The British Countryside

Diamond Geezer said:
Never seen an airport in Cheltenham ? Do you mean Gloucester Airport at Staverton ? Name dropping alert :whistle: Had a long chat with Nicky there one day while he was waiting for a private flight to Ireland.

Also Newquay airport is good for Cornwall if there is a connecting flight from Ireland.
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For the Yorkshire Dales it's Leeds/Bradford Airport. A few miles north and you're in Lower Wharfedale. Check out Ilkley, nice town and the Sue & Harvey Smith stable is nearby
 
PJ - on mature reflection. Turn right instead of left and drive to Connemara and Killary Harbour. Just spent four days at Delphi Lodge. Orgasmic scenery and hill walks.
 
Warbler said:
Absolutely, and on balance I've been left disappointed
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In the spirit in which it was meant, there are some lovely areas in both Warwickshire and Northamptonshire.

Warwickshire's Shakespeare country around Stratford Upon Avon is a must, as is Stratford Upon Avon itself. A quintessential slice of England that should be on anyone's list. All the better as it's only 35 minutes from Prestbury Park and all of the rolling Cotswolds Hills. The villages that straddle South Warwickshire and North Gloucestershire along the Fosse Way A429 from Princethorpe (just south of Rugby to Cirencester), are all well worth it too. It's a big tourist trap, and well worth doing. If you're prepared to go off the beaten track you'll find great pub lunches down single track roads just about everywhere.

To the east of the M1 between J17 and J20 Northamptonshire there is a veritable hotbed of Stately Homes, including Althorp House (Princess Diana's family home) which is along the A428 J18. It doens't matter which way you go in and you can take any road north or south and you're pretty much straight in to rolling hills, lakes, dams, rivers, and a hotbed of villages built from Northampton Stone. Plus the best measure of all, it has some of this country's finest traditional establishments serving some of the best real ales and quality food in the country. In fact North Northamptonshire has been a genuine surprise to me. The whole area is packed full of hidden gems.

Nottinghamshire however is definitely best avoided. Trolls on every road and bridge that even get on here! :lol:
 
Please note how it only took the Warwickhsire apologist a mere paragraph before he's been forced into trying to pinch the Cotswolds, because he knows that Nuneaton, Bedworth, and Atherstone are grim gravel pits. And let's be honest, Shakespeare country is really London, anymore that Stratford on Avon is a lorry park and distribution shed (not that Stratford really counts as countryside anyway).

As countryside goes, the Midlands is pretty uninspiring, albeit Derbyshire (well the north of the county at least) can stand on its own merit. Nottinghamshire has Sherwood Forest (well what's left of it - which isn't much), you might be able to make an argument for the Black Hills and the Wrekin I suppose. Shropshire certainly isn't a wash out either, but there's not a great deal to the Midlands. And before anyone screams the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire is technically speaking in the south west

In truth though Granger, ignore all these homie regional yokels speaking about their part of England. Cumbria is the genuine group 1 performer amongst the group 3 and listed runners. If I had to nominate an under-estimated county/ region, then it would probably be Northumbria and County Durham
 
Here's what you do, it's based on a wonderful trip I did a couple of years ago in a May heatwave.

Take the ferry to Holyhead and make your way to somewhere near Chester on 6th May. There are beautiful rural areas to the south of it and the racecourse is well worth a visit (best meeting is 7,8 and 9th May), even for those who insist on placing obstacles in front of their horses. Leave Chester on the 8th and head for the Lake District for a couple of days.

Head for Hexham and go racing there on the 11th. The drive is amazing if you go via Alston. I stayed once in a very nice B+B on a sheep farm near Hexham and the track is a great experience. Visit Durham cathedral and Lindisfarne and take the inland route to Endinburgh via Jedburgh and other such places. There's the most amazing view as you crest a hill and approach Edinburgh from the south. There's racing in Musselburgh and Perth that week and more beautiful scenery and herritage than you can imagine. Return to Holyhead via Bangor-on-Dee on the Saturday.

