Suggestions needed for a winter vacation to English countryside
Jul 17th, 2012, 05:15 AM
#1
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Suggestions needed for a winter vacation to English countryside
Hi all,
We are a going-to-be newly wed that is planning for a honeymoon trip during December 2012. We will be in London for a couple of days and intend to experience the English countryside for 2-3 nights.
I have read about Lake District, Kaswick, Cotswolds and Dartmoor and was wondering if there is a more suitable place nearer to London that we could still have similar experience. Our only means of transport would probably be the train and hopefully the recommended place to visit would be well connected.
Thanks in advance.
We are a going-to-be newly wed that is planning for a honeymoon trip during December 2012. We will be in London for a couple of days and intend to experience the English countryside for 2-3 nights.
I have read about Lake District, Kaswick, Cotswolds and Dartmoor and was wondering if there is a more suitable place nearer to London that we could still have similar experience. Our only means of transport would probably be the train and hopefully the recommended place to visit would be well connected.
Thanks in advance.
Jul 17th, 2012, 05:32 AM
#2
The Lakes and Dartmoor really aren't ideal winter destinations. And the Cotswolds don't have the best rail service. Though there are stations in a couple of towns in/near the Cotswolds.
The main problem w/ winter in the countryside is - the weather could be OK/semi-decent, or could be bloody awful. Plus the days will be very short and some rural sites close up for the season.
If you really want to visit the countryside . . . I'd personally book a Country House hotel that is 'self contained'. Lots of posh/posh-ish places do short breaks or themed weekends w/ meals and activities included. They will usually provide transfers from the nearest train station - which could be quite a distance.
The main problem w/ winter in the countryside is - the weather could be OK/semi-decent, or could be bloody awful. Plus the days will be very short and some rural sites close up for the season.
If you really want to visit the countryside . . . I'd personally book a Country House hotel that is 'self contained'. Lots of posh/posh-ish places do short breaks or themed weekends w/ meals and activities included. They will usually provide transfers from the nearest train station - which could be quite a distance.
Jul 17th, 2012, 05:46 AM
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Hi janisj,
Thanks for your advice.
As we will be in London City for a couple of days, we would like somewhere with decent scenic view of lakes/mountains etc. Do agree that the weather could spoil the trip if everything is closed up for the season.
Or maybe, where would you recommend to spend a couple of days outside London.
Thanks.
Thanks for your advice.
As we will be in London City for a couple of days, we would like somewhere with decent scenic view of lakes/mountains etc. Do agree that the weather could spoil the trip if everything is closed up for the season.
Or maybe, where would you recommend to spend a couple of days outside London.
Thanks.
Jul 17th, 2012, 06:24 AM
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I think janisj has a very good idea. There are many country hotels with historic connections with aristocratic families. This one, near to where I live, once the seat of the Marquis of Bristol, comes to mind, but there are many others:
http://www.ickworthhotel.co.uk/
http://www.ickworthhotel.co.uk/
Jul 17th, 2012, 07:08 AM
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It doesn't matter when you visit the UK, the weather can be wet (look at us now). I have had some fantastic winter breaks in the countryside in winter - pick a busy town with a historic pub with a roaring log fire and serving real beer.... bliss. There are dozens of these in the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales. For me, Scotland has been the driest I've seen it, in early December.
Jul 17th, 2012, 08:29 AM
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I disagree with the comment that the Lake District isn't a good winter destination. It's a FANTASTIC destination for a winter break. Much quieter than peak season and with some beautiful scenery to enjoy.
Here's a picture I took near Keswick the winter before last should you be in any doubt of how beautiful it can be at that time of year:
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._2143965_n.jpg
Paul
Here's a picture I took near Keswick the winter before last should you be in any doubt of how beautiful it can be at that time of year:
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._2143965_n.jpg
Paul
Jul 17th, 2012, 08:58 AM
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The argument against English country winter holidays is much stronger after Christmas (or to be precise, after Epiphany) than before.
By and large, a great deal of those bits of rural England aimed at tourists closes after the Christmas holidays. Advent in rural England, though, can be close to fabulous. Both the commercialised stuff ("see how Churchill spent his Christmases" at Blenheim is only just an exaggeration) and the huge round of pantomimes (by universal consent, nowhere better than the Chippy Panto in the Cotswolds) carol concerts, special choir recitals (wonderfully, the Cotswolds' finest choir is doing Mozart's Requiem as its antidote to excess jollity this year), local markets and the spontaneous decoration of town centres make Advent the very best time of the year in those bits of rural England with a real population.
