Would Cornwall and Devon or The Lakes District be less crowded the last two weeks of August, or is there not much difference?

If we go it might be a last minute decision. We may wait until late July/early August and see if there are any good last minute rates and availability on a Nat Geo cruise in Scotland. If not, then maybe we'll head to the U.K anyway.

Would waiting this long to make reservations in either area be a problem? I'm hoping not with the problems in both of our economies.

I really want to go to Cornwall and Devon someday but I thought it might be more crowded in August. Will the Lakes District be cooler? Midges?

What about schoolchildren and Bank Holidays?

Any thoughts and suggestions?

There is a Bank Holiday the last weekend of August.

Both the Lakes and Cornwall will be massively crowded during the whole month but especially so the last week. If the weather is nice there are usually miles long tailbacks on the major routes in both areas.

This year might be even more crowded than usual since the financial situation might mean more British residents stay closer to home instead of taking foreign holidays.

I've also read that more people are holidaying near home rather than abroad this year.

In 2008 we were on an extended holiday which included a week in Cornwall and 4 days in the Lake District.

We were in Cornwall the last week in August and had waited until March to find a cottage. Granted we needed one for 4 adults and two children but we found most of our first choices were booked. There was a better selection of smaller cottages so if you are only two, you may have luck with late availability for small cottages and hotels.

We were in the lakes in early September so no problem then. We stayed at Cragmore House hotel on Lake Windermere which was nice and made up in part for rain and more rain--not a total surprise.

We had terrible weather both in Cornwall and the Lake District but you pay your money and you take your chances. It was one of the worst summers in England for many years so we were just unlucky but still had a grand time.

We stayed last fall at Ballinalacken Castle Hotel (not a castle just next to a ruins)

It was outside Doolin, so convenient to Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. It was quiet, nice dining room. Our room had a great view, was a little outdated but not bad.

http://www.ballinalackencastle.com/

We did eat at Roadford House Restaurant in Doolin and I would HIGHLY recommend eating there. The former Chef from Ballinalacken opened it with his wife, and it was delightful. Apparently he is very well known.

http://www.roadfordrestaurant.com/

oops, sorry! Wrong thread!

OK, I need o get my mind back in the U.K.!

We would be booking only for the two of us so that should help.

Hadn't thought about the economy forcing more people to travel at home, good point.

Could we take a train from Heathrow to someplace to pick up a rental car to avoid some of the crowds?

If you take a train to the Lake District or Cornwall, it will plop you smack dab in the middle of the crowds.

Not that you can't have a nice holiday in August in either place -- but me personally, I'd avoid both in August.

We had been to North Devon (Woolacombe) last summer and found one of the world's most beautiful coastlines, excellent food (Devon cream, Exmoor beef, crab, saltgrass lamb..), picturesque villages, dramatic landscape.

I cannot image that this region ever gets crowded.

Before our trip, we weren't aware that North Devon is so beautiful.

hi wrenwood,

you need to know that the whole of august [and last two weeks of July] are the UK school hols. so anywhere in the UK that has a tourist industry [including North Devon, where we used to have a holiday home] is going to be busier than it would be at other times.

that said, there will be loads of places even in Cornwall and the Lakes where you can get away from the crowds, though finding somewhere to stay might be more problematic, even for just two people.

I have to say that my favourite time in Cornwall is the spring - the flowers are at their best and
we often have our best weather then. we don't often have trouble with midges, or at least, not yet.

happy planning,

regards, ann

When and where are Midges a problem? Also, Traveller1959, your trip report was really very entertaining. We are planning a trip with teenage boys for this July. If I were to ask your sons, what would they say the highlights were?

We wouldn't be doing really touristy things, more interested in small villages (especially some in North Devon where my ancestors came from) gardens with big trees, history.

Maybe if we saved the areas where people can actually swim we would be better off and avoid some crowds?

Is there an area that might be less crowded?

hi wrenwood,

yes, yes, yes. go to North Devon. [don't tell the cornish tourist board I wrote that!]

ok it's popular with families and the traffic in barnstaple is a real mare, but the area around Appledore [loads of self-catering cottages] is a gem, and you are in an ideal place to explore north cornwall, exmoor, lydford, fabulous cliff walks, etc. etc.

regards, ann

rileypenny:

I just asked my sons and this it what they answered:

- They liked the North Devon coast. One said "Sauron's beach" and, when he found a particular tidepool, "Sauron's pool".

- They enjoyed our nightly walks, both along the beach with all the young folks partying on the beach and on the boardwalk. And of course they enjoyed the ale and stuff.

- They enjoyed chasing and petting the sheep during our hikes along the coast.

- But the absolute highlight was: clotted cream.

North Devon was, for them, our trip's highlight whereas they liked the Cotswolds least.

A decision has been made! Okay, so the answer is yes and no.............

I have also had a thread going on visiting the Dolomites in August..............so...

I think we're going to do the Dolomites and Soglio in August ~ shorter amount of time, less people.

HOWEVER..........(drum roll)............I think we're going to go to Cornwall and Devon in late September/early October ~ a little more time to spend, and less crowds!

Happy! Happy! Happy! Happy!

Thanks for all the help, I will need more help to plan the September/October vacation!

Thanks, Traveller1959. Like Wrenwood, I think we will choose North Devon in late July. I will get off of wrenwood's thread and post my own request for ideas in a couple of days.

In direct answer to your question - It will be far easier to find quiet corners in the Lakes rather than tourist areas of the SW.

Bowness/Ambleside/Dove Cottage and Far Sawrey will be very busy but large parts of Cumbria (in particular the North Lakes) are far quieter.

Be very aware that motorways in the UK at peak times during bankl holidays can get plain silly. It is not unusual for 40 minute journies to take 3 hours. Especially when the sun shines!

Two areas that we visited last year and would warmly recommend are The South Hams of Devon and The Creeks south of Truro.

In the South Hams - Salcombe is stunning - we travelled 3000 miles up and down the US coast looking for a place like this - only to find it 300 miles from home. It does get very very busy outside school term time. Dartmouth is a very gentile alternative.

In Cornwall, the creeks (such as Restronguet) are the stuff of pirates and smugglers. Much of the land is Crown owned and is very peaceful. However, we usually find getting anywhere in Cornwall - absolute hell whilst the children are off school. If you are interested - Creekside Cottages offer cottages in beautiful settings for reasonable prices.

One word of warning regarding booking - it may be a good idea to look early - we run a UK tourist related business and even now are experiencing silly high levels of business. With the pound worth less than the Ethiopian birr - it would seem that large numbers of Brits are staying at home this year.