Thanks for the suggestions. Having trouble finding anywhere that'll let me have four nights at that time of year. They all want a week's rental.

As I say, time of year may be against you, been stuck in Whitby trying to get to Pickering and in Pickering trying to get to Whitby numerous times in Winter, if you like that part of the world then try Gothland and Mallion Spout, wonderful places.

Thanks (only just noticed this reply), I'm not too sure that I want to have to use repellant etc. hmmm,

Dunno about other insects but I can vouch for Avon's Skin-so-Soft lotion for keeping Scottish midges at bay

As we found in Corfu last August, the insect repellent that you buy in the UK is generally not effective abroad (haven't a clue why that should be though) but the stuff you buy in your holiday resort generally is, probably because the local shopkeepers know what works and what doesn't.

Like wise in Corfu we found the chemists to be extremely effective in treating minor illness and injury, were certainly much cheaper than consulting a doctor and then being referred to the chemist for the treatments, and would often do a brief consultation for free anyway - three of our party had bad reactions to insect bites and were given antihistamines over the counter in the chemist (which worked), and I mean not just itchy lumps but swollen legs and open sores which were bandaged in the shop and treated there and then for a few euros.

I'd suggest that we do it in this country but the Tories would claim it as their idea.

Lake Garda is spectacular. We went for a long weekend in July a few years back and I could quite happily have stayed for a fortnight. We stayed in a little town called Lazise which was really nice, but we used it as a base to explore other villages and towns around the lake. If you're there for long enough, try and get to Verona for the day.

I think it's the southern European "chemists" are more apothecaries and are usually trained to treat non-urgent cases. I use hyrogen peroxide as an antiseptic and mouthwash but have to drive 15 miles to find an old-school chemist that still stocks it. After the dopey bint in my local Boots offered to sell me Plax or Listerine, she finally told me that they couldn't sell it because I could use it to make a bomb. As opposed to them making a bomb by selling me branded shoite

I think this may be true, some years ago when prescriptions in the Uk cost £5.00 per item, my wife, who suffers from occasional eczema on her hands was prescribed something called "oily cream" which TBH wasn't having much effect. Normally you get Betnovate, but anyway she persevered. We went on holiday to the Costa Del Sol, and she forgot to take this stuff with her. So we went into a chemist, and he gave her a tube of Betnovate - and here's the punch-line it only cost a £1!

Places I'd recommend. I've been to Garda twice and it's lovely - but IMO compared to Spain Italy is expensive.
My favourite resort on the Med is Tossa de Mar on the Costa Brava. It's picturesque, you can eat and drink well fairly cheaply, the people are great and the weather goes without saying. Plus of course if you drive, which we have four times it's one of the nearest places in Spain to the UK. In fact if you time your holiday there correctly you could even watch your team at Catalans - it's only 60 - 90 minutes drive from Perpignan.