Breaks for the very elderly

From personal experience, I wholeheartedly agree with Sago, Swinton Park is wonderful. Rooms, in the castle, are spacious and comfortable and the food is amazing.
The estate is set in 200 acres of gardens and woodlands

Llandudno is very flat

I too like your idea mokryna.

Not helpful really, but I took my dad to Warners the last couple of years when he was 93/4… him and mum used to go regularly and he wanted to go after she died.
Yes, the locations are lovely, but he didn’t access anything and went to bed at 9 just as the entertainment was starting as he thought it was too loud. My son came too last year and I survived only because he did.
Dad talked about booking for last Christmas, but two separate rooms and no discounts made it well over £4000 for 4 days which I wasn’t prepared to spend of anyone’s money, even tho he can easily afford it.
So yes, they have their place if you are willing and able to engage, but otherwise I wouldn’t.

What about a lodge with hot tub in the lakes?

Mokryna That is more my style. I loathe renting a cottage because I am just exchanging kitchen sinks.

I would prefer to be close to shops to pop in for a coffee.

A hotel that is not too close to home would be good. You do not want to be so close that he wants to nip home to see what mail is on the doorstep.

Chauffeur-driven door-to-door also appeals, and I had not thought about that. You are putting ideas in my mind!

Why don’t you call it a luxury break which starts at your own doorstep.? Pick the hotel you like and have a chauffeur driven car to do the driving there and back.

I once stayed in Ayr for a wedding but a quick google didn’t find it. I recommend Bluestone in Wales with lovely accommodation but too far to travel for you. I’m not much help really. Sorry but hope you and OH have a relaxing time not too far from home with a bit of pampering for you and meals prepared.

I agree, if that's what he wants then fine.

Look at Dumfries and Galloway, not too overrun with tourists at this time and some lovely hotels both inland and seaside. Thought repeating OPs posts, just stay at home, relax, go out for meals, nothing fancy or if you can, have meals delivered. (some hotels will do this). Your DH needs to rest by the sounds of it and learn not to be so controlling re his work situation.

What about Crieff in Scotland,the Devonshire Arms is very comfortable, and there’s one of them at Burnsall , Doxford Hall Northumberland. We’ve had lovely weather in all of those in spring but it’s not guaranteed. You do have to check that there is no wedding going on as that changes the character of any hotel.

If resting and reading is what he wants to do, then I would suggest a good quality hotel nearby. Do you have any quiet seaside resorts nearby? This way, you would be able to go for a walk along the prom or look at the shops while he is resting. A newspaper or good book and an ice cream or coffee can be enjoyable small pleasures. We were on holiday in Devon a few years ago and there was a very elderly couple with their friend. They lived about ten miles from the hotel and had a lovely, relaxing time.

If you can take a look at the Visit Scotland/Visit Wales pages and look at luxury hotels there are a few that are in large country houses with large grounds surrounding them. You can both relax and recuperate and still have something nice to look through the window. When you are there try and get out into the fresh air for a stroll around the grounds either in the morning of early afternoon, tell him he can have a little nap then before getting up and dressed for dinner. I would also try and find at least 2 places to visit, near by just get him out and about a bit so you feel as if you have had a break.

I agree S Scotland Kelso would be a good base. There are attractions within a short drive or just stay in the town.

S Scotland. I've been all over Scotland except the Western Isles. But the area of S Scotland is particularly beautiful and relaxing, and the time of year you are going it is at its best. Ideal for people looking for peace and quiet. Get a holiday cottage if you can manage, preferable to a hotel. My favourite area East Lothian. There are midges but they are not as active as in other areas of Scotland

Head for the nearest coast. Sea views (perhaps a stroll) are therapeutic. Stay in a nice hotel, perhaps just bed & breakfast and eat out in the evenings so you’re not in the same dining room for meals. I hope whatever you decide that you both have a wonderfully relaxing break. It sounds well deserved.

Some nice places I can think of York, Harrogate, Warwick or Cotswolds. I agree with the others I would be looking at nice hotel with nice grounds, spa if wanted in an interesting town, so you mooch about coffee shops/castles/river etc. Maybe look on Tripadvisor.co.uk or google boutique hotels?

