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In addition to everything you’ve mentioned here, there’s also the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog in Welsh), which are part of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. We visited Wales this past July, during the UK’s drought, and things weren’t nearly as green as I understand them to normally be, but the views were still stunning. We started in Cardiff, which is by no means a town or midsize village, but isn’t a huge city, either. Leaving Cardiff, we rented a car for the rest of the trip, first heading north to the Brecon Beacons. Several places are still reachable by frequent public transport. The town of Brecon (pop. less than 10,000) has a canal and is in proximity to lots of hiking trails, the highest peaks in that part of the U.K. (one with a relatively easy, wide, “motorway” trail that sees lots of people), and historical sights like an Iron Age fort site atop a hill, and the remains of an Ancient Roman military base. We stayed for 6 nights in a tiny community a bit outside of Brecon, easily reachable by car, although we went into Brecon several times. Without a car, I’d stay in Brecon.

Next, we headed up north, and stayed in Penmaenmawr, on the coast, and west of Conwy. There’s a train station there that seemed to get some use, but again, with a car, we didn’t get involved in using it ourselves. Without a car, I’d probably stay in Conwy, with its castle, harbor, historic bridges, and medieval feel. Towns nearby, and the 80-acre Bodnant Garden south of town, along with the Snowdonia (Eryi in Welsh) National Park are major draws. There’s hiking, mountain climbing, a railroad to the summit of the highest peak (reserve well in advance), castles, seafood, and boat tours out to sea. Hiking anywhere in Wales, by the way, means you’re walking among sheep, and their droppings. That’s connecting with nature.

We didn’t make it to Pembrokeshire this last trip, but it sounds like you’re considering another great part of Wales.

In England, how about Bath? History, scenery, and great walks in and near town. We’re spending several nights there next month, along with Salisbury to the southeast. Salisbury, of course, provides access to Stonehenge. Flowers will be better for you in Spring than we’ll have in November, but we’re still looking forward to it!

Bath has been mentioned, I would consider nearby Wells - England's smallest city. It is beautiful, has plenty of pubs and dining options, you can walk on the nearby Mendip hills and Cheddar gorge (stunning), and Bath itself is a short bus ride away. Wells escapes the mass tourism of Bath which is pleasant.

In North West England, you have the city of Chester. It's more the size of a medium town, but has lots of places to eat and drink as well as a historic centre and riverside. Trains are readily available for trips to North Wales, Delamere Forest and coastal walks along Wirral and Formby. It's a short trip to Liverpool and Manchester for a big city fix. Both places have plenty for the tourist to see, especially the former.

Wells and Chester sound good. Are the train suggestions day trips?

You might want to consider Chichester as one place. A regular on this forum, TexasTravelMom, traveled there a couple of years ago and really enjoyed her one-week stay there. It's definitely off the beaten path a bit. Here's a link to her trip report: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/chichester-a-week-off-the-well-trodden-path

Well since you did mention Scotland...Edinburgh fits your criteria rather smartly I'd say. Another one infrequently mentioned and thus less touristic, is Durham. College town if memory serves. About halfway along the Western coast on the train down from Edinburgh to London.

We have traveled all over the UK and love the countryside.
York was my favorite city, you need at least 3 full days there. Walk the ancient walls, visit it many museums including the National Railway Museum. Also, the Minster (Cathedral) is special, we spent 4 hours there, it is amazing.

Durham is another city to visit in the north.

Whitby is another. These two cities are not real far from York.

in North Wales, Conwy is special and it is close to Chester and Liverpool. Also, some scenic views in Northern Wales.

