Dear Flanneruk

Thanks much for your interesting and wonderful reply - I envy your life there and wish we could be there on May 7! It is very comforting to know that we will not be avalanched by bus-loads of tourists looking for the gift shops, or more annoyingly, treated by local businesses catering to such. Based on your suggestions and others', I am looking at Bibury, Castle Comb, Bourton-on-the-water, and Lacock in Cotswolds, and Lynmouth and Selworthy in Exmoor. Given that we will be there at least seven nights, it's hard to find a place with opening for all seven nights (we will be there March 28- April 3!). As such, I was thinking of dividing our stay, say 4 night in Cotswolds and three nights in Exmoor. Wondering if that is a good plan. Would welcome any suggestions for an itinerary. Thanks again for your suggestions.

Safa

WE ONLY HAVE 2 DAYS IN ENGLAND. WE HAVE A RENTAL CAR FROM THE DOCKS AT DOVER FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING EARLY AND HAVE TO FLY OUT FRIDAY MORNING EARLY FROM GATWICK. WE LOVE MANOR HOMES, CASTLES AND GARDENS BUT LIKE TO STAY IN QUAINT VILLAGES WITH COACHING INNS OR SMALL HOTELS. ANY ITINERARY SUGGESTIONS?

Mousehole, in the west of Cornwall, near Newlyn and Penzance is a classic fishing village. A perfect harbour surrounded by granite stone cottages. You can walk up Ragginis hill along the National Trust coast path to lamorna cove, spectacular views. Nearby in mounts bay is st Michaels Mount, a castle on a tidal island. Porthcurno beach is also nearby, a classic Cornish Cove with White sand and black rocks. Unlike so many parts of Cornwall, Mousehole is really unspoilt, it feels like you're stepping back in time with narrow cobbled lanes, and nearby Newlyn has one of the largest fishing fleets left in the country, where you can by seafood direct from the fishermen .

Pretty much any coastal village in the south-west, e.g. Cornwall, Devon. To see pictures/descriptions of some of them, look here: http://postcards-pfte.blogspot.com/

From an American's point of view: ( in no particular order)
SUFFOLK
Cavendish---our favorite in that area
ESSEX
Finchingfield
EAST SUSSEX
Rye(town)
WEST SUSSEX
Bosham
DORSET
Worth Matravers
Sherborne(town)
CHILTERNS
Hambleden
The Lee
SOMERSET
Bath(city)
COTSWOLDS
Snowshill
Stanton
The Slaughters
LAKE DISTRICT
Hawkshead(though we preferred the northern lakes)
NORTH YORKSHIRE
Robin Hood"s Bay
Runswick Bay