If proximity to London is important, the first railway station in the Cotswolds is 73 minutes by hourly train from central London (and much closer by public transport to much of central England's nicest Advent destinations). Its nicest hotel (http://bellhotel-charlbury.com) is a five minute walk from the station. Nowhere else has real countryside so accessible from London.
BUT: global weirding has begun to be a real risk in this part of the world. For most of the past 150 years, since the end of the Little Ice Age ("In the Bleak Midwinter" describes the mid-19th century Cotswold winters of the author's childhood) central England has tended to have, by most North American or European standards, exceptionally mild, if often damp, winters, and snow was almost unheard of except for a few days, every few years, in Jan or Feb. Over the past three or four years, we've had days or weeks of severe winter, often in December. Because such temps are so rare, there can often be restricted availability of road clearing kit for remote places, so towns can get cut off for several days.
This can cause havoc with travelling plans. Trains in the Cotswolds have been less affected than buses, cars, taxis to stations or food delivery vehicles, but even they have been unable to run for a couple of days over the past few winters. I'd strongly recommend you go somewhere with a railway station accessible on foot - and even then have an insurance policy you can fall back on if everything goes haywire.
By and large, a great deal of those bits of rural England aimed at tourists closes after the Christmas holidays. Advent in rural England, though, can be close to fabulous. Both the commercialised stuff ("see how Churchill spent his Christmases" at Blenheim is only just an exaggeration) and the huge round of pantomimes (by universal consent, nowhere better than the Chippy Panto in the Cotswolds) carol concerts, special choir recitals (wonderfully, the Cotswolds' finest choir is doing Mozart's Requiem as its antidote to excess jollity this year), local markets and the spontaneous decoration of town centres make Advent the very best time of the year in those bits of rural England with a real population.
If proximity to London is important, the first railway station in the Cotswolds is 73 minutes by hourly train from central London (and much closer by public transport to much of central England's nicest Advent destinations). Its nicest hotel (http://bellhotel-charlbury.com) is a five minute walk from the station. Nowhere else has real countryside so accessible from London.
BUT: global weirding has begun to be a real risk in this part of the world. For most of the past 150 years, since the end of the Little Ice Age ("In the Bleak Midwinter" describes the mid-19th century Cotswold winters of the author's childhood) central England has tended to have, by most North American or European standards, exceptionally mild, if often damp, winters, and snow was almost unheard of except for a few days, every few years, in Jan or Feb. Over the past three or four years, we've had days or weeks of severe winter, often in December. Because such temps are so rare, there can often be restricted availability of road clearing kit for remote places, so towns can get cut off for several days.
This can cause havoc with travelling plans. Trains in the Cotswolds have been less affected than buses, cars, taxis to stations or food delivery vehicles, but even they have been unable to run for a couple of days over the past few winters. I'd strongly recommend you go somewhere with a railway station accessible on foot - and even then have an insurance policy you can fall back on if everything goes haywire.
Jul 17th, 2012, 09:07 AM
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It could easily rain for all of your 2 or 3 days in the English countryside. You won't be able to see very far or very much and you'll get wet whenever you go outside. Hence the recommendation for a self-contained country house/resort.
I love the English countryside but not so much in the winter.
I love the English countryside but not so much in the winter.
Jul 17th, 2012, 09:46 AM
#11
<i>Of course</i> kendalcottages advises the Lakes are a great winter destination. I would too . . . if I rented out vacation cottages there. 
The Lakes can be actually be deadly -- if there is a wintry storm. Same w/ Dartmoor. I'm not talking about rain - that shouldn't be a big problem as long as you have the proper foot wear and waterproofs.
But if there is snow - not only do parts of the country come to a halt, you won't want to be out exploring. There have been massive storms in recent years.
If you didn't want to be semi-isolated at a rural country house hotel, staying in Charlbury or Moreton-in-Marsh would be a good option w/ trains from London and pubs/shops/hotels in the town.
My only other comment -- a 'couple of days' in London is hardly enough unless perhaps you've been there several times previously.
The Lakes can be actually be deadly -- if there is a wintry storm. Same w/ Dartmoor. I'm not talking about rain - that shouldn't be a big problem as long as you have the proper foot wear and waterproofs.
But if there is snow - not only do parts of the country come to a halt, you won't want to be out exploring. There have been massive storms in recent years.
