Reet. Where’s everyone off to?

Ive got Dom Rep for 10 days on 3rd Jan and a North American/Canadian Cruise in September courtesy of Traf Tours

Looking at some short breaks as well. Malaga definitely but maybe Scotchland Isles? Italy? 

 

Got back from València this morning...

Had a great time, sampled different cuisines, and plenty beers & red wine 🍷 

Well worth a visit 👍

Back from 3 nights in Whitby. Actually enjoyed the place. The coastal path has some stunning views. Scarborough was a bit tacky. Whilst Staithes was pretty and offered a decent fish & chips lunch in the pub by the sea.

On 07/04/2025 at 13:04, Casino said:

right, good people

i may well just do the usual, but i'm open to suggestions

 

airbnb/rental, walking distance to a beach the dog can go on

needs a bit of outside, fully fenced

and dog friendly pubs

preferably within a couple of hours

i'd do a caravan/lodge thing, but not on a site, cos hes too barky

 

any recommendations

A shade further than a couple of hours but we go to Northumberland a lot, very dog friendly area for pubs, cafes etc and plenty of dog friendly accomodation. We go in particular to Seahouses, stay in one of two cottages just on the edge of the village that are run by a lady who works at the caravan park nearby. The one we use is dog friendly, has an enclosed back garden. Can walk to the Seahouses end of Bamburgh beach, which is huge, or a five minute drive to Beadnell beach, similarly vast. You get free use of the club at the caravan park which has a great dog friendly bar and restaurant. 

37 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

A shade further than a couple of hours but we go to Northumberland a lot, very dog friendly area for pubs, cafes etc and plenty of dog friendly accomodation. We go in particular to Seahouses, stay in one of two cottages just on the edge of the village that are run by a lady who works at the caravan park nearby. The one we use is dog friendly, has an enclosed back garden. Can walk to the Seahouses end of Bamburgh beach, which is huge, or a five minute drive to Beadnell beach, similarly vast. You get free use of the club at the caravan park which has a great dog friendly bar and restaurant. 

Agree 

Up that way this week just south of Berwick 

Bit of a trek but worth it once you're here 

10 minutes ago, Zico said:

Agree 

Up that way this week just south of Berwick 

Bit of a trek but worth it once you're here 

I am currently on Hoy, now that is a trek!

Why is everyone suddenly going to Berwick? I'm up there for a few days on Monday - although I had nothing to do with deciding the location. Have I missed something?!

(Not complaining like, as we had a break in Bamburgh a couple of years ago and it was fantastic.)

Edited April 11, 20251 yr by Cheese

13 minutes ago, Cheese said:

Why is everyone suddenly going to Berwick? I'm up there for a few days on Monday - although I had nothing to do with deciding the location. Have I missed something?!

(Not complaining like, as we had a break in Bamburgh a couple of years ago and it was fantastic.)

Been doing it a few years now as other half has family who retired to a place called Belford 

It's just dead nice up here

When it's sunny and warm at least

Spent a lot of time in Wales over the last few years too but much prefer Northumberland 

13 minutes ago, Zico said:

Been doing it a few years now as other half has family who retired to a place called Belford 

It's just dead nice up here

When it's sunny and warm at least

Spent a lot of time in Wales over the last few years too but much prefer Northumberland 

Think it's probably be an age thing, and I've only just started noticing it.

Edited April 11, 20251 yr by Cheese

We started going up there just over a decade ago (short break for my 50th) were hooked, been nearly every year since, got married in Bamburgh Castle in 2021. 

Wide open spaces, clear skies, glorious beaches, good pubs and great food places. 

Belford's a nice place, been to the farm shop there. 

We've stayed in Bamburgh, Seahouses, Cresswell, Amble and Blyth over the years and at the Havens at Haggerston Castle and Eyemouth (over the border, just beyond Berwick)

Edited April 11, 20251 yr by ianofcleveleys

5 hours ago, ianofcleveleys said:

We started going up there just over a decade ago (short break for my 50th) were hooked, been nearly every year since, got married in Bamburgh Castle in 2021. 

Wide open spaces, clear skies, glorious beaches, good pubs and great food places. 

Belford's a nice place, been to the farm shop there. 

We've stayed in Bamburgh, Seahouses, Cresswell, Amble and Blyth over the years and at the Havens at Haggerston Castle and Eyemouth (over the border, just beyond Berwick)

we've just been to Haggerston

also done the one at Berwick and Eyemouth

like Jocks & The Geordies meets Biffa Bacon half the time but great for the kids

mates parents know the area inside out, took us to Coldingham Bay for a week back in 1992

did a cottage with an ex and some mates around 2000, remember going on the piss round Berwick and thinking it was rough as fuck, remember it being like the wild west in one pub, saw a few scraps in the time we had a couple of pints in there

We are off to Santorini in May so the usual request. Good bars and I do like a rooftop bar, restaurants etc?

