Firedupinside
newbie
Reged: 28/12/2007
Posts: 24
Loc: Hertfordshire
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Evening All... Have a few days booked off work in the week leading up to Easter and the missus would like to go away for a few days... Now obviously i'd like to go somewhere where I can use the camera but the missus' idea is somewhat different (i.e Shopping, boutique style hotel, nice restaurants etc!)
So basically I'd like know of any nice spots around the country (other than the cities) that would keep us both happy...
Much appreciated
Firedupinside
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Bawbee
Out on a whim
Reged: 06/05/2000
Posts: 6996
Loc: Dundee, Scotland, UK
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There should be enough to keep everyone happy not too far from you, see the Dorset Thread
There used to be good shopping in Poole and Bournemouth, can't speak for now though, and plenty for Mrs. Firedupinside too  . Have a good trip, wherever you end up.
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Bawbee BSRIPN
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."
Bawbee Louis Stevenson 1850-1894
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tessar
enthusiast
Reged: 10/12/2006
Posts: 339
Loc: In the shed, Dartmouth
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That's a tricky one! One place to keep you both amused. Would a small city, maybe like Plymouth or Exeter, fit the bill. Both have waterfronts/quays, Cathedrals, gardens etc, and enough boutiques to melt a credit card!
Cheers Bill. 
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Carrie
journeywoman
Reged: 31/01/2006
Posts: 620
Loc: England
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Quote:
There used to be good shopping in Poole and Bournemouth, can't speak for now though, and plenty for Mrs. Firedupinside too
Can't go wrong with Dorset. Excellent shopping to be had in Bournemouth and Poole, town centres are OK, and depending on what you want Westbourne (in between the two town centres) has a good selection of smaller shops, or Castlepoint has a good range of Nationals, including a big M&S.
For boutique hotels I'd look at Poole, depending on your budget Les Bouviers is an option. The food is excellent, and the rooms look very nice (although we've never stayed there). Its well placed in the north of the town, easy access to the road networks to all areas.
Oh, yes, there's also excellent photography to be had, countryside or coast.
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Carrie
Proud to be FRIPN
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. (George Bernard Shaw)
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Hotblack
Dead Horse Flogger
Reged: 07/03/2006
Posts: 7287
Loc: Upstairs in the spare room.
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Quote:
That's a tricky one! One place to keep you both amused. Would a small city, maybe like Plymouth or Exeter, fit the bill. Both have waterfronts/quays, Cathedrals, gardens etc, and enough boutiques to melt a credit card!
Cheers Bill.
My first thoughts were along similar lines. Bath has great architecture, great shops (if that's your thing), great accomodation and lovely surrounding countryside (even if it's not the most dramatic).
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Cheers
David
David J White Photography
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 37664
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Until you said "other than the cities", I would've said Edinburgh. David's idea of Bath seems pretty sensible, though.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 6044
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Quote:
Quote:
That's a tricky one! One place to keep you both amused. Would a small city, maybe like Plymouth or Exeter, fit the bill. Both have waterfronts/quays, Cathedrals, gardens etc, and enough boutiques to melt a credit card!
Cheers Bill.
My first thoughts were along similar lines. Bath has great architecture, great shops (if that's your thing), great accomodation and lovely surrounding countryside (even if it's not the most dramatic).
Bath's a good idea or how about my own spa town of Harrogate? Lot's interest Mrs Bill with plenty shops, cafes and of course the Turkish Baths, plus Leeds and York are both only 30 minutes away by train. As for photographically, the Dales are on the doorstep and the North Yorkshire Moors aren't far away giving you a variety of landscapes to choose from. There's loads of accommodation too and it's easy to get to from the South either by train or car.
Yours, the unofficial Harrogate Tourist Board 
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www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
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Firedupinside
newbie
Reged: 28/12/2007
Posts: 24
Loc: Hertfordshire
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
That's a tricky one! One place to keep you both amused. Would a small city, maybe like Plymouth or Exeter, fit the bill. Both have waterfronts/quays, Cathedrals, gardens etc, and enough boutiques to melt a credit card!
Cheers Bill.
My first thoughts were along similar lines. Bath has great architecture, great shops (if that's your thing), great accomodation and lovely surrounding countryside (even if it's not the most dramatic).
Bath's a good idea or how about my own spa town of Harrogate? Lot's interest Mrs Bill with plenty shops, cafes and of course the Turkish Baths, plus Leeds and York are both only 30 minutes away by train. As for photographically, the Dales are on the doorstep and the North Yorkshire Moors aren't far away giving you a variety of landscapes to choose from. There's loads of accommodation too and it's easy to get to from the South either by train or car.
Yours, the unofficial Harrogate Tourist Board
Thanks everyone for the fantastic suggestions... I have decided on Harrogate and booked 2 nights in Hotel du Vin overlooking the Stray... Mrs Firedupinside is over the moon!!
Any suggestions of where to point the lens at over the 3 days I'm up there!
Thanks again!
Firedupinside
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NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 6044
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Quote:
Thanks everyone for the fantastic suggestions... I have decided on Harrogate and booked 2 nights in Hotel du Vin overlooking the Stray... Mrs Firedupinside is over the moon!!
Any suggestions of where to point the lens at over the 3 days I'm up there!
Blimey, I think that's the first time anyone's taken my advice on this forum!
The Hotel du Vin is sublime. We stayed there the night after the night after our wedding. Our room was bigger than one of our friend's London flat!
Before suggesting places, will you have a car or be relying on public transport/taxis?
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www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 37664
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Quote:
Quote:
Thanks everyone for the fantastic suggestions... I have decided on Harrogate and booked 2 nights in Hotel du Vin overlooking the Stray... Mrs Firedupinside is over the moon!!
Any suggestions of where to point the lens at over the 3 days I'm up there!
Blimey, I think that's the first time anyone's taken my advice on this forum!
The Hotel du Vin is sublime. We stayed there the night after the night after our wedding. Our room was bigger than one of our friend's London flat!
Before suggesting places, will you have a car or be relying on public transport/taxis?
What was the Hotel du Vin called previously?
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 6044
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Quote:
What was the Hotel du Vin called previously?
I've no idea, we stayed there prior to moving here in 2006. It's further along from the Yorkshire Hotel and the Alexandra Pub (formally the Rat & Parrot) but judging from the look of it I wouldn't be surprised it it was converted from domestic housing.
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www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
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NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 6044
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Quote:
[Any suggestions of where to point the lens at over the 3 days I'm up there!
Right couldn't wait so here's a small sample of places to go and see all no more than 30 minutes drive from Harrogate town centre.
As I said, the Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors are right on the doorstep but these two places are both interesting:
Brimham Rocks
Plumpton Rocks
For stately homes there are
Ripley Castle and
Harewood House
For beautiful gardens there's the RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr which is a couple of mile out of town or
Valley Gardens which are free and slap bang in the centre.
For old ruins you can choose between Fountains Abbey or
Bolton Abbey. Both are lovely, my favourite is Bolton Abbey because of its position by the River Wharfe and the river side walk up past the Strid but you can walk through to Studley Royal Deer Park from Fountains Abbey which is lovely too.
For towns around Harrogate there are Karesborough, Ripon or
Skipton with markets, castles and a cathedral.
Eating wise book well in advance as the best resaurants are always fully booked at the weekends. I'd recommend having one meal at the Hotel du Vin and of course Betty's Tearooms just across the road from the Hotel Du Vin. Other than that I would recommend Sasso for lovely Italian food although I have heard good things about Luigis on Valley Drive too. The Pine Marten, near Harlow Carr, is good for lunch, but of course there are two Betty's tea rooms in the gardens themselve (one is a little posh tea hut) Finally, if you want to splash out, try the Drum and Monkey if you can get in, it's always booked up in advance.
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www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 37664
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Can't argue with any of that (don't know about the restaurants after all these years, although the Drum and Monkey was where my grandmother used to take me occasionally as a special treat) - a lot of my childhood stamping grounds there.
I might add Spofforth Castle for ruins - not the very best, but can often be fitted in around other things - and above Bolton Abbey, the Valley of Desolation - interesting landscape.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 6044
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Quote:
Can't argue with any of that (don't know about the restaurants after all these years, although the Drum and Monkey was where my grandmother used to take me occasionally as a special treat) - a lot of my childhood stamping grounds there.
I might add Spofforth Castle for ruins - not the very best, but can often be fitted in around other things - and above Bolton Abbey, the Valley of Desolation - interesting landscape.
Also after visting Bolton Abbey, taking the road up into Upper Wharfedale takes you through some breathtaking scenery.
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www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
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Hotblack
Dead Horse Flogger
Reged: 07/03/2006
Posts: 7287
Loc: Upstairs in the spare room.
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Thanks everyone for the fantastic suggestions... I have decided on Harrogate and booked 2 nights in Hotel du Vin overlooking the Stray... Mrs Firedupinside is over the moon!!
Any suggestions of where to point the lens at over the 3 days I'm up there!
Blimey, I think that's the first time anyone's taken my advice on this forum!
The Hotel du Vin is sublime. We stayed there the night after the night after our wedding. Our room was bigger than one of our friend's London flat!
Before suggesting places, will you have a car or be relying on public transport/taxis?
What was the Hotel du Vin called previously?
The Winehouse
The music was atrocious and all the residents were scrawney individuals who were definitely in to 'heroin chic' as a look.
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Cheers
David
David J White Photography
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NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 6044
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Hmmm, wonder if we'll ever see the OP again? 
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www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
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