Re: I'm thinking of going to/ has anyone ever been to (Holid : Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:11 pm  

McLaren_Field wrote: Just come back from a week in Northumberland using these people http://www.gracedarlingholidays.com/ most of their rentals allow at least one dog, don't tell anyone but the Northumberland coast is one of the last truly untouched coastlines in the country, stunning for dog walking. I'd highly recommend the company, we used Spindlestone House for a party of ten, would love to be there over xmas (and might just do that too). Agreed...Northumberland is a truly beautiful part of the world, some great beaches for dog walking or just walking. I've been several times and love walking the stretch from Seahouses to Bamburgh which is excellent and spectacular whilst Alnmouth is also well worth a visit and they are the ones that spring to mind easily.I'm sure others will have their own suggestions. Having said that I've just come back from a week in Robin Hoods Bay and got to say as a Lancastrian (exiled in York for 22 years) I think of the delights the Lancashire coast has to offer like Blackpool and Southport and shudder at how they compare to the Yorkshire coast! Robin Hoods Bay is a great place to consider a stay with a great beach (rocky in places!) and cliff top walks whilst your not far from other beaches worth a stroll on such as Filey, Whitby and Brid to Fraisthorpe is excellent beach territory whilst Runswick Bay is worth a visit and you may discover a fossil or two on the beach. Saltburn is also a lovely gem of a place! Check out this site for lots of accom in Robin Hoods Bay: http://www.bayfair.co.uk/index.html

McLaren_Field wrote: Just come back from a week in Northumberland using these people http://www.gracedarlingholidays.com/ most of their rentals allow at least one dog, don't tell anyone but the Northumberland coast is one of the last truly untouched coastlines in the country, stunning for dog walking. I'd highly recommend the company, we used Spindlestone House for a party of ten, would love to be there over xmas (and might just do that too). Agreed...Northumberland is a truly beautiful part of the world, some great beaches for dog walking or just walking. I've been several times and love walking the stretch from Seahouses to Bamburgh which is excellent and spectacular whilst Alnmouth is also well worth a visit and they are the ones that spring to mind easily.I'm sure others will have their own suggestions. Having said that I've just come back from a week in Robin Hoods Bay and got to say as a Lancastrian (exiled in York for 22 years) I think of the delights the Lancashire coast has to offer like Blackpool and Southport and shudder at how they compare to the Yorkshire coast! Robin Hoods Bay is a great place to consider a stay with a great beach (rocky in places!) and cliff top walks whilst your not far from other beaches worth a stroll on such as Filey, Whitby and Brid to Fraisthorpe is excellent beach territory whilst Runswick Bay is worth a visit and you may discover a fossil or two on the beach. Saltburn is also a lovely gem of a place! Check out this site for lots of accom in Robin Hoods Bay: http://www.bayfair.co.uk/index.html

Re: I'm thinking of going to/ has anyone ever been to (Holid : Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:26 pm  

the exile wrote: Agreed...Northumberland is a truly beautiful part of the world, some great beaches for dog walking or just walking. I've been several times and love walking the stretch from Seahouses to Bamburgh which is excellent and spectacular whilst Alnmouth is also well worth a visit and they are the ones that spring to mind easily.I'm sure others will have their own suggestions. Having said that I've just come back from a week in Robin Hoods Bay and got to say as a Lancastrian (exiled in York for 22 years) I think of the delights the Lancashire coast has to offer like Blackpool and Southport and shudder at how they compare to the Yorkshire coast! Robin Hoods Bay is a great place to consider a stay with a great beach (rocky in places!) and cliff top walks whilst your not far from other beaches worth a stroll on such as Filey, Whitby and Brid to Fraisthorpe is excellent beach territory whilst Runswick Bay is worth a visit and you may discover a fossil or two on the beach. Saltburn is also a lovely gem of a place! Check out this site for lots of accom in Robin Hoods Bay: http://www.bayfair.co.uk/index.html We stayed in Alnmouth a few weeks ago, wonderful place (but the place we stayed wouldn't allow pets, so I didn't reply to Rock God x), Whitby, Ruswarp, Robin Hoods Bay, Filey, all are wonderful places, only thing with that neck of the wood is going in Winter, if it snows, you're stuck!

