planning a 4 weeks trip of backpacking through The UK

We've done some UK long distance walks but the easy way with booked B&B accommodations and luggage transfer. We did encounter other walkers using rougher overnight accommodations from tents, to camping barns and hostels.

https://www.yha.org.uk/camping-and-cabins/camping-barns

Like the idea of camping but want to shelter under something more
substantial than fabric? Try a night in a camping barn. These "stone
tents" offer simple accommodation with a communal area to prepare your
meals, relax and sleep.

Our camping barns have running water, showers and toilets and cooking
facilities. You won't need your sleeping bag, as we provide all
bedding and make the beds. You might want to bring warm clothes, a
torch and walking boots.

https://independenthostels.co.uk/england-bunkhouses-campingbarns-bunkbarns-hostels/

England : Accommodation in bunkhouses, hostels, camping barns and
bunkbarns

Staying in English independent hostels, bunkhouses and camping barns
is a great way to tour England on a budget. Self-catering
accommodation with stays as short as one night enables couples,
individual travellers and families to experience landscapes as varied
as the North Norfolk Coast, the Lake District and Cornwall right up to
Northumberland. The cities are also well provided for with boutique
hostels and backpackers providing great value city centre
accommodation. English bunkhouses and hostels also provide ideal
accommodation for groups, particularity those looking for outdoor
activity breaks, with sole use of large kitchens and dining rooms.
There are nearly 200 privately run English hostels in the Independent
Hostels UK network, providing accommodation in England’s classic
countryside, National Parks and historic towns and cities.

And in Scotland the term for hut/ huts is bothy/bothies being a primitive shelter with a roof.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/bothies-and-bunkhouses

What is a bothy?

Bothies offer stripped back accommodation in remote locations. Close
to walking trails and national parks, they’re a great option for
walkers and people who want to get away from it all. Simple brick or
stone structures, bothies offer a 'camping with walls' experience.
There's usually no electricity and water often comes from handpumps

How do you plan to cross the Irish Sea - twice?

Hi -

OK I’m intrigued, so I’ll ask. Why do you intend to make for Birmingham? Onward flight home or access to Cotswolds? I’m sure that generally Birmingham is a delight, but not even the most hardened Brummie would have the city as THE place to aim for, for hiking trails, camp sites etc..

If hiking is your aim, then there are areas nearby that might be good for hiking but not, I think, the city itself. And it must be said there are great places to hike in England/UK but largely they are situated outside the West Midlands.

If you could lighten my darkness, I may be able to assist further and if I can, I’d be delighted to try and do so!

Ian

Thank you all for the comments!
As for the Irish sea, I thought we'd take 2 ferries, never did it before but what could go wrong?

And Birmingham- I only meant for the airport : P
Although im sure the city of Rocknroll must have something to offer, I don't want to spend much time inside any city,
And the airport could all the same be Bristol,Liverpoll, even Heathrow.

I would not bother with Ireland. I think your best bet is to land at Glasgow and then go by public transport to Loch Lomond. Then start your hike going north aiming for the Isle of Skye. You will cross rugged remote mountainous country. See map:> https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.8505524,-4.570853,283615m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1

See >https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/bothies/location-map/

If you want to do Wales, probably best to head for the Snowdonia National Park. The railway that runs down the west coast and starts to head east for Birmingham International Airport at Machynlleth makes that an easy option. Map > https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.9318303,-3.293463,155882m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1

Lets have another scenario,
Would it be possible to cross both the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia (by foot and sometimes by bus) within 4 weeks,
and the final destination would be Dublin's airport?

The answer is yes. You could walk the national trail Offa’s Dyke Path. Going north to south you’d start in Prestatyn (in my experience a good place to leave!) and follow the trail which weaves along the Welsh - English border all the way to the River Severn near Chepstow. From here you can use public transport to get to Bath, Bristol (cheap flight to Dublin from airport?), Birmingham and Heathrow.

The only down side is that the route doesn’t go through Snowdonia, but with four weeks you could easily do a week in Snowdonia before heading for Prestatyn and the long march south. We had a great time on Offa’s Dyke when we did it (parts of the dark ages dyke are still in evidence as you trace your route along its course). Be warned though it is tough and the weather can be harsh due to some of it being very exposed. We had a horrific half day in the Brecon Beacons in snow and reduced visibility. In June. By the end of the day the snow had gone and June was back.

As a National Trail it will have a dedicated website which should give you an outline of what to expect and I’d have a look round that first to see if it ‘floats your boat’!

Hope you can sort something to your satisfaction and have a great time!

Ian

Oh wow! that was very helpful Ian, thank you! definitly floats my boat.
Offa's Dyke path looks pretty much exactly what I was looking for, also the website is very good and easy to use.

I Hope we'd be able to finish it in 2 weeks or so ( Public transport along the way to shorten things up abit is available,right?)
Can't wait until I can enjoy that amazingly unexpected weather ;)

There's a more rugged long distance path in Wales, the Cambrian Way.
More or less climb every mountain from Cardiff in the south to Conwy in the north.
The Pennine Way is worth considering, 3 weeks is a good amount of time allowing some rest days.
I know 3 people doing it all or part this year,2 in Sept.
Developed campsites are about £6 to £8 a night, kindly farmers might let you pitch for a couple of £.
Generally,in the hills if you have a pack it's pretty easy to thumb a ride too

The National Trail UK has a website with most of the info you are looking for: http:www.nationaltrail.co.uk

Richard -

If me and the missus aren’t in your three people you know of doing the PW this year, then make it five! Hope to complete early September, God willing, following wind and all that!

Ian

Actually, the bothies I use belong to the MBA, Mount ain Bothy Association.
It's a charity providing free basic shelters in the hills.
Some are in great localations like ,the Lookout on Skye or Warnscale in the Lake District

Aye, I remembered after I posted that ,I know carrying Wainwright guarantees you a half at the Border Inn ,but I will match that at the Nags Head to set you on your way!

Hi Richard -

Probably not carrying any of my several Wainwrights (the original still has the waterlogged peat stains from my first attempt as a youth, ooh, too long ago to sensibly recall), it’s another dead weight I don’t need to lug to Scotland. Going with the most recent and hopefully more up to date National Trail guide.

May see you in the Nags Head in August!

Ian

PS. There are three of us starting but one is balling out at Howarth after completing the bleaker sections from Edale!

Thanks a lot people, it has all been very helpful, cheers&godspeed 👍