julia_t - I would love to get together. We will be in Somerset from Oct. 17-24. We haven't made our final decision on a cottage, but are still planning on Berkeley and Dryham one day, and Bath another. As well as Avebury. My email is [email protected]. Look forward to hearing from you.

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Great info - thanks.

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Having been to most regions in England in my opinion North Yorkshire Dales and Moors are the most incredibly scenic. Tiny charming villages dotted everywhere with dry stone walls climbing up into the hills beyond. Idyllic and pastoral and perfect. Gorgeous oak trees and lush pristinely green vegetation everywhere. Sheer beauty everywhere you look.

As Morgana says, B&Bs are the way to go. UK B&Bs are the best on the planet.

There are hundreds of things to see and do with all the abbeys, castles and everything else you could possibly imagine and desire. The pubs are atmospheric and inviting.

Northumberland would be my second pick as far as countryside goes.

Rickmav's itinerary complements some of my recent trip to Devon and Cornwall. Please feel free to read abt it at www.xanga.com/urbino

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Bellini - enjoyed your trip report. Put down the Riverford Organic Form on our list of things to search out. Also enjoyed your description of Sussex - it's one of our favourite parts of England, particularly Batemans.

Thanks- we have enjoyed our little sojourns in the English countryside!

I would do Bath as a day trip, having booked the tickets ahead. (Do a search on Bath and see what you find.)
Then I would get on a train north, probably to York, tickets for which you will have prebooked on nationalexpresseastcoast.com
There you can stay in York for a day, visit Harrogate on the train and then pick up a hire car to visit the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. You might even be able to nip across to the Lakes or to Cumbria.
The countryside up there is less chocolate box than the likes of the Cotswolds, but there is less chance of it being crowded, more chance of it being cheaper and an equal chance of it being captivating simply because there is nowhere else like it.
It can be quite barren on the moors but it is very English and that is its attraction.

I guess we residents of the UK are very proud of the regions we come from or now live. Any area of the country has something to offer and I am sure you will enjoy wherever you choose.

All regions are easily accessible from London via the rail network and you can always hire a car at your destination to explore even further. All the areas above are worthy of a visit as is Derbyshire and the Peak District which has not yet been mentioned but definately worth your consideration. The region has lots to offer and is well visited by UK tourists. See link below....

http://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/

Enjoy.

phileasfogg, my family recently spent 10 days in England. We rented a car at Victoria Station in London (after spending 5 days in the city) and went east to the countryside of Kent. We saw 2 castles there (Hever-Anne Boleyn's childhood home and Leeds) Both wonderful. We stayed overnight in Maidstone. We then got back in the car and began our trek to the southwest. We stopped in Salisbury for lunch (saw Mompesson House where Sense and Sensibility was partially filmed) and the Cathedral. Back in the car and off to Stonehenge. I was personally not looking forward to time wasted at the pile of rocks but found it magnificent and surreal. Then off to Bath for our B & B. (Great one by the way called One Three Nine. It is a 10-minute downhill walk into town, super clean, new, quiet, great breakfast.) In the morning, off to the abbey, The Roman baths, the Assembly rooms, the circus, Jane Austen Centre (kids and DH went to the park), etc. Next morning we left Bath and began our oddysey through the Cotswolds. I wouldn't miss this. We ventured into Castle Combe, Lacock, Bourton on the water, Upper and Lower Slaughters (most picturesque), Moreton, Stow, Broadway. We stayed two nights in Broadway - overpriced and stuffy Lygon Arms hotel that I do not recommend. For a 1/2 day we headed to Blenheim Palace (Churchill's birthplace) in Woodstock. Heading back to London for our plane ride home, we passed through Oxford. Good luck, hope this helps.