If you didn't want to be semi-isolated at a rural country house hotel, staying in Charlbury or Moreton-in-Marsh would be a good option w/ trains from London and pubs/shops/hotels in the town.
My only other comment -- a 'couple of days' in London is hardly enough unless perhaps you've been there several times previously.
Jul 17th, 2012, 10:08 AM
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It's practically unheard of for it to "rain for all of 2 or 3 days in the English countryside" at any time of the year, on any recorded occasion in the past thousand years. I've never encountered a single record of such an extraordinary event.
It's no more common for it to rain for a lot of 2 or 3 days in July than in December. Indeed in the past year it scarcely rained at all in December, but there have been days in this past April, June and July when the less perceptive could easily have deluded themselves rain never stopped.
You'll get wet if you're feckless enough to arrive without proper clothing and it rains. Properly clothed, it's just a spot of rain.
It's no more common for it to rain for a lot of 2 or 3 days in July than in December. Indeed in the past year it scarcely rained at all in December, but there have been days in this past April, June and July when the less perceptive could easily have deluded themselves rain never stopped.
You'll get wet if you're feckless enough to arrive without proper clothing and it rains. Properly clothed, it's just a spot of rain.
Jul 17th, 2012, 10:12 AM
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Frankly I wouldn't do any countryside in Dec. Everything will be brown and crunchy, the days are very short and it's likely to be chilly and rainy - even if you don;t get sleet or snow.
I would stick with London - which can easily take weeks - if not months - to explore.
I would stick with London - which can easily take weeks - if not months - to explore.
Jul 17th, 2012, 11:49 AM
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I would also advise against anywhere too remote, in case of snow (it used to happen very rarely but it seems to have become an annual thing now) and we don't deal with snow very well here. It causes problems.
But a couple of days tucked up in a cosy Country house hotel with nice walks and places to explore as long as the weather isn't really miserable, sounds like heaven. And if it is really miserable then the hotel will keep you busy. Or an 'Inn' type place in a little market town where you can get out to the country easily, but again won't be cut off/bored if the weather is bad.
Mind you, on your honeymoon you might like the idea of tucking up in a remote cottage somewhere and letting the rest of the world disappear?
An idea of your budget would help us with suggestions.
But a couple of days tucked up in a cosy Country house hotel with nice walks and places to explore as long as the weather isn't really miserable, sounds like heaven. And if it is really miserable then the hotel will keep you busy. Or an 'Inn' type place in a little market town where you can get out to the country easily, but again won't be cut off/bored if the weather is bad.
Mind you, on your honeymoon you might like the idea of tucking up in a remote cottage somewhere and letting the rest of the world disappear?
An idea of your budget would help us with suggestions.
Jul 17th, 2012, 11:50 AM
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Yes, you could easily spend all your time in London, but, if on a honeymoon, I think a couple of days in the country is an excellent idea. I've spent a winter in England and traveled during there during January on several occasions and never had a problem. It's winter. I expect most places will be less than ideal. Even those living in Provence experience the mistral. Pack the appropriate clothes and you'll be fine unless you are particularly wimpish.
Janisj's suggestion of a Country House stay would be my choice. Generally the weather in the south is more pleasant than the north, but that really means nothing when it comes to predicitng what it will actually be like when you're there. Although lacking lakes and mountains, areas such as Sussex and Hampton are lovely, even in winter.
If that doesn't suit, what about a few days in a place like Winchester or Salisbury?
Janisj's suggestion of a Country House stay would be my choice. Generally the weather in the south is more pleasant than the north, but that really means nothing when it comes to predicitng what it will actually be like when you're there. Although lacking lakes and mountains, areas such as Sussex and Hampton are lovely, even in winter.
If that doesn't suit, what about a few days in a place like Winchester or Salisbury?
Jul 17th, 2012, 12:36 PM
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janisj... I deliberately didn't mention our own accommodation. But yes... I do live in Kendal which is on the edge of the Lake District (just outside the National Park boundary in fact), and also close to the Yorkshire Dales. And we do happen to have a holiday property in the town. (It was full for most of last December for what it's worth, and enjoys 90% occupancy year-round so winter tourism is very much apparent.)
Oxenholme the Lake District is 2 hours and 38 minutes from London Euston (when I last looked). There are connecting trains from there to Kendal which take approximately 5 minutes, so it's much more accessible from London than many people realise and much more accessible by train than many locations that are much closer to the capital.