the exile wrote: Agreed...Northumberland is a truly beautiful part of the world, some great beaches for dog walking or just walking. I've been several times and love walking the stretch from Seahouses to Bamburgh which is excellent and spectacular whilst Alnmouth is also well worth a visit and they are the ones that spring to mind easily.I'm sure others will have their own suggestions. Having said that I've just come back from a week in Robin Hoods Bay and got to say as a Lancastrian (exiled in York for 22 years) I think of the delights the Lancashire coast has to offer like Blackpool and Southport and shudder at how they compare to the Yorkshire coast! Robin Hoods Bay is a great place to consider a stay with a great beach (rocky in places!) and cliff top walks whilst your not far from other beaches worth a stroll on such as Filey, Whitby and Brid to Fraisthorpe is excellent beach territory whilst Runswick Bay is worth a visit and you may discover a fossil or two on the beach. Saltburn is also a lovely gem of a place! Check out this site for lots of accom in Robin Hoods Bay: http://www.bayfair.co.uk/index.html We stayed in Alnmouth a few weeks ago, wonderful place (but the place we stayed wouldn't allow pets, so I didn't reply to Rock God x), Whitby, Ruswarp, Robin Hoods Bay, Filey, all are wonderful places, only thing with that neck of the wood is going in Winter, if it snows, you're stuck!

Re: I'm thinking of going to/ has anyone ever been to (Holid : Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:30 pm  

I do like Whitby. Went there as a kid, but never been back since. Might have to have a look at that.

Re: I'm thinking of going to/ has anyone ever been to (Holid : Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:33 pm  

Rock God X wrote: I'm looking a for four day Christmas break starting on Christmas Eve. Want self catering and must allow pets. Anyone got any recommendations? Went here about 2 month ago. http://www.kingairloch.co.uk/ Might not be the best if it is snowing. But sat by your own Loch, with a roaring fire, dog by your feet and a beer / whiskey in your hand. fantastic accommodation and very, very clean. We stayed in the "old post office"

Rock God X wrote: I'm looking a for four day Christmas break starting on Christmas Eve. Want self catering and must allow pets. Anyone got any recommendations? Went here about 2 month ago. http://www.kingairloch.co.uk/ Might not be the best if it is snowing. But sat by your own Loch, with a roaring fire, dog by your feet and a beer / whiskey in your hand. fantastic accommodation and very, very clean. We stayed in the "old post office"

Re: I'm thinking of going to/ has anyone ever been to (Holid : Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:42 pm  

the exile wrote: Agreed...Northumberland is a truly beautiful part of the world, some great beaches for dog walking or just walking. I've been several times and love walking the stretch from Seahouses to Bamburgh which is excellent and spectacular whilst Alnmouth is also well worth a visit and they are the ones that spring to mind easily.I'm sure others will have their own suggestions. Having said that I've just come back from a week in Robin Hoods Bay and got to say as a Lancastrian (exiled in York for 22 years) I think of the delights the Lancashire coast has to offer like Blackpool and Southport and shudder at how they compare to the Yorkshire coast! Robin Hoods Bay is a great place to consider a stay with a great beach (rocky in places!) and cliff top walks whilst your not far from other beaches worth a stroll on such as Filey, Whitby and Brid to Fraisthorpe is excellent beach territory whilst Runswick Bay is worth a visit and you may discover a fossil or two on the beach. Saltburn is also a lovely gem of a place! Check out this site for lots of accom in Robin Hoods Bay: http://www.bayfair.co.uk/index.html I'm booking a few days in September in Staithes, a slightly cheaper but almost identikit village to Robin Hoods Bay - I almost, almost bought a building with house above and shop at street level halfway down the village in Robin Hood Bay a few years ago, its now a holiday rental and the shop has no tenant - every time I see it in the adverts I kick my own booty, very hard, this is it, could have had the whole lot for the same price as our house was valued at the time http://www.robinhoodsbaycottages.co.uk/html/gilroyd_house_images.htm

the exile wrote: Agreed...Northumberland is a truly beautiful part of the world, some great beaches for dog walking or just walking. I've been several times and love walking the stretch from Seahouses to Bamburgh which is excellent and spectacular whilst Alnmouth is also well worth a visit and they are the ones that spring to mind easily.I'm sure others will have their own suggestions. Having said that I've just come back from a week in Robin Hoods Bay and got to say as a Lancastrian (exiled in York for 22 years) I think of the delights the Lancashire coast has to offer like Blackpool and Southport and shudder at how they compare to the Yorkshire coast! Robin Hoods Bay is a great place to consider a stay with a great beach (rocky in places!) and cliff top walks whilst your not far from other beaches worth a stroll on such as Filey, Whitby and Brid to Fraisthorpe is excellent beach territory whilst Runswick Bay is worth a visit and you may discover a fossil or two on the beach. Saltburn is also a lovely gem of a place! Check out this site for lots of accom in Robin Hoods Bay: http://www.bayfair.co.uk/index.html I'm booking a few days in September in Staithes, a slightly cheaper but almost identikit village to Robin Hoods Bay - I almost, almost bought a building with house above and shop at street level halfway down the village in Robin Hood Bay a few years ago, its now a holiday rental and the shop has no tenant - every time I see it in the adverts I kick my own booty, very hard, this is it, could have had the whole lot for the same price as our house was valued at the time http://www.robinhoodsbaycottages.co.uk/html/gilroyd_house_images.htm

Re: I'm thinking of going to/ has anyone ever been to (Holid : Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:49 pm  

Thanks for the suggestions. Having trouble finding anywhere that'll let me have four nights at that time of year. They all want a week's rental.

