English Countryside for a first time visitor
 

I am planning to visit England in the near future (Spring - Summer). This is my first visit to England and I would like some advise on places in the English countryside. For a traveler who has heard a lot about the beauty of the English countryside with its cottages, rolling hills, country lanes, etc., which place would you recommend for a two day (with 2 nights) visit that would represent the quintessential countryside? I know it is a difficult pick, but would appreciate some suggestions.

It looks as though you don't really want the more rugged and dramatic scenery, so not Yorkshire or the Lakes.
I expect that most people will suggest the Cotswolds, but Dorset or Suffolk would probably suit you.
I would suggest staying in Lavenham in Suffolk and exploring some of the very pretty villages in the area. Your choice might be affected by transport. For Suffolk, you would need a car.

I agree with Missprism, the Cotswold is going to get the most suggstions , but it will be jammed with tourists. I too prefer Dorset, Devon and Suffolk. Nice mix of villages, countr houses, gardens and near the coast. We have stayed man times right outside Shaftesbury and love the area.But a car is essential

If you want quaint, stereotypical English countryside then the Cotswolds is the place to go - but England has a lot of different countrysides that don't conform to that stereotype

" it will be jammed with tourists."

Absolute nonsense. The person giving this downright fatheaded misinformation hasn't got the faintest idea where or when the poster will be visiting. And the idea that the Cotswolds are EVER "jammed" with tourists is totally unfounded.

On a few summer weekends, as well as Easter and Mothing Sunday weekends if the weather's nice, two or three towns get their car parks full between 1100 and 1600. Everywhere else is totally deserted: even the "busiest" towns are empty the rest of the day and on the other five days a week.

Where does this absurd myth come from? The same lazy and deluded American travel writers who write all that crap about London fog?

"Where does this absurd myth come from? The same lazy and deluded American travel writers who write all that crap about London fog?"

Rick Steves?

Rick Steves --- and folks who arrived in Bourton on the Water at noon an a Bank Holiday sunday or monday or tried to park near the Swan in Bibury around the same time.

Otherwise, most Cotswold villages have 2 or 3 B&Bs and a pub or two -- not any tourist hordes to be seen.

The Cotswolds, Suffolk, Somerset/Dorset -- or any number of other places would fit your wish list.

Hi Prashant,

you could do a lot worse than the countryside to the south of London - the villages of Kent and Sussex are very lovely and very easy to access from the capital. in fact, if you fly into Gatwick, you're just about there.

and in spring/early summer, the many gardens will be at their best. How do you want to travel?

We visited the Cotswolds at the end of May and it was fabulous. I hate crowds and the only place that was a little busy for me was Bourton on the Water and, as I recall, we were there around noon with several tourist buses. Stayed in Burford and loved it! JanisJ and FlannerUK had lots of great advice. Can't wait to go back.

My vote is Dorset.

I suggest you start in Salisbury, check out the Cathedral and then up to the old Roman fort before going to Shaftesbury to see the real countryside. Golden hill (much used in bread adverts) is a wonder and you can travel South from there to Blandford on the high (road) (not the wewterley wiggly one) and then down to Lulworth and walk the Jurrasic coast.

If you don't believe the beauty click on goole maps and pull up the photos along the road

sorry "westerly"

Another vote for Dorset. It has so many picture postcard villages, plenty of countryside and beautiful coast line.

As biloburgler suggests the Shaftesbury to Lulworth route is well worth it but I would add a short detour of about 7 miles to go and see the village of Milton Abbas.

Whilst in Shaftesbury one of the best views of Dorset countryside can be found on the pathway beside the Abbey ruins.

www.dorsetphotos.co.uk The browse photos section on this site should give you some good ideas. For villages some of my favourites are: Milton Abbas, Piddlehinton & Sydling St Nicholas. For the coast Durdle Door. There is also the village of Tyneham - abandoned during world war 2. The drive to Tyneham takes you through spectacular countryside and coastal views.

Any questions - please just ask.

Another vote for Dorset and if I may add to the above Corfe Castle and Sherborne. I also like Wiltshire and Sussex.

I thought about corfe castle and thought the OP might run out of days.

You could also look at taking the steam train to Swanage

Absolute nonsense. The person giving this downright fatheaded misinformation hasn't got the faintest idea where or when the poster will be visiting"

He says Spring or Summer,. I have visited family in Upper Slaughter for many many times over the years in the summer. And It is crowded, at least in my humble opinion

avalon, i agree with you.

anyway, we appear to have frightened off the OP with a plethora of suggestions!

Thanks for your suggestions. Did not login for sometime and could not respond earlier.
I had some places in mind such as Cotswolds, Devon and Yorkshire, but didn't think of Dorset and Suffolk though. Kent and Sussex just out of London also sound interesting and easily accessible. Shall probe the same.
Other than the car option, can one take a train down to a central place and then explore local transportation in any of these places? Especially Dorset, Devon and Suffolk, since I am assuming there may be conducted tours around the Cotswolds because of their popularity and proximity to London.

Hi. As far as Dorset is concerned the easiest way to see the best of the countryside is by car. You can easily get from London to Dorset by train. The trains go from London Waterloo and will take you as far as Weymouth.

I would suggest looking into hiring a car once in Dorset.

However if that doesnt appeal then this website may help as there is the Jurassic coast bus service on here.
www.jurassiccoast.com