Cornwall and Devon are wonderful, but don't do it yourself, check out Rabbies Tours of Devon and Cornwall. Our guide/driver knew how to avoid the heavy traffic there. Also, the price is good.

https://www.rabbies.com/en-gb/tours/england/devon-and-cornwall?_gl=1*1pt07ka*_up*MQ..*_ga*OTc3MTk1MzI0LjE3OTE4MjI5Mzc.*_ga_CQ6TXTDB4F*czE3OTE4MjI5MzYkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTE4MjI5MzYkajYwJGwwJGgxODQxOTkxNDA1

You have some nice ideas already. I haven't been to Shropshire but can share some experiences with the other locations listed:

-York would be a nice place to spend some time- lots of historic sites and near Castle Howard which has very nice gardens. For walking, there are paths all over north Yorkshire but the coast is particularly nice, and not far- you can easily get a train to Scarborough for example.

-Pembrokeshire has some amazing tho slightly strenuous walking along the coastal path, particularly in between St David's and Cardigan. The scenery is stunning, and St David's itself is a very quaint town (I think technically a city as it has a cathedral, tho feels like a town). Tenby further down the coast is also very nice.

-Devon is a big area, and for walking you have both Dartmoor and Exmoor, plus the coast. Exeter is a nice place to stay if you want to be on the coast.

-Cornwall has more stunning coast paths (there is the Southwest coast path which wraps all the way around Cornwall and Devon). If you like gardens, Cornwall might be the best pick- there are so many across the county, including some more famous ones like the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project (both easily reached from St Austell). As they have their own microclimate you get some plants down there you may not see as much of in other parts of the country, and in spring it will be a bit warmer there than the other locations mentioned.

If you can narrow down the region we can help advise on specific locations to stay. Good luck with your planning.

Thanks for all the tips. At this point I am leaning towards York and then some where close by, Whitby, Ripon, Pickering, or Hawnby.

Pickering would be an excellent choice, as would Ripon.

Ripon has a wonderful Cathedral and several other museums and is a very attractive small city (city in name only, by dint of having a Cathedral, market town in practice). The frequent bus #36 runs up from Harrogate (Spa Town and Railway Station)- one of the best buses in the country, and one of the few bus routes with an on board library.

From there you have Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal (spasmodic bus from Ripon), in the other direction on the 36 route is Harewood House- https://harewood.org/

There is also Newby Hall- https://www.newbyhall.com/

and one option for a spa is Grantley Hall (not far beyond Studley Royal)- https://www.grantleyhall.co.uk/ ($$$)

There is also a good bus service (the 82 to 84) to York and the 159 to Masham, Leyburn (Wensleydale) and Richmond (Castle, Georgian Theatre and more). From Leyburn you can connect up the dale to Aysgarth, Askrigg and Hawes.

Hawnby has no bus service, so would be constant taxis.

The more I looked for our 30 day May ‘27 trip, the more areas came and went from our list. Cornwall and York fell off. Derbyshire/Peak District and Kent found their way onto our list. Bath was on, then off, then back on.

Blenheim Castle and Bletchley Park fell off our plan. Other spots that found their way onto the list include Chatsworth House in the Peak District, Baddesley Clinton (near Stratford-Upon-Avon), Stourhead (between Bath & Salisbury) and I’m still not sure about what to see in Kent, near Royal Tunbridge Wells.

In Kent, Chartwell, Sissinghurst, Down House, Leed’s Castle and All Saints Church (for its Chagall Windows) are all vying for selection for one full day while we are staying in Kent. The other full day that we are staying in Kent will be devoted to Canterbury.

All I am saying is that England is a country with a long and rich history and much to explore. The more you look, the more you see, the more you will keep mixing it up and rearranging it. You can never do it all.

The https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ website will both help you find places to explore and further confuse the issues for you.

BTW, is London part of your plan? If so, how long? One idea that we came upon was to split London - for us that will mean 4 nights to start and 3 nights at the end, rather than a week at the beginning. (We’ve previously been to London, as well as Oxford,)

Happily planning.

Thank you Fred,
This will be my third trip to England. I am a history buff and a retired horticulturist. That is the problem everything looks appealing.
Been to London and maybe? skip it this time?
Good luck with your plans.

The North Wales towns of Conwy and Llandudno are an hour by train from Chester. Liverpool, wirral coast and Manchester slightly less. Formby coastline is half hour further on from Liverpool. So yes all easy day trips.