland, I'm Northumbrian through and through. Lived there for much of my first 50 years. Love Bamburgh, we were married on Holy Island. Yes it's a bit of a travel, one of the dogs isn't that good in the car but on the list.
Skyedriver said:
Lotusgone said:
It's at the furthest end of your preferred distance, but you might consider Bamburgh in Northumberland. Great beach overlooked by the castle - the Lord Crewe Arms allows dogs in the bar (or they did when we stayed there in early 2023).
You know, not such a bad idea.Despite living in west Scotland, I'm Northumbrian through and through. Lived there for much of my first 50 years. Love Bamburgh, we were married on Holy Island. Yes it's a bit of a travel, one of the dogs isn't that good in the car but on the list.
Admittedly it’s been around 5 years since I was last in Oban (and the surrounding area), but I’ve been in Seahouses very recently and it’s a bit of a dump. There’s no way that I’d swap Oban for Seahouses.
Bamburgh castle, a couple of hours on the beach & a couple of beers at The Ship in Low Newton afterwards (all very nice) still isn’t a match for what you have on your doorstep IMO.
Although, I fully understand that you just might want a change of scenery (but you really won’t get much of a change in that regard either).
Could you do a crossing to the Netherlands or something? Don’t think that fits the original brief though?
The North Berwick to Gullane coastline is nice.
Bamburgh castle, a couple of hours on the beach & a couple of beers at The Ship in Low Newton afterwards (all very nice) still isn’t a match for what you have on your doorstep IMO.
Although, I fully understand that you just might want a change of scenery (but you really won’t get much of a change in that regard either).
Could you do a crossing to the Netherlands or something? Don’t think that fits the original brief though?
The North Berwick to Gullane coastline is nice.
We always headed to Scotland, but now we’re up here I’d be tempted to head to the lakes for a Xmas break.
The Drunken Duck - lovely small hotel, charm and superb food. Very quiet location. They have (or had a sister cafe called Chester’s) which does amazing cakes and food (until they went veggie!)
And there was a cracking small restaurant in Coniston which was like a front living room (Steam Coniston?). I still remember the food being the highlight of our last trip.
We last time we went to the lakes was pre Covid where we basically kept going to these places on rotation!
As you’ll know, there will be some quite decent self catering places for rent over there, so pretty sure you’d have a great time.
(Note : don’t know what will be open at Xmas)
The Drunken Duck - lovely small hotel, charm and superb food. Very quiet location. They have (or had a sister cafe called Chester’s) which does amazing cakes and food (until they went veggie!)
And there was a cracking small restaurant in Coniston which was like a front living room (Steam Coniston?). I still remember the food being the highlight of our last trip.
We last time we went to the lakes was pre Covid where we basically kept going to these places on rotation!
As you’ll know, there will be some quite decent self catering places for rent over there, so pretty sure you’d have a great time.
(Note : don’t know what will be open at Xmas)
MarkJS said:
Admittedly it’s been around 5 years since I was last in Oban (and the surrounding area), but I’ve been in Seahouses very recently and it’s a bit of a dump. There’s no way that I’d swap Oban for Seahouses.
Bamburgh castle, a couple of hours on the beach & a couple of beers at The Ship in Low Newton afterwards (all very nice) still isn’t a match for what you have on your doorstep IMO.
Although, I fully understand that you just might want a change of scenery (but you really won’t get much of a change in that regard either).
Could you do a crossing to the Netherlands or something? Don’t think that fits the original brief though?
The North Berwick to Gullane coastline is nice.
Seahouses is a bit run down , it’s why we stay at beadnell , there’s plenty of air b&b options that take dogs and all the pubs are dog friendly , and as you pointed out , it’s a great walk along the beach pub to pub . Bamburgh castle, a couple of hours on the beach & a couple of beers at The Ship in Low Newton afterwards (all very nice) still isn’t a match for what you have on your doorstep IMO.
Although, I fully understand that you just might want a change of scenery (but you really won’t get much of a change in that regard either).
Could you do a crossing to the Netherlands or something? Don’t think that fits the original brief though?
The North Berwick to Gullane coastline is nice.
To be fair Seahouses has always been a bit rough around the edges, even back as far as the 70's when we used to go every year on family hols (staying up the coast at Waren Mill).
We had 5 days in Bamburgh back in October for the MIL's 80th and the place has changed a fair bit
Bamburgh is still nice but now infested with BTL's and Air B&B's - it's been 'discovered'. The beach however remains fabulous and is simply lovely if you have dogs.
Tried the Potted Lobster and the Lorde Crewe but we thought the Jolly Fisherman at Craster to be the best eatery.
