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I'm back in the UK with the family over the summer for 7 weeks. Going to be doing some house sits but will have a bit of free time to fill and no permanent accommodation.
Somewhere like the Lakes is perfect in theory but suffers from being too busy, "been there done that", and is very over-priced because of desirability.
So my question is: Where in the UK is there lovely countryside, with a few nice towns/villages nearish, and is a bit of a hidden gem, where it would be reasonable to hire a house for a couple of weeks?
Anywhere in tourist areas will not be cheap to rent in the summer holidays, people want to make decent money out of their holiday homes then. You might find some good deals inland a few miles from Pembrokeshire coastline, which is a wonderful area.
Dumfries and Galloway - hills, beaches, forests, ace.
Northumbria / Borders - small villages, hills, forests.
Fife - beaches, hills, views of chemical plants, but a rather good spot
Angus - see above, beaches, proper mountains nearby, kind of 'in between', but ace.
Anywhere in tourist areas will not be cheap to rent in the summer holidays, people want to make decent money out of their holiday homes then
Absolutely, we're trying to avoid those types of area this summer.
Good suggestions, thanks, it's all about narrowing down that airbnb search....
Matt: You like your countryside in the colder part of the country, don't you!
Any specific towns or villages to aim for chaps?
We are very fond of Vale of Glamorgan. Especially Monknash where there is a splendid pub - Plough & Harrow - and gorgeous deserted beach.
You can get places nearby - Southerndown, Ewenny, the lighthouse at St Donats.
Absolutely, we’re trying to avoid those types of area this summer.
But they are the nicest places to visit! No point in going somewhere that isn't very nice, when we have such a wonderful coastline in the west. I'd search holiday cottages online and see what you can get for your money.
Pembrokeshire
Gower Peninsular
Isle of Purbeck
Devon obviously
Cornwall even more obviously
Look at the more 'forgotten' rural counties, like Shropshire, Herefordshire, Wiltshire etc. Some beautiful countryside, pretty villages and towns and without the tourist premium .
For lakes just get out to the edges, Cockermouth and around the wasdale end will be a lot quieter and all of the good stuff is there.
Herefordshire and Shropshire are nice. Depends on what you like. I'd be somewhere like Machynlleth or Dolgellau, cos I like mountains.
Rent nearby, walk or cycle to Dolgellau, by car visit Mach, Aberdovey, Castell y Bere, Cader Idris, the Blue Lake and mines, Cregennen.
I'm not sure the last time you went to Barmouth, but it's levels of charm have reduced somewhat since that poster was designed
We juts had a week outside of Haverfordwest.
Lovely part of the world.
Amazing Coastlines ( all 3 of them) Ace beaches, quiet roads, great pubs.
Whats not to love?
I really enjoyed my trip to the quantocks / somerset last year people tend to overlook it for devon and Cornwall . However North Wales never seems to be too busy and coast is nice around abersoch.
Obviously both location are great for riding.
If you're still around in September (it's booked throughout summer already), you'll do well to better this for a location:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/the-old-rectory-wales
Mournes area in Northern Ireland.
If you’re still around in September (it’s booked throughout summer already), you’ll do well to better this for a location:
That used to be booked up years in advance. Some funny stories about that place. It's supposed to be haunted (of course!) but the current location of the village isn't where it originally was - I seem to remember it being covered by sand or washed away, so plenty of scope for supposedly haunted areas. Occasionally Spanish doubloons would be washed up, with suggestions that a ship from the Spanish armada was wrecked somewhere near, and there was also a Whisky Galore type episode where a shipwreck was 'liberated' of its alcohol.
Anglesey?
Some fantastic suggestions. Thanks everyone.
Look at the more ‘forgotten’ rural counties, like Shropshire, Herefordshire, Wiltshire
Yes, this is what I'm looking at - "forgotten counties for holidays" would have been a better thread title!
We juts had a week outside of Haverfordwest.
Good shout, thanks.
Vale of Glamorgan.
Empty beaches and countryside sounds spot on and out of the way, cheers.
Erm, my only recollection of Barmouth was a static home holiday when I was 14. It certainly didn't look like that... .
Hire a narrow boat? Take it where you like for a fortnight, not necessarily cheap though.
Where in the UK is there lovely countryside
France.
Another vote for the Gower Peninsula, really lovely part of the world
Expanding on Matt's Fife suggestion, any of the towns/villages between Crail & Lower Largo.
Hire a narrow boat? Take it where you like for a fortnight, not necessarily cheap though.
Good thinking, but not ideal with a toddler!
France
Is very lovely, and was lovely for 4 weeks last summer, but blighty it is this year!
