Starting to plan for a 5 week self drive B/B or small hotel tour of England for 2 people in May/June 2010.

There may be something similar in the trip reports but I can't see anything.

Very big subject but are there any sample type itineries for this length of tour?

Hi Monty! Does the 5 weeks include travel from Aus or is it 5 whole weeks? The intinery will obviously depend on your interests: history? gardens? walking? and on how much of the country you want to see (just England or Scotland & Wales as well?).

If I was planning a trip like this, I'd identify 5 general areas that I'd like to explore more & then see how they link up. May/June is usually busy, so availability of accommodation may play a role as well.

I look forward to reading more about your plans as they develop.

Enjoy!

Depends on what you mean by "itinerary".

There have been several well-known books, including Bill Bryson's "Notes from a Small Island" and Paul Theroux's "Kingdom By the Sea" in which the authors travel around on an itinerary of their own devising with its own logic.

There are many books of this kind. The point seems to be: find a theme, or an idea, and follow it. It doesn't have to be a Big Important idea, or even carry you 100 percent of the way. It's just a way of sorting through all the places out there.

Like suppose you just read something about an artist or author or actor you thought was interesting. You might google their name and visit places associated with them, depicted in their work, or in their movies, or places they lived, or places you came across that just sounded really interesting. Or brainstorm a 10 days, 10 foods (or beers, or castles or museums or hauntings or slag heaps or whatever) tour.

As long as it's personal, and it engages YOU, you'll have a good time.

(Of course if you read Theroux you'll never want to leave the house. So don't read Theroux until you get back.)

You may want to explore some of the many good travel books for the UK then sit down with your other traveler and figure out what places are "must sees", "would like to see", etc. Then you could schedule your 5 weeks around those places.

Dana

5 weeks is a great length of time.

As ever, I'd always look for contrasts. Do you want to see:
- London
- Another big city
- History
- the coast
- rolling hills
- more rugged countryside
- friends/relatives
- anything else?

Logically, if you do want to see London, it's likley you'll fly into Heathrow or Gatwick, so what with jet lag (it's a sh*t very long and tiring journey from Oz), staying somewhere without a car for the 1st few days may be ideal. London's ideal for that and you'll find yourself walking quite a bit which will help get over jet lag.

From London - maybe take the train down to Brighton. It's an easy journey from London Victoria train station (plus a couple of others during the week). Again, Brighton doesn't need a car, but does give you:
- possibly the most famous beach in England
- A very vibrant and edgy atmosphere
- The oldest electric railway
- Faux-Raj style Royal Palace
- Fancy shopping in the Lanes (but the locals go the the North Laines for offbeat stuff)

Pick up a car in Brighton, head out into the countryside to get comfortable with the roads signs etc. One nice option is to head up Dyke road to Devils dyke (and a quick stroll), then head around the back road to Fulking or other little villages. Alternatively take the A27 eastwards and head towards Lewes (nice easy driving). En-route there's a little gem at Firle/Glyndebourne called English Farm Cider centre / Middle farm, which has evolved into a very interesting food destination, plus has stacks of cider on tasting. From here there are some good quiet roads down to secluded beaches and a great (relatively modern) museum in an old Martello tower (wartime defence) http://www.martello-towers.co....-coast/towers/74.htm Surprisingly good/interesting and an unusual place few o'seas tourists would see.

Assuming you're comfortable with the driving now, head westwards along the A27 which sticks near to the coast. Head through Sussex, Hampshire, Devon and end up in Cornwall. I've done this trip myself and it worked very well as a B&B based route, staying overnight, heading off the next morning and stopping in the afternoon at the next location.

Places of interest include Chichester, Lulworth Cove, Winchester, Bournemouth ... but often it's just as rewarding to find a small unassuming country village, with a good pub.

From cornwall, head up via Exeter and the West Country to Bath. From there off towards the Costwolds and Stratford-upon-Avon.

From here you've options to head to Wales (easier to detour from Bath), up into the north of England (e.g. York, Derby Dales, Peak District, North York moors & coastline - or further west for Liverpool and around). Maybe Scotland (tempting to drop the car off, take the train to Edinburgh, then head out in a different hire car).

There's a lot of ground covered there. Personally I'd try to pencil in at least one double night per week (perhaps more) in each location whilst you have the car. It's good to have a few days without driving, or where the driving is local. Try to plan detours to keep interest up (Motorways and A roads can be very dull).

Without a car, such transience would be horrible, but it's quite flexible when you can leave most of the clothes etc. in the car.

However - don't let me persuade you into a mad rush around - my pace is normally much slower!

I hope this throws some ideas in, but would definitely recommend a good read of a paper or online guide book to pick out your personal headlines to build the holiday around.

regards

Ian

Thanks for the input. I guess my topic was too general to create much response.

Anyway current proposal is -

1. Fly to Heathrow mid May 2010 probably on Etihad Airways because they use planes with 2 seats on the side and land at midday not the dawn patrol.

2. Spend one week in or around London - may rent apartment - any ideas. Catch up with family. Maybe day trips from London.

3. Hire small car at Heathrow and drive to Oxford (would like GPS but at around 8 pounds a day not sure). Stay at apartment for one week about 1 mile out on bus route - have found lovely apt on internet at reasonable price in nice garden. Use Oxford as base to visit Cotswolds, Stratford on Avon etc.
Great