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Early planning for 3+ weeks in GB.Suggestions to add to itinerary please.

Hello again, Forum friends! A few years ago my husband and I took our first trip to England, Scotland and Wales and with the help of forum regulars emma, Nigel, Claudia, Dick, Pam and many others it was a fabulous vacation we'll never forget. I'm currently beginning to plan our next trip for Sept. 2020 and would appreciate some suggestions. This trip will begin with a week in Cornwall walking the Southwest Coast Path, something I've been wanting to do for many years. Also in this trip will be time on Skye, Mull, the Lake District and several days in London. I'm looking for recommendations on other areas to visit. I love history, hiking and the sea. When asked his priorities my husband said great walks, villages, good pubs and the sea. We've been to North Wales, Cotswolds, York and Inverness and Edinburgh. I will also post in the Scotland forum. We will do a combination of driving and train travel. Where are some of your favorite places to visit? Thank you in advance, Jenny

Posted by
36 posts

If you are going to Skye, and you like to hike, go to Glen Brittle into the Cuillins. You will need boots and be prepared for rain, but on a good day it's beautiful.

Posted by
3124 posts

How much time do you actually have? (3+ weeks could expand...) You've already outlined a week in Cornwall, followed by several days in London, then the Lake District and then the isles of Skye and Mull. That could easily fill up 3-4 weeks right there.

I will say that en route from Lake District to Scotland, since you like to walk, I'd highly recommend a stop at Hadrian's Wall. The section near Housesteads is awesome walking -- other sections may also be, but that's the one I'm familiar with.

On your way north from Glasgow you'll drive along the western shore of Loch Lomond. You can take a short cruise on the loch and combine it with walking if you want.

Posted by
116 posts

Thank you for the suggestions! Our schedule is pretty flexible at this time, so easy to add or subtract days here and there.
@epltd - thanks for the walking advice near Hadrian's wall. That's someplace I was hoping to add since we missed it last time.
@rsheltn -- We will definitely have our boots and rain gear. We're PNW natives! The Cuillins are on my list. Thanks for suggesting Glen Brittle.
@Claudia - Lyme Regis looks like a lovely place to spend some time after our coast path hike.
I still have lots of time for planning, so keep those faves coming and thanks in advance! Jenny

Posted by
9263 posts

I mentioned Lyme Regis because of your mention of the Southwest Coast Path https://www.absoluteescapes.com/South-West-Coast-Path-LymeRegis-to-Poole-Overview.html.

Stayed in a lovely AirBnB. PM If you want contact info.

Nice seaside town. Went in the late fall. Few tourists.

Good coffee and grub at the Aroma Cafe across of the small but well done Lyme Regis museum. I enjoyed lounging on the couch watching the bus drivers negotiate the curve and tiny road into town.

Up by the BNB was the Nags Head Pub. True local across the road from the St Michaels Catholic Church.

If you have a sweet tooth the fudge at Foleys will surely please.

Posted by
5678 posts

So glad to hear that you had such a great trip and are planning another one. I'm so happy that I to have been back since your last trip. I had a bit of a drought when I moved to NYC. I'll look for your post in the Scotland forum. Right now, my UK travel is focused on London and Cambridge as I am usually there for business. I then try to go somewhere for the weekend. I too am interested in Cornwall. I need a very long weekend for that trip. :)

Posted by
17562 posts

We are avid walkers and went to walk a portion of Hadrians Wall after 3 days in the Lake District on Derwentwater with HF Holidays. For Hadrians Wall we stayed two nights in the town of Haltwhistle which you can reach by train from Carlisle. We stayed at Ashcroft Guesthouse which I highly recommend. Great hosts, nice large room, wonderful breakfast.

https://www.ashcroftguesthouse.co.uk

One day we walked from there to the Hadrians Wall path and back, to simple a great scenic section. Next day we walked a section ending at Housesteads, explored the fort, and caught the bus back from Once Brewed ( or is it Twice Brewed?) to Haltwhistle.

We felt that was the right amount of time for Hadrians Wall .

If you seek more coastal walking and have time, consider Whitby and the walk to Robin Hoods Bay.

Posted by
8913 posts

I’ll second the suggestion for time at Hadrian’s Wall and the Ashcroft guest house at Haltwhistle. I’ll add hiring Peter Carney (local guide) for an orientation day.

Posted by
116 posts

Thank you guys so much! Lola and Carol, I've added a trip to Hadrian's Wall to my list for sure. Will probably tie it in to the days we'll be in the northern part of the Lake District. Claudia, I want to be in Lyme Regis right now! So far February has been brutal here! Jenny

Posted by
8322 posts

Tenby and St. Davids in South Wales were very nice.
Loved York, Durham and the Yorkshire Moors as well as Whitby.

Posted by
116 posts

Tenby and St. David's look like real winners--definitely on my short list. Thank you @geovagriffith! I was thinking about North York Moors area as well. If you had to choose between Durham and Whitby, which would you choose? We'll probably have ditched the car and will be heading south by train by this point. Thanks! Jenny

Posted by
28247 posts

I'm working on a trip that will include NE England right now, and I think you'll find that getting to Whitby by public transportation takes a good bit more time than getting to Durham. That's not an argument against choosing Whitby, just an indication that one should go into the decision with full information. Of course, it also matters where you will be traveling from and heading to next.