Re: I'm thinking of going to/ has anyone ever been to (Holid : Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:49 pm  

Rock God X wrote:

I do like Whitby. Went there as a kid, but never been back since. Might have to have a look at that.

As I say, time of year may be against you, been stuck in Whitby trying to get to Pickering and in Pickering trying to get to Whitby numerous times in Winter, if you like that part of the world then try Gothland and Mallion Spout, wonderful places.

Re: I'm thinking of going to/ has anyone ever been to (Holid : Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:24 pm  

McLaren_Field wrote: I'm booking a few days in September in Staithes, a slightly cheaper but almost identikit village to Robin Hoods Bay - I almost, almost bought a building with house above and shop at street level halfway down the village in Robin Hood Bay a few years ago, its now a holiday rental and the shop has no tenant - every time I see it in the adverts I kick my own booty, very hard, this is it, could have had the whole lot for the same price as our house was valued at the time http://www.robinhoodsbaycottages.co.uk/html/gilroyd_house_images.htm Staithes...you're right, lovely place, Robin Hoods Bay with a few rough edges around it! Though I'm sure the Staithes group wouldn't agree. I went there earlier this year and had forgotten how nice it is. I recall going there 17/18 years ago and places where selling for £35k and me being seriously tempted! As for the place you thought of buying in RHB...that top image could have been taken from where I've just stayed. I also recall that place being almost derelict a few years ago when they used to sell papers down there. Just stayed in a cottage, just over the brook from Gilroyd House next to a place called "Swell" which used to be a chapel converted into a bookshop that I loved before being converted! All RHB needs these days is a little delli given the number of yummi mummys staying there.

McLaren_Field wrote: I'm booking a few days in September in Staithes, a slightly cheaper but almost identikit village to Robin Hoods Bay - I almost, almost bought a building with house above and shop at street level halfway down the village in Robin Hood Bay a few years ago, its now a holiday rental and the shop has no tenant - every time I see it in the adverts I kick my own booty, very hard, this is it, could have had the whole lot for the same price as our house was valued at the time http://www.robinhoodsbaycottages.co.uk/html/gilroyd_house_images.htm Staithes...you're right, lovely place, Robin Hoods Bay with a few rough edges around it! Though I'm sure the Staithes group wouldn't agree. I went there earlier this year and had forgotten how nice it is. I recall going there 17/18 years ago and places where selling for £35k and me being seriously tempted! As for the place you thought of buying in RHB...that top image could have been taken from where I've just stayed. I also recall that place being almost derelict a few years ago when they used to sell papers down there. Just stayed in a cottage, just over the brook from Gilroyd House next to a place called "Swell" which used to be a chapel converted into a bookshop that I loved before being converted! All RHB needs these days is a little delli given the number of yummi mummys staying there.

Re: I'm thinking of going to/ has anyone ever been to (Holid : Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:07 am  

Sandra The Terrorist wrote:

Been to Tuscany quite few times, stayed in Florence and the countryside, back of beyond and little villages.

My other half is incredibly allergic to insect bites but as long as you're careful it's not too bad. We have ludicrously strong repellent, candles and joss stick things impregnated with citronella. If the worst does happen then pharmacies carry industrial strength antihistamine creams that can be bought over the counter.

My favourite place is Panzano In Chianti, we're just about to book an apartment that's part of a castle, we'll hire a car from Pisa airport. Driving isn't a problem if you're reasonably proficient.

Pretty much every town or village has excellent places to eat from Michelin starred to little enotecas. There's a fantastic wine shop in Greve which if you're in the area I can't recommend highly enough, you get a credit card that you load with Euros and then you pop that in a dispenser that gives you wine by the glass, so you can try before you buy.

If you speak even the worst Italian and show an interest, the Italians will love you and go out of the way to befriend you, I've drunk fantastic wines with enoteca owners and their friends after just a couple of visits to their shop.

Thanks (only just noticed this reply), I'm not too sure that I want to have to use repellant etc. hmmm,

Re: I'm thinking of going to/ has anyone ever been to (Holid : Sun Jun 10, 2012 12:41 pm  

Standee wrote:

Thanks (only just noticed this reply), I'm not too sure that I want to have to use repellant etc. hmmm,

Dunno about other insects but I can vouch for Avon's Skin-so-Soft lotion for keeping Scottish midges at bay