Hi, I'm going to London w my 13 year old daughter for 5 days and then we have 2 nights booked at https://merryharriers.com/
I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do for one of our days in the Cotswolds/Surrey- we can have one day of hiking or a llama trek. I am trying to figure out the distances and transport- we won't be driving a rental car but could pay for a car service= help, tips, and tourist suggestions are welcome! I'm super excited to have a first visit to the Cotswold's and wish it was longer!
Posted by
UK
501 posts
Surrey and the Cotswolds are two different areas, so if you’re staying in Surrey you’re not in the Cotswolds. Are you planning on going to the Cotswolds or do you want ideas near your hotel?
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Yes grateful for suggestions for some basic Cotswolds visits AND/OR basic Surrey sites near where we are staying, thank you!
Posted by
Bristol, UK
1015 posts
Are you planning to move hotels after 2 nights and go to the Cotswolds for 3 nights? It will be quite a schlep to get from Godalming where your first hotel is to anywhere in the Cotswolds using public transport. Neither are major transport hubs.
I’d would seriously consider staying on one place for the whole 5 nights, or having 2 nights in Godalming if you particularly want to do that and then heading further on the same rail line/same direction to the south coast.
Edit: it looks like you have 2 nights in Surrey and that is it. You can’t get to the Cotswolds in that time unfortunately. Was there a particular reason for going to Surrey?
Posted by
UK
501 posts
Yes grateful for suggestions for some basic Cotswolds visits AND/OR basic Surrey sites near where we are staying, thank you!
If you’re set on the Cotswolds and you don’t have transport, it might be easier to do an organised trip during your time in London. I believe there are some operators who do trips from there.
Doing a trip to the Cotswolds from a base near Goldalming in Surrey without your own transport just doesn’t really make sense.
I’m still struggling to understand your plans because your original post reads as if you thought Surrey and the Cotswolds were near each other or part of the same area, and they really aren’t.
What made you choose the hotel in Surrey? That might help us suggest other things to do nearby.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5821 posts
If you haven't got a car, I am not convinced about staying at the Merry Harriers. It is a good distance from Milford station (further still from Godalming), having looked at Street View even I wouldn't walk those lanes (and I'm as mad as a hatter), and what is a very vestigial bus service is about to go to DRT.
It's booked now but I don't think I would have chosen it myself, as there will be other hotels in Godalming itself.
I'm also a bit bemused about your geography.
I can at least see how you COULD get to Moreton in Marsh from Godalming (changing at Guildford and Reading) but it's not going to give you a whole lot of time in Moreton in Marsh at all, and very little time to get out of Moreton into the 'postcard' villages. It would be a sub-optimal day.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks for the posts/replies, I am grateful for your tips! Obviously I have been struggling w figuring out this part of our trip! I could always cancel the Merry Harriers and book somewhere else. We wanted to have a taste of the English countryside and be able to do some easy hikes/country sightseeing the last 2 days before we head back to the US. I picked the Merry Harriers just via googling.
We'll be coming from London to go to Surrey or some other place for 2 days, and then from there to Heathrow 2 days later. Is it going to be hell to get from the Merry Harriers to Heathrow?! We live in NYC, I'm getting the feeling I won't be able to just call an Uber from the llama farm to get to Heathrow?!
Posted by
Lake District, England
5821 posts
I've just had a very heavy post. That was just the light relief I needed. I don't know where the Llama farm is, but it just gave me a good giggle, the thought of going straight from there to Heathrow.
Presumably Uber do operate in Surrey- it was the juxtaposition of images, in my mind.
Being serious get to Guildford (2 stops north of Godalming) and the Rail Air Coach runs from there. It's the getting from the Merry Harriers to Guildford, which is making me merry!
Tell us where you decide to end up at (Surrey/Costwolds/wherever), and someone will give you some good ideas local to that area.
If you are in a town the Surrey Hills is a nice area for trips and walking.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5269 posts
Where you'll be staying in Surrey is much closer to the South Downs National Park than the Cotswolds and with better walking opportunities as well.
https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/great-days-out
The South Downs Way is a 100 mile route passing through the National Park. The route is broken into sections so you don't have to hike the entire way.
https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/south-downs-way