In Need of some R & R

Sounds like a rough life Frank! I normally would say Lauterbrunnen, but looks like you will have already been there. I think SW coast of England sounds wonderful! I would book an apartment in Port Isaac, but I'm a big Doc Martin nerd:)

hey Frank ll
couple friends heading out again to port isaac (yes dr martin fans) for a week then onto st ives. for a week. Port isaac has the fisherman's friends that sing free on friday afternoon/evenings at the harbour. they absolutely loved this singing group. grab a chair and your book and relax at the shore in st ives. happy travels
aloha

Port Isaac was busy before Doc Martin was filmed there and now it’s hideously busy and not what I would describe as a leisurely area!

Many of the Cornish and Devonian seaside resorts will be busy in June, with those not tied to school holidays taking their summer holidays.

I like Topsham near Exeter - plenty of good coffee shops and restaurants and great strolling along the river. Exeter is a nice, compact city for a day trip only a few miles away.

Although not SW England, a great place to read a book in a stunning landscape is the much underrated southern Pembrokeshire coast. Anywhere between St David’s and the Gower peninsular inclusive would be my choice.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

I've been toying with this idea......

Three nights in Alderney
Fly to Southampton (nonstop from Alderney), train to Winchester for a couple of nights.
From there?......

Or fly to Exeter from Guernsey and train to Cornwall.

No close trains to Wells. But good idea. Limited vacancies in Topsham although Devon is much closer than Cornwall and I only watched one episode of Doc Martin so I don't care about that. I"ve been to Cornwall but it was only a few days and I was under the weather so to speak.

I already have three nights booked in Lauterbrunnen.

I know it's a tough life this retirment business.....but.....somebody has to do it and it beats playing shuffleboard.

My favorite is not in the south so you might not be interested. However, if I wanted to sit and read, which I often do, I'd sit in a National Park somewhere. My favorite is the Tudor village of Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales. When not reading, there are lovely walks through the fields, between villages and hamlets and pubs. The village itself is charming and, in my experience, without Americans, so truly a rest. You would have the ability to sit by the river, in a cafe or in your room and read. Sigh. Maybe this should be on my next agenda again...

From Winchester - have you been to the New Forest or the Isle of Wight?

Train from Winchester to Brockenhurst or if you want coast, head to Lymington or Milford on Sea. Take the short ferry from Lymington to the Isle of Wight - like England used to be 50 years ago!

Or Bosham in Chichester Harbour.

I'm with Jennifer, New Forest after Winchester and either take in the Isle of Wight or work your way along the Dorset coast.

The Isle of Wight was high on my list and I wasn't sure if I should do it in the spring or the summer. Unfortunately, the Isle of Wight Festival will take place the same time I wanted to be there and I think that would be anything but peaceful.

Still checking the others.