I would suggest the Lake District, as that would not be far to drive and has quite a range of possibilities. I took my husband to a lovely hotel near Ambleside , which was a treat for his birthday and had a jacuzzi etc in the room, beautifully peaceful in its own grounds but just between Ambleside and Windermere. Think it was called Middlewood, but not sure. You could just check hotels in that area.

One of the good things there is your options are quite varied, to suit your own interests. I used to work for National Trust in that area ,and if you are members there are quite a few places in the area. Some lovely gardens to visit and you could also have some rather peaceful but enjoyable times if you chose to go on a boat on either windermere or ullswater.
Then at the more southern end of the lakes you have Newby Bridge where there is a hotel and in that area there is a sculpture walk in Grizedale forest, and dont know if it is still available , but they did have a little submarine from newby bridge area but couldnt see much in the gloom. Dont know if it is still there but you could actually go in a hot air balloon there.

Also there is quite a bit of public transport , so that you could actually have a really good time leaving your car at the hotel and getting a bus, so that you could just enjoy looking at all the scenery, without worrying about parking or watching the road.

If he insists on driving a lot, I also suggest what I always do when travelling. Take a box with you with plates and cutlery, mugs etc etc and thermos etc. You do not have to use it all the time, but it is very good if you want to buy some food in say Ambleside where apple pie house sells lots of good food and had wonderful custard tarts to my memory. Not only cheaper than eating in a cafe all the time , but the great pleasure of being able to drive - in the weekdays when it is quieter - to whatever you fancy. A quiet drive through some woods, or up to Kirkstone Pass or whatever and you then have the flexibility to just stop at somewhere that appeals to you, and can sit in the peace and quiet and enjoy a lovely view to yourselves. Then you are not forced to go into a town just because you are hungry. I also have a folding chair and both sunglasses and a fleece at the ready for comfort, which allows you to be totally independant. (Of course I take all my litter home!)

An even closer place you might like to consider is Saltburn. It is a favourite place of mine, with lovely clean beaches, a great funicular to go down to the beach or the pier, and very quiet with a little railway and some gardens above the beach. But again there you have the peace and quiet and then you could go to Scarborough, Bridlington or Whitby easily from there for a wide range of possibiities. The bus ride along the coast is also very good if you dont want to drive. So you would have coast and also the north york moors close by. You could also enjoy the peace of the wolds and could travel to York.

I hope this gives you some idea that might help and that you have a lovely time wherever you get to. If you stay in Yorkshire of course you then have York and Harrogate if you want a time in a more built up area and there will be public transport to them too. The Park and Ride is definitely the best way to visit York without strtess. Enjoy whatever you choose.

midgey

I wouldn’t bother to drive very far at all. You can go to the next town with a good hotel and enjoy the peace there.

I agree. You just need to be far enough away from home so you dont look at each other and say 'Let's go home'. A spa hotel about 30 miles away might be ideal? Best wishes,

I would agree with the suggestion of a Spa Hotel. I know a good one but unfortunately it's near me, and I live in the south ( Berks). But I'm sure there must be others near you. I'm thinking that you could have massages, use the swimming pool and possibly enjoy other relaxing treatments. Do hope you find something suitable

I wouldn’t bother to drive very far at all. You can go to the next town with a good hotel and enjoy the peace there.

M0nica

“ You can drive quite safely with a heart condition”

Of course.

I am actually more concerned about the impact that his other symptoms ( breathlessness, lethargy and tiredness) might have on his driving, and also the fact that the OP doesn’t know why her husband is taking “numerous pills each morning for a heart condition” .

I wouldn’t want to risk driving 150 miles if I had those symptoms.

I have a heart condition and take medication. My cardiologist has informed me that I am safe to drive.

BlueBelle

I agree Everdene should he be driving at all if he has possible heart problems

You can drive quite safely with a heart condition. Your doctors will tell you if you cannot. DH has heart trouble and can drive 150 miles without any problem.

Are you near the Peak District. There are some hotels that are quiet and peaceful with lovely views. Not far from Manchester if you in that part of the North. On the other side Northumbria is is beautiful.