I'm really not sure what you mean when you suggest it's deadly. That's rather sensationalist and you make it sound like it's dangerous. Sure, if you're trying to walk along Striding Edge in wintry conditions, then that's potentially hazardous, but the snow is not a problem if you take appropriate precautions, just like you would anywhere else.
Oxenholme the Lake District is 2 hours and 38 minutes from London Euston (when I last looked). There are connecting trains from there to Kendal which take approximately 5 minutes, so it's much more accessible from London than many people realise and much more accessible by train than many locations that are much closer to the capital.
I'm really not sure what you mean when you suggest it's deadly. That's rather sensationalist and you make it sound like it's dangerous. Sure, if you're trying to walk along Striding Edge in wintry conditions, then that's potentially hazardous, but the snow is not a problem if you take appropriate precautions, just like you would anywhere else.
Jul 17th, 2012, 01:49 PM
#17
kendalcottages - you make some good points and were suitably wary of overtly advertising yur business [though the screenname is a bit of a clue!].
the difficulty as i see it is accommodating the desire for countryside in the winter with no car. there are any number of lovely country hotels but few are accessible by train [plus i suppose a short taxi ride].
towns/cities accessible by train from London with charm but plenty to do indoors if the weather is inclement include Bath, Cambridge, Oxford, and Bristol - all would make terrific centres, though i accept that they aren't strong on countryside unless you have a car.
the difficulty as i see it is accommodating the desire for countryside in the winter with no car. there are any number of lovely country hotels but few are accessible by train [plus i suppose a short taxi ride].
towns/cities accessible by train from London with charm but plenty to do indoors if the weather is inclement include Bath, Cambridge, Oxford, and Bristol - all would make terrific centres, though i accept that they aren't strong on countryside unless you have a car.
Jul 17th, 2012, 02:37 PM
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Yes, annhig, it all depends on what you choose. If you opt for a hotel in the countryside, that's only accessible by road, there is a danger that you might not be able to get there if there's significant snowfall (or that you might not be able to easily leave!). You are right about all the places you mention - all lovely places to visit (I've been to Bristol twice in the last week) - but all, as you say, with countryside that's really a drive away.
That's not the case with all towns. Here in Kendal, we enjoy a very rural town and the countryside is on our doorstep. We can get to it easily on foot.
I enjoy running every now and again and have taken a few pictures with my iPhone when I've been out and about, if you wish to get an idea of some of the scenery that's within easy reach on foot:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3&l=3d180aaf46
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3&l=88c1bb5e5c
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3&l=1efdd2e10c
Kendal has its own train station on the edge of the town which connects with the mainline station of Oxenholme the Lake District just a couple of miles away. It also has bus and coach stations.
There are no doubt other towns that are equally fitting for a rural break out of the main season (Windermere is somewhere you could also get to by train that's near us) and still relatively easily accessible from London, but obviously this is the place I'm most familiar with.
That's not the case with all towns. Here in Kendal, we enjoy a very rural town and the countryside is on our doorstep. We can get to it easily on foot.
I enjoy running every now and again and have taken a few pictures with my iPhone when I've been out and about, if you wish to get an idea of some of the scenery that's within easy reach on foot:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3&l=3d180aaf46
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3&l=88c1bb5e5c
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3&l=1efdd2e10c
Kendal has its own train station on the edge of the town which connects with the mainline station of Oxenholme the Lake District just a couple of miles away. It also has bus and coach stations.
There are no doubt other towns that are equally fitting for a rural break out of the main season (Windermere is somewhere you could also get to by train that's near us) and still relatively easily accessible from London, but obviously this is the place I'm most familiar with.
Jul 17th, 2012, 03:20 PM
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I wasn't aware that the OP was looking for a hotel but, in the two places I've mentioned, I could suggest the likes of the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal (a slight drive from town), Windermere Suites (walkable from Windermere Station), the Angel Inn in Bowness (a short drive from Windermere Station). All good quality accommodation. Our place is not a hotel - it's a self-catering apartment (I won't give the name, I'm sure it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to work it out! 
and a very short walk (less than 400m) from Kendal train, bus and coach stations. I also like the Punchbowl at Croswthwaite, a lovely little pub with accommodation, but that's a short drive out of Kendal.
and a very short walk (less than 400m) from Kendal train, bus and coach stations. I also like the Punchbowl at Croswthwaite, a lovely little pub with accommodation, but that's a short drive out of Kendal.
