Family hol brainstorming

[snowwhite]

Righto, trying to work out what we might want to do en famille this summer.

Previously we have booked a self-catering cottage in Derbyshire for a week, and worked it out from there, however it's not a formula that's necessarily working well now.

MrSnow likes to go places there are hills / mountains (for purposes of walking / running)
We would sort of prefer to get to wherever without flying (no problems driving around the UK, and trains are also good).
Child 1 (11) doesn't do well in the heat, and will sulk epically if there is no wifi
Child 2 (9) likes having other kids around to play with, and also organised activities to join in.
I think it takes the stress out of things if we don't have to plan / cater everything ourselves.

Skiing in Feb worked reasonably well for us, but it DID involve a flight, and is not cheap, and anyway isn't going to work N Hem in July.

I have good memories of caravan hols in France (we'd drive down), but not sure about hills or if it might be a bit hot.

Any thoughts?

[tucano]

We used to go camping in France as kids and I remember it being easy to meet other kids through activities on site (or just at the pool).

As I recall the sites were usually quite safe for kids to go off on their own. Maybe look at something like Eurocamp for ideas and then see.if you can book places direct if it’s cheaper. Central and Southern France will be hot though.

[wombatrois]

Without knowing whether France offers summer alternatives, what about ski fields? In Australia they offer summer activities. And there are mountains. Chamonix had plenty of mountain bike trails when I was there a million years ago.

[ozziegiraffe]

For some reason, even though I never got there, the Lake District of England came to mind when I read this. (I did research it once upon a time)

[riverhorse]

My first thought was somewhere like the Ardennes in Belgium - lots of hiking possibilities! Google found me a holiday park comparison site:

www.holiday-park-guide.com/holiday-parks/Belgium/Ardennes

I'm sure as well as for the Ardennes, you could punch in any number of destinations. I would also recommend the south of Germany - great hiking, whether the Black Forest, the Allgäü mountains in Bavaria or the "proper" Alps there! Germany is a good bit cheaper than Austria when it comes to summer mountain holidays.

[Webs]

If you want to stay in country what about the Shetland Islands? Or somewhere not overpopulated in Scotland?

If you want to go across the pond, What about Brittany?