Right, the bazza clan are hunting out our passports and heading South of the Border. early July, Got a few nights at Centre Parcs booked (again) then got from the Monday to the Friday to work our way down to Hastings. Spending the weekend with friends there and then back homeward bound via a week in Shropshire.

where to go/stay/base ourselves for the 4 nights inbetween Penrith and Hastings????

A great place to visit would be Bath but that's way off your route.

So 2 other ideas would be Canterbury or Chichester. Plenty of culture but also family friendly.

What do you want? Countryside or city?

Chichester would be a great area for your children Barry, if they like the sea (Witterings/Selsey are well known beach locations), but of course that comes with the many caravans travelling to the area at that time of the year.

(Monumental post for me .... my first .... not hooked yet though!!!) Good to meet you last week, though shame it was under such sad circumstances.

Welcome MrsVid

You could introduce yourself formally here ? newbies-wideboys-kevin-perry-etc-t2997.html

What type of activity would you like barry?

either/both.....I want to break the journey without having too long to drive on any one day, quite fancied Nottingham area, not sure whether to have a day or two there and then head further south or find one place half way and stay for the week...

yeah you too, Vid's tie would have been an awful mess if it wasn't for you

I'm easy. Will have had a few days of walking/outdoors stuff and swimming at Centreparcs, the weekend at hastings will be full on I think, and then having a lazy week at shropshire, so pretty much covered all bases.

are there any "Must Visit" places?

How old are the nippers? Sundown (near Nottingham) is brilliant for under 10s, you could spend a day there.

they will have turned 4 and 8 by July.... and I'll be 35

A little out of touch with my doorstep but not a great fan...some lovely areas and places such as Wollaton Park for kids bur Bakewell and areas around there may offer more.

On second thoughts we have Clumber park and lots of good places...come to Nottingham, I'll get you a pint in

Hello, I'm Gill (aka MrsVid). Been watching Dave on here for days/weeks/months/years and finally decided to do some reading myself (he says he'll have to go find somewhere else now!) Joking aside, last week I was reading the posts over his shoulder and was amazed by the support from you guys, that Pa's sad death evoked. I now appreciate the community, friendship and support that the site offers you all.

Barry - couldn't help the tie straightening activity; he said he wasn't bothered at all!!

Dave has reminded me that ending a post with a 'X' as I would do on a text, is a NO NO.

Nottingham it is!

Corrct, would get some on here rather excited! Welcome to the forum and thanks for all your help you will have given in the last week or two

bloody tight jocks

xx

Having been born and raised in Bridgnorth, Shropshire I can give you a few clues to that area.

Ironbridge is a place for tourists but there's not much there besides the bridge, worth a look if you like that sort of thing. If you want an 'outdoorsy' day take a trip up the Long Mynd with a picnic.

Bridgnorth itself has an inland fenicular railway (Cable Car from 'High Town' to 'Low Town' the steepest inland one in Europe) & the town itself is a little bit 'Harry Potter-esque'. Just out of town you'll find the Midland Motor Museum & Bird World (all one venue) & if you fancy a Pub lunch the Danery at Quatford always used to be good (& has a Beer Garden) - many, many years ago I worked there.

Ludlow is a nice town & Shrewsbury is well worth a visit. Telford is a bit of a shitehole but has a very good shopping centre. Send a pm to Bspittles (Brian) as he still lives in the area and should have a better idea than me (I think he has a young 'un or two)

You would also only be an hour or so from Alton Towers which the nippers will love.


If you get as far as Sussex, where I live now. I may be able to sort out day passes for Butlins (my daughter will be working there in the Summer - She's at Uni but works there in the holibobs). Chichester is worth a look around, although a bit posh for my liking. & as mentioned the beaches at the Witterings are really popular & a bitch to get too when the weather is nice.


Hope that helps, any questions just ask

we'll be near Whitchurch (got a house for a week)

If you fancy a day's planespotting at Stansted let me know.

I'll let you buy me a pint

can I bring Tricky Tree?

Between Penrith and Hastings?

Couple of night in the Peak District, couple of nights in Nottingham. Sorted.

Seriously bazza, let me know what sort of things the family like doing and how old the kids are and I can suggest plenty of places to go, and if you come to Nottingham or the PD then there'll be a beer from me as well as from TT. The Crown and the Vic in Beeston are two of the best Real Ale pubs in the country

kids will be 4 and 8. just normal kids I suppose, they like theme parks (but not too scary) outdoors playing, swimming, driving me mental. mrsb likes shopping and driving me mental.

Nottingham fiso meet??? Ya dancer! I'm gonna base the digs round staggering distance from where we meet.

Last time I was in Nottingham I was singing to a Tram full of folk.... well I enjoyed it

If it was me, I'd be tempted to go cross country from Penrith to Leyburn to visit a place called the Forbidden Corner, which is a real adventure for kids aged say 6 -12. Lovely place, full of underground caverns and adventure. Then either York for the Castle Museum and Jorvik centre or Nottingham for the caves, shopping, sport, food and beer (can obv. help with kids activities - Would recommend Rushcliffe Country park, the university park or my local - Wollaton park - there are also bigger places like Sundowners or Twin Lakes for more of a (young) theme park type experience). Oh, can also help with beer and food

Can't think of too many other obvious places - maybe Stratford or Worcester but both slightly out of the way.

Alternatively, overnight somewhere like Nottingham then go to Legoland for a couple of days before moving on to Hastings?

had looked at legoland, bloody expensive though. might pan them off with a visit to the loego discovery centre at Manchester on the way home

right, so it looks like we've narrowed it down to basing ourselves near Nottingham...... caves, day in Nottingham, Thomasland maybe, Sundown..... good variety so far.

who's coming oot for a beer?

no, I mean, anyone got any suggestions for self catering accomodation in the area?

Twin Lakes is nearby and also very good for little 'uns

Will see if I can find much on self catering though not used any myself as I have my house

Bazza

If you do end up any where near Bath, give me a shout.

Pm me if you want my mobile number

I lived in Tasley for a few years as a little kid.

Peak district in Derbyshire is nice with great pubs and walks

Was going to suggest Thomasland, we're going there later this year. If trains are their thing then the national rail museum in York is only a hop from Penrith Centre Parcs. There is also a mini version of the London eye there too. York is very piqturesque, Harrogate on the doorstep too.

As an alternative you could stay at a University (e.g. Lincoln, Norwich) student halls are sometimes made available for short breaks and are cheap and atmospheric?