You will have a wonderful time.
 
Grey's got a damn fine itinerary there, and his opening gambit allows you to take in Snowdonia too

If you've got a bit extra cash, you can always stay in the Port Meirion hotel, which must rank as one the quirkiest places in the UK.

"I will not be pushed, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered"
 
Warbler said:
Please note how it only took the Warwickhsire apologist a mere paragraph before he's been forced into trying to pinch the Cotswolds, because he knows that Nuneaton, Bedworth, and Atherstone are grim gravel pits. And let's be honest, Shakespeare country is really London, anymore that Stratford on Avon is a lorry park and distribution shed (not that Stratford really counts as countryside anyway).
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Very good :lol:
 
Grey said:
Here's what you do, it's based on a wonderful trip I did a couple of years ago in a May heatwave.

Take the ferry to Holyhead and make your way to somewhere near Chester on 6th May. There are beautiful rural areas to the south of it and the racecourse is well worth a visit (best meeting is 7,8 and 9th May), even for those who insist on placing obstacles in front of their horses. Leave Chester on the 8th and head for the Lake District for a couple of days.

Head for Hexham and go racing there on the 11th. The drive is amazing if you go via Alston. I stayed once in a very nice B+B on a sheep farm near Hexham and the track is a great experience. Visit Durham cathedral and Lindisfarne and take the inland route to Endinburgh via Jedburgh and other such places. There's the most amazing view as you crest a hill and approach Edinburgh from the south. There's racing in Musselburgh and Perth that week and more beautiful scenery and herritage than you can imagine. Return to Holyhead via Bangor-on-Dee on the Saturday.

You will have a wonderful time.
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I'm liking this idea. Art has trumped us all.
 
I would make one tiny addition to Grey's itinerary. Travel from Perth to Bangor on Dee via killin - thus giving you a wee glimpse of the beautiful Highlands on the way.
 
simmo said:
I would make one tiny addition to Grey's itinerary. Travel from Perth to Bangor on Dee via killin - thus giving you a wee glimpse of the beautiful Highlands on the way.
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I'd stretch it a bit further suggest you could do a whole day round the Trossachs taking in Loch Katrine. I believe you can hire a bike at the pierhead and take SS Walter Scott to the other end and cycle back. You also have Loch Chon, Loch Arklet and the ominously named Loch Ard, plus the forest (forget its name)
 
granger said:
Art has won the day - once he gets enough of Belgium, a rural tour company career beckons
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He did fail to mention Alnwick Castle though if you have a fixation with Blackadder I or Harry Potter. I've got a feeling that the genuine 'Mrs Miggins pie shop' is in the area actually? as the crew eat there when they were filming or Rowan comes from the area (one of the two)
 
Grey said:
Take the ferry to Holyhead and make your way to somewhere near Chester on 6th May.
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Arrive in Holyhead circa 4th May and spend a day or two ambling/rambling around Holy Island. The coastal cliffs and Trearddur Bay are fabulous.

The train journey to Chester via the Menai Straits bridge and North Wales coast is picturesque too

Do keep quiet about Northumberland: it's a gem of a county that for some - welcome - reason does not draw the visitors it deserves

If tempted by the Lake District - and who couldn't be - try and time it to coincide with Cartmel Races. Furness, to the south of the national park has several lovely villages within it, such as Grange-over-Sands, Ulverston (where Stan Laurel was born) and Cartmel itself. And nearer Lancaster is Carnforth Railway Station with its rather wonderful 'Brief Encounter' tea room
 
Warbler said:
He did fail to mention Alnwick Castle though if you have a fixation with Blackadder I or Harry Potter. I've got a feeling that the genuine 'Mrs Miggins pie shop' is in the area actually? as the crew eat there when they were filming or Rowan comes from the area (one of the two)
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I merely drove past Alnwick but made a note to myself to return some day. Bamburgh Castle has a very impressive setting too.
 
Were they at Nigel’s? He’s about 11 miles away from me ( probably equidistant between me and Kirsty actually!!) it is gorgeous here


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