29 minutes ago, freds dad said:

We are off to Santorini in May so the usual request. Good bars and I do like a rooftop bar, restaurants etc?

Never been

Never will

Donkeys

Finally book for our first holiday in 6 years to La Rochelle - anyone been? Answers from Tricolore notwithstanding.

7 hours ago, Winchester White said:

I am currently on Hoy, now that is a trek!

How long did that take, door to door?

7 minutes ago, Zico said:

How long did that take, door to door?

Well, we stopped overnight in Perth on the way up but it is typically a 9 hour drive with some quick breaks along the way to get to the ferry terminal. Then it's an hour and a half crossing.

Basically you are talking 12 hours door to door. Luckily the in-laws don't live on Hoy but the mainland otherwise that would add a couple of hours.

We are going to fly next time, it's worth the extra cost frankly.

Been in Belfast all week albeit with work. Love the place. Definitely going back for a weekend break which I’ve done before. The centre of town has really picked up in terms of entertainment 

13 hours ago, Winchester White said:

Well, we stopped overnight in Perth on the way up but it is typically a 9 hour drive with some quick breaks along the way to get to the ferry terminal. Then it's an hour and a half crossing.

Basically you are talking 12 hours door to door. Luckily the in-laws don't live on Hoy but the mainland otherwise that would add a couple of hours.

We are going to fly next time, it's worth the extra cost frankly.

Nice one, lived in Toab since 2008, we normally overnight to Aberdeen, then drive down to Bolton when visiting family 

7 minutes ago, Campos_Wig said:

Nice one, lived in Toab since 2008, we normally overnight to Aberdeen, then drive down to Bolton when visiting family 

I remember there was someone off here who lives on Orkney but couldn't remember who.

Been a lovely week up here, going back home today.

1 minute ago, Winchester White said:

I remember there was someone off here who lives on Orkney but couldn't remember who.

Been a lovely week up here, going back home today.

This week is looking decent as well, glorious morning today

17 hours ago, Not in Crawley said:

Finally book for our first holiday in 6 years to La Rochelle - anyone been? Answers from Tricolore notwithstanding.

stayed there for a night on the way back from Midi Pyrenees a few years back and spent a very pleasant afternoon drinking there last November. Very pretty port, and like much of France, steeped in history.

Absolutely love Charente Maritime, and if all goes to plan it'll be home in a few months once we've tied things up in the UK. But we'll be an hour south of La Rochelle, and don't know the area around it well.

Places I'd recommend are 1 hour plus drive from there, so probably not much use to you.

 

On 11/04/2025 at 11:58, ianofcleveleys said:

We started going up there just over a decade ago (short break for my 50th) were hooked, been nearly every year since, got married in Bamburgh Castle in 2021. 

Wide open spaces, clear skies, glorious beaches, good pubs and great food places. 

Belford's a nice place, been to the farm shop there. 

We've stayed in Bamburgh, Seahouses, Cresswell, Amble and Blyth over the years and at the Havens at Haggerston Castle and Eyemouth (over the border, just beyond Berwick)

Been visiting regularly for over 30 years... ashes of my 3 dogs are on Bamburgh beach, no doubt mine will eventually end up there too!

1 hour ago, wakey said:

stayed there for a night on the way back from Midi Pyrenees a few years back and spent a very pleasant afternoon drinking there last November. Very pretty port, and like much of France, steeped in history.

Absolutely love Charente Maritime, and if all goes to plan it'll be home in a few months once we've tied things up in the UK. But we'll be an hour south of La Rochelle, and don't know the area around it well.

Places I'd recommend are 1 hour plus drive from there, so probably not much use to you.

 

How easy is it to go and live there

Im guessing youre not french

4 minutes ago, Casino said:

How easy is it to go and live there

Im guessing youre not french

need a visa, but should (hopefully) be straightforward for us.

bit more complicated if you're working or want to set up a business.

basically, they're happy enough to have us there as long as you're self-sufficient and aren't nicking French folks' jobs.

 

Is there a min value of the property you are buying

Ive seen some amazing looking placrs in france for silly money

Granted you prob need to avoid british immigrants, but that suits me fine

1 minute ago, Casino said:

Is there a min value of the property you are buying

Ive seen some amazing looking placrs in france for silly money

Granted you prob need to avoid british immigrants, but that suits me fine

you mean for a visa application? if so, you don't need to be buying, just have somewhere to live for 3 months (airbnb will do). We'll rent for a while until we find the dream house.

If you go more central France - Limousin or Correze - or even a bit further north from where we're heading - North Charente, Deux Sevres, Vienne etc - you get some crazy bargains. 

A bit less so where we're looking, mainly because of the weather and proximity to the coast, but even there we'll get a comparable house for less than 2/3 what we'll sell our UK house for.