We had 5 days in Bamburgh back in October for the MIL's 80th and the place has changed a fair bit
Bamburgh is still nice but now infested with BTL's and Air B&B's - it's been 'discovered'. The beach however remains fabulous and is simply lovely if you have dogs.
Tried the Potted Lobster and the Lorde Crewe but we thought the Jolly Fisherman at Craster to be the best eatery.
Lotobear said:
To be fair Seahouses has always been a bit rough around the edges, even back as far as the 70's when we used to go every year on family hols (staying up the coast at Waren Mill).
We had 5 days in Bamburgh back in October for the MIL's 80th and the place has changed a fair bit
Bamburgh is still nice but now infested with BTL's and Air B&B's - it's been 'discovered'. The beach however remains fabulous and is simply lovely if you have dogs.
Tried the Potted Lobster and the Lorde Crewe but we thought the Jolly Fisherman at Craster to be the best eatery.
I had much the same upbringing at the same time , crab soup at craster is a standout dish . We had 5 days in Bamburgh back in October for the MIL's 80th and the place has changed a fair bit
Bamburgh is still nice but now infested with BTL's and Air B&B's - it's been 'discovered'. The beach however remains fabulous and is simply lovely if you have dogs.
Tried the Potted Lobster and the Lorde Crewe but we thought the Jolly Fisherman at Craster to be the best eatery.
If you go in when it’s busy be sure to ask for a table and wait your turn , we did as we visit regularly but some southerners marched in and sat straight down only to be moved by the hairy biker lookalike , they even played the “ we’ve got a baby card “ but to no avail .
MarkJS said:
Admittedly it’s been around 5 years since I was last in Oban (and the surrounding area), but I’ve been in Seahouses very recently and it’s a bit of a dump. There’s no way that I’d swap Oban for Seahouses.
Bamburgh castle, a couple of hours on the beach & a couple of beers at The Ship in Low Newton afterwards (all very nice) still isn’t a match for what you have on your doorstep IMO.
Although, I fully understand that you just might want a change of scenery (but you really won’t get much of a change in that regard either).
Could you do a crossing to the Netherlands or something? Don’t think that fits the original brief though?
The North Berwick to Gullane coastline is nice.
Oban is fine BUT almost everywhere closes before Christmas and doesn't open up until about the 3rd Jan or is some instances the end of January!Bamburgh castle, a couple of hours on the beach & a couple of beers at The Ship in Low Newton afterwards (all very nice) still isn’t a match for what you have on your doorstep IMO.
Although, I fully understand that you just might want a change of scenery (but you really won’t get much of a change in that regard either).
Could you do a crossing to the Netherlands or something? Don’t think that fits the original brief though?
The North Berwick to Gullane coastline is nice.
Had FiL up here for Christmas, not very mobile at 87 but likes a trip out for coffee most mornings. Only one place open and it didn't suit him! Plus it's rained for most of the last 12 weeks or more I'm pissed off with the weather.
Oh and while wife and he don't drink, I'll have the occasional beer(!) but we live 4 mile from the nearest pub and 10 mile out of town.
thepritch said:
We always headed to Scotland, but now we’re up here I’d be tempted to head to the lakes for a Xmas break.
The Drunken Duck - lovely small hotel, charm and superb food. Very quiet location. They have (or had a sister cafe called Chester’s) which does amazing cakes and food (until they went veggie!)
And there was a cracking small restaurant in Coniston which was like a front living room (Steam Coniston?). I still remember the food being the highlight of our last trip.
We last time we went to the lakes was pre Covid where we basically kept going to these places on rotation!
As you’ll know, there will be some quite decent self catering places for rent over there, so pretty sure you’d have a great time.
(Note : don’t know what will be open at Xmas)
Used to do the Lakes with a big crowd of us every New Year, mostly in a past life but with wife No. 2 a few times. Stayed at Huyton Hill at the bottom of the road up to the "Duck", before it changed hands and went up market. Walk across to Elterwater for the Britannia pub, excellent bar meals, couple of pints of Coniston Bluebird... think the "Duck" went upmarket more recently too. Had some great nights in there. The Drunken Duck - lovely small hotel, charm and superb food. Very quiet location. They have (or had a sister cafe called Chester’s) which does amazing cakes and food (until they went veggie!)
And there was a cracking small restaurant in Coniston which was like a front living room (Steam Coniston?). I still remember the food being the highlight of our last trip.
We last time we went to the lakes was pre Covid where we basically kept going to these places on rotation!
As you’ll know, there will be some quite decent self catering places for rent over there, so pretty sure you’d have a great time.
(Note : don’t know what will be open at Xmas)
Remind me? There was a very popular cafe, did great soup etc, sat outside with the dogs, stream nearby and a slate place. On the way to Elterwater, is that Chesters?
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