My travel partner and I (mid-40s and mid-60s in age) are traveling into Glasgow on April 26 and out on May 5, and our plans for a rented flat in the Lake District at Bowness on Windermere fell through. Other than some interest in seeing Edinburgh and the cathedral at Coventry (with no time-bound plans), we now have no plans, and are seeking suggestions for things to do and places to see. We love to walk and hike places with nice views (up to 3 miles/4 km for the mid-60s person, longer for the mid-40s person), don't love shopping so much, and while a nice museum is a great choice for a rainy day, we would prefer to spend the week outdoors in places with good options. We will have a rented car (suggestions for renting one are welcome!) and are willing to travel around a bit through Scotland, Northern England and Wales, but have already seen London and Dover, so we would prefer to stay north. Central location with day trips or a few locations with a few days each would be preferable to bouncing around . Please post suggestions, and thanks in advance for your ideas!

We (4 kiwis early 60's)had a week in UK last year (July) with rental car.
We had 4 nights in Edinburgh (Knights Residence) good off street parking, great apartment close to Grassmarkets and Royal mile, also did day trips out of city including St Andrews Golf Course. Had a couple of nights in Augill Castle in little town called Kirkby Stephen and also night at
Premier Inn. Coventry City . Both great places to stop and plenty of walking. Suggest you also try to find one or two nights in the Lake district.

I am biased of course because I live here, but North Yorkshire sounds perfect for you. It covers a very large area, but a good base is the small town of Helmsley (which has a castle you can explore).
http://www.ryedale.co.uk/ryedale/helmsley/helmsley.html
Staying here would give you easy access to numerous lovely places. You'll have the North Yorkshire Moors and Howardian Hills on your doorstep for walks if it is fine, both areas of stunning natural beauty.
http://www.yorkshiremoors.co.uk/walks.html
Places to visit within easy reach (I could give you enough ideas to keep you going for weeks so here are just the highlights)
1) The beautiful city of York
http://www.visityork.org/
2) Castle Howard
www.castlehoward.co.uk/
3) Rievaulx Abbey and Terraces (walkable from Helmsley)
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...ievaulx-abbey/
4) North Yorks Moors Railway
www.nymr.co.uk/
5) Whitby and/or Robin Hood's Bay on the coast
http://www.whitbyonline.co.uk/
http://www.yorkshire.com/places/york...obin-hoods-bay
6) Byland Abbey
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d.../byland-abbey/
7) Eden Camp (fascinating, and ideal if the weather is bad)
http://www.edencamp.co.uk/
Hope this helps kick off some research!
Not sure what your budget is, but this place is pretty much perfect for a couple of nights in the area.
blackswanoldstead.co.uk

I'll try again!
http://blackswanoldstead.co.uk/

We spent a couple of days in the Peak District and north Wales in 2007. Both places were really lovely! If you'd like to see my trip report and a link to our pictures, go to http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...b-may-2007.cfm and scroll down to find the pertinent report bits.

Lee Ann

It is an easy enough day trip from the Lake District to Hadrian's Wall - catch Hadrian's Wall tourist bus at Carlisle I believe, just north of the Lake District - the bus goes to the relatively few parts of the wall that are really intact.

And from Bowness take the chain ferry - ferry pulled across the lake by a chain to the west side and then you can do a lovely walk on footpaths to Beatrice Potter's cottage and gardens - just a few miles but rather steep to start if I recall correctly.

You mention Coventry. I agree that it is well worth a visit. (I was stunned by how impressed I was by the new Cathedral! I was really moved by the ruins of the old one and its memorial. And I enjoyed a quick visit to the museum to learn more about Lady Godiva's ride.) I spent only a morning there.

Coventry is well south of the other places you mention seeing. I think maybe it ought to wait for another trip.

You have some great suggestions above.

I might mention that I really enjoyed my brief view of the Peaks district and know that I want to go back and explore some more.

Also might mention Northumberland. I spent five days with nephews near Bamburgh. Great castle. We drove out to Lindisfarne which becomes an island at high tide. Walked around there and explored. We were booked to do a boat trip out to the Farne Islands to look at birds, but the weather turned terrible and so have to say that will have to be another trip. From there drove down to Hadrian's Wall and explored the fort and museum and walked a bit of the wall.
Also Alnwick castle and I think some gardens. Walked along the beach. Explored the borders area with its abbey ruins and did some walking.

Spent time in Edinbugh--walked the roayl mile, visited the castle, the zoo, walked up to hill for a view of Edinbugh. Visited Craigmuller castle at the edge of Edinburgh. Went to Stirling for its castle and Wallacee connection.

Winnow out the suggestions and have a wonderful time!

Coventry also has in its town centre a statue of Lady Godiva, who once famously strode thru the streets here buck nakes on a steed!

There would be enough in Edinburgh and surrounds to occupy you. If you wanted to go further afield, Morgana suggests some good ideas. Why Coventry Cathedral? Its a long trip to a Cathedral that is no where near as spectatcular as York Minster - and much further.

http://www.pencilmuseum.co.uk/plan-your-visit/

for museums pencil in this unique museum in lovely Keswick!

I'd miss out Edinburgh, or at least limit yourselves to a day trip to be able to say you've been.

I'd head down to the Borders; stay somewhere where you can drive to Dunbar and take a day trip to see the Castle; you'd get a couple of days in the Borders which are lovely; maybe stay at Kelso, and use it as a base for Northumberland and the wall as well.

Stay there for maybe 5 nights; then leg it over to Galloway in the south-west. Lots to see and very different from the east coast. Quick trip back up the A74 to get the plane and you're laughing.

There will not be much constraint on accommodation, so don't feel the need to book too much in advance. Just travel where the fancy takes you