5 nights/6 days options in northern england

I presume your friends that live in the Lake District can assist with what to see there. I always head for Eskdale - a trip on the Ratty Railway is fun. I avoid as much as possible Windermere and Keswick as they are too busy. Hill Top, the former home of Beatrix Potter is worth visiting. You need good walking gear, map and compas if you are heading uphill!

The weather early May could be gorgeous or it could be cold, misty and daylong rain. Where are you heading after these few days? That may influence where you go.

The sea to the Scottish islands could be choppy, so I would discount that option. Oban isn’t very exciting and can be seen in a couple of hours, so the main reason for going there is to get to the islands. Glencoe is stunning. My third choice by quite some margin. You are going to find that more posters on this forum have visited SW Scotland than Northumberland and north Wales, so I would imagine that many are going to recommend this option.

Snowdonia and the Welsh coastline is a great trip - I was there a fortnight ago. The weather can be very wet but it’s stunning and has a good mix of walks for all abilities and castles.

Northumberland is one of my favourite English counties - long walks on quiet, stunning beaches, castles, Holy Island is a must but check the tide times for the tidal causeway and the loveliest people in the country! No I’m not a local. The Farnes is a good day out, but wear a hat as the birds can be aggressive when nesting.

I would pick whichever of the latter two is easier for your next destination.

May is a great month as spring has mostly sprung and the lambs will be in the fields.
A leisurely journey through top end of the Dales and Northumbria would be an excellent choice.
Kielder Observatory is great the lectures are well worth attending
The Buddist Temple at Eskdalemuir is quite extraordinary.
Teesdale is a grand and different landscape to the Lakes.
Killhope Wheel.

Plus Hadrian's Wall is a days efforts.
Truth is it's all lovely.
And I will jump in before Jennifer gets a chance.

Cragside, up at Rothbury in Northumbria

Wild Northumbrian is a special place to stay it's near Keilder and the nearby village pub is great

If you plan to go to Arran - and why not? It’s lovely! - get your ferries booked NOW. Or sooner. My friends are renovating a house on the island and they are stuck there for a month (although if the weather is good I’d happily be stuck there for a month!) because the ferries are all booked. Currently they are only running one of the two ferries that ply the route between Ardrossan and Brodick and, wouldn’t you know it, it’s the smaller one of the two! Maybe they’ll go back to a two vessel service for summer, but if anxious to go, then you need to get in touch with CalMac now!

Whereabouts in the Lakes are you staying? That would give us a clue what’s in the vicinity.

The boats for the Farne Islands leave from the harbour at Seahouses. The islands themselves are exposed and without any form of cover apart from one small hut used by the NT/RSPB. You’ll need head to toe waterproofs just in case the weather turns inclement and there’s no way off other than by the boat you came on and they are timed. That said, the trips don’t last that long - you’re there for the birds and whatever sealife is at hand. Grace Darling’s row out to the islands was a one time effort I believe! Bamburgh is worth a look round and has a magnificent beach behind the castle. Cragside, inland a bit, is an amazing place. And as you’ll be heading from one coast to the other on this trip, with clever navigation you should be able to fit in a quick look at Hadrians Wall. Aim for the car park, either at Housesteads or Steel Rigg near Once Brewed for the best substantial remains of the wall in the central section as it sweeps up, down and over the Whin Rigg.

Ian

Not as famous as Castlerigg stone circle but you are certain to have it to yourself Loupin Stanes ,1 mile from Eskdalemuir.
I camped in the circle a few years back.
Couple of mins walk from the road

Thank you everyone! It sounds like NE England may be significantly less touristy than Scotland, and easier options to navigate. Please keep the ideas coming. I will be staying outside of Kendal.

Not got to this place yet as usually romping the hills.
But it's top of my to do list
https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/blanchland

Epic scenery plus Daleks..

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/AttractionsNear-g1071419-d209989-Lord_Crewe_Arms_Blanchland-Blanchland_Northumberland_England.html