Gower Peninsula
On the list...
Wiltshire etc. Some beautiful countryside, pretty villages and towns and without the tourist premium .
Are you sure about that? What with Salisbury, Stonehenge, Avebury, Lacock, Castle Combe and a few other places... I live in North Wilts, so know how busy it can get.
The centre of Salisbury Plain is generally fairly empty of emmets, but the Western edge is Cotswold country, although the very southern edge puts you within reach of the coast, but the roads are narrow and winding, traffic slow, and overtaking opportunities few and far between. I’d be looking at Dorset, maybe the South Hams area of Devon, which has some lovely, fairly quiet spots around Start Bay, or maybe look further round to East Prawle.
Porlock, wortleberry jam, Exmoor and St Austell beers, coast walks, hill walks and not as touristy as Minehead.
Dorset
Pembroke, actually quite a lot of Wales
Not Cornwall, Devon, or the lakes
France is nice but you are selling us a little short there
North Wiltshire is Cotswolds, so extra expensive unless it is near Swindon.
I sure there is somewhere suitable in the rest of Wiltshire, but it does tend to be a mix of either faaaaarms as far as you can see, insular communities, or money. I reckon somewhere down in the sw might be cool but not found it.
OK so why cant you just copy an paste a bit of text into a reply until you have typed something!!
The centre of Salisbury Plain is generally fairly empty of emmets
Are you from Cornwall Count Zero?
Matt: You like your countryside in the colder part of the country, don’t you!
They grow palm trees in parts of Galloway!
Barmouth area is a great call. Fabulous place.
I'm also going to call Eden Valley - nice villages, lovely hills, half empty.
They grow palm trees in parts of Galloway
They manage to grow palm trees in parts of Galloway. I've got palm trees in my back garden but I'm thinking the climate is slightly different!
Eden Valley... Having a look.
Northumberland is beautiful. Bamburgh castle, Alnwick castle etc. Great beaches! Spent many happy holidays there as a kid.
Just come to Blackpool. You'll find a cheap house and the lakes is only up the road 😅
Northumberland is beautiful. Bamburgh castle, Alnwick castle etc. Great beaches! Spent many happy holidays there as a kid.
Naa, the place is rammed full, even in July.
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Cornwall, It's the future. Go there. 😉
Exmoor (specifically linmouth) spent an excellent week there last summer. Very quiet (except for loads of Dutch camper vans???) , properly properly good.
Brecon beacons, black mountains area, also excellentet, quiet but lots and lots to do.
Forest of bowland also, but it's really very very quiet. Better if you just want some peace from everything / everyone
Ps I found Gower good but overpriced due to ease of travelling from London I guess.
Also a big yes to Barmouth..I'm in harlech just up the road writing this (on holiday) and it's great around here
I’m not sure the last time you went to Barmouth, but it’s levels of charm have reduced somewhat since that poster was designed
Hmm, haven't been to the Barmouth area for at least five years. It's probably changed beyond recognition. I'll be giving it a miss then.
*edit. Yep, virtually unrecognisable 😫😉
**double-edit. Arghhhh they turned the old railway to Dolgellau into a cycle path now. Ok. That's sealed it. #nevergoback
Barmouth hasn’t changed at all since that poster was designed.
I spent four months working in Fairbourne, at the other end of Barmouth bridge in that pic, 20 years ago. Still daily the fools in the village shop would greet me in Welsh, making me apologise and ask them to speak English. It's the only time I've ever run into nasty Nationalism. Bizzare.
Fairbourne is essentially the Welsh Royston Vasey
Still daily the fools in the shop would greet me in Welsh
That happened to us in France. And more than once, I can tell you. Except they did that same thing yet in French. I knew that they were able to greet me English, but they obv wanted for me to look stupid. Was I going to mumble 'bonjour, ça va'? Er, no. Nasty business. I won't be going back.
People in their own country speaking their own languages?
The world is going to the dogs, it really is...
*or perhaps they kept saying good morning to you in the local language so you might, you know, learn something and maybe even try to integrate into the community a little?
I did learn enough Welsh, I could greet and comment on the weather etc, thanks to the 80 year old centre cook who taught me. They would deliberately carry on asking more in Welsh and more. Even other centre staff (Welsh) would comment about the shop owners behaviour...
As I said, only time ever, the rest of Wales and the world is welcoming...
Had a great weeks holiday a couple of years ago in llanbedr, between Barmouth and Harlech. I think if you go even more mid Wales it will be much quiter
Wylye/Nadder/Chalke Valleys in Wiltshire.
http://www.discoverchalkevalley.org.uk/
http://www.discovernadder.org.uk/