In a forest, by a lake: a UK holiday query

ok, that gives me something to go on! thanks!

hey Bill A (or anyone else) do you have any specific recs on large-ish cottages?

I'd forgotten about this thread.

Where should I go in late Feb, for a weekend, no more than a couple of hours from Oxford?

Sorry, Tracer - missed your update. With my wife we've tended to only stay in smaller places as we go by ourselves - have booked through Cumbrian Cottages and they're pretty good and helpful, with an office in Windermere so keys etc are a doddle. I've also got a place that my pals and I have been to three times in groups of up to 15 or so, it's a little rough around the edges, but has two big pluses: wonderful location, dirt cheap - I can message you the owner's details if yr interested?

For the New Forest, this place is really good...

http://www.kareliaholidays.co.uk/

i actually found a dude at work whose auntie rents out a place in ullswater, v cheap, unreal views down to the lake - pretty happy!

however it's not quite big enough for all of us so i've rented a 1-br right next to it.

is it weird that the owner of the 1-br wants the entire amount paid six weeks in advance? i've given her a deposit already... dunno maybe it's fine, it just feels weird to pay the whole amt for accommodation before i've even seen the place.

Hey, nice one - Ullswater is stupendous. Def take a walk up to Aira Force waterfall if you get a chance, the Ullswater Steamers are great for sightseeing too, and if you stop off in Pooley Bridge on the way round then the Pooley Bridge Inn is excellent for a few pints and log fire.

Re: paying in advance, that's pretty standard for rentals in the Lakes I think - has been the case for everywhere I've rented there so wouldn't worry about it.

We went camping just outside Pooley Bridge a few years ago, these are all excellent suggestions.

Any Hay on Wye recommendations?

Strangely, Alan McGee is DJ-ing on the weekend we are there.

(Not that strange, given he seems to live there but ... it still seems incongruous).

So I'm trying to organise a bachelor party, but a pretty quiet one, as a key guest has hearing damage.

We want to go for a country pub crawl or country pub lunch - either Surrey/Sussex/Kent, or Essex/Suffolk.

I was thinking of a walk around Lewes - Alfriston - Eastbourne. Any recommendations for walks or pubs?

Beachy Head? (I'm not suggesting you go kill yourself btw)

Recommendations for somewhere in the UK to go to between Xmas and New Year?

Southwold has worked for us before - nice town (pubs!) if the weather is terrible and beach or Dunwich Heath if it is dry ... with the possibility of a very nice meal at the Swan. The latter has been refurbished though and may be out of our price range.