My wife and I, plus 17 year daughter fly into Manchester on September 1st, hire a car and head for Bakewell. We had planned to stay 3 days and then head to York for 4 days. From York it was on to the Yorkshire Dales for three days and then onto the Lake District.<BR>My wife has come up with a sugestion that we should forget the Peak District, head straight to York and tack another day onto visiting the Dales. The other two days could be held in reserve when we visit down south.<BR>My question is this: should we forget the Peak District and concentrate on the Dales,<BR>and if so, what is a good place to base ourselves, good attractions to visit, nice drives and walks to undertake.<BR>BTW we are spending five weeks in England only, on previous visits we have been to Wales and Scotland. Our initial thoughts was to spend 2 weeks in Yorkshire and Cumbria and three weeks in the Cotswolds, Devon and Cornwall.<BR>I thank you and look forward to your response.

2 weeks in Cumbria/Yorkshire and 3 weeks in Devon/Cumbria should be ample.<BR><BR>I would travel to Cumbria first from Manchester Airport (2 hours on M6). If you visit Lakes Windermere, Coniston etc you cannot go wrong. Maybe worth 'hitting' Chester on the way to Derbysghire Dales (Peak District). For a scenic drive, take the A6 from Stockport, Manchester. The A6 route in Derbyshire is where the Industrial Revolution started. The are mills dotted right along this route dating back to the 18th Century. Buxton was a Spa Town (highest town in England) so take waterproofs with you! Bakewell is quite pleasant. If you want a great walk, then do the Monsal Head walk. Fantastic views and you head along the a viaduct and besides the river to 2 old mills and then onto an idyllic village where you get refreshments. Takes approx 2 hours from return trip. Matlock and Matlock Bath, a little further south is beautiful. Matlock Bath has a cable car to Heights of Abraham. Worth seeing. If you have time, Ashbourne and Dove Dale walk is worth doing.<BR>I wouldn't miss York (if you do York, then go the extra 40 minutes to Beverley). Only been to the Yorkshire dales a couple of times so can't comment too much. The Yorkshire Dales can feel more remote compared to Derbyshire but in terms of natural beauty there probably isn't a lot in it. If you do go to York, the detour to Harrogate and Knaresborough.<BR>For the Cotswolds, maybe vist Bourton, Stow, Burford etc (Oxford is not far). Then the South West. If you haven't been to Bath, you MUST go. My favourite city in England.<BR>You probably have to make a decision whether to see North Devon or South Devon. I have been to South Devon many times and Dartmoor is fantastic. Visit Ashburton, Dartmeet, Totnes etc. I personally like Torquay and the steam train to Kingswear. From Kingswear to Dartmouth, take the boat. Dartmouth has the national Naval College and is a very historic town. Haven't been to Cornwall but I have heard it is as nice as Devon (if not nicer), so it is worthwhile going there for a full week.<BR>Have fun. Any questions, please drop me an email. Regards, Anthony. [email protected]<BR>

I and a friend stayed for a couple of days in Bakewell last June 2001 at a B&B right on the river. The countryside is quite beautiful and we did a fair amount of driving around. One shouldn't miss Chatsworth country house. In my opinion it was grander than Blenheim and was still furnished in the owners things. It is amazing how much money some people have! Anyway, we were there at the time of the dressing of the wells in the area and that was interesting. We said to ourselves that this area is an overlooked treasure in Britain. <BR>This year we are going back and doing the Yorkshire Dales and Hadians wall area, so if anyone has any suggestions of "must sees" please let me know.

Anthony and Margo, thanks for your replies, much appreciated. Margo would you have the name of the B&B in Bakewell, that you used.

James - your plan is very good. 3 days in the Peak district, 4 in York (to include visits to Castle Howard, Thirsk, and the North Yorkshire Moors/Robin Hoods bay) and 3 day in the Dales. At most you could trim ONE day from the Peak Dist or ONE day from York. But I wouldn't - your pace is just about right.<BR><BR>For the remainder of your trip - One week in the Cotswolds and one each in eastern South Devon and one in Cornwall. if you are in the eastern bit of S Devon you can visit anything from Exeter to Barnstaple to Dartmoor to Plymouth. Somewhere aroung Kingsbridge might be a good base.<BR><BR>Anywhere in Cornwall _ I prefer around St Michaels Mount but near St Ives is good too.<BR><BR>And you can stay anywhere in the central Cotswolds - near Burford/Stow on the Wold is a convenient area.

James-The B&B in Bakewell was Croft Cottages, just across the bridge from the main town area. Phone from the US: 011 44 16629 814101. <BR>An especially "cute" town was near Bakewell and was called Asford in the Water. Anyway, I really liked the Peakes District and there haven't been many places in England, Scotland or Wales that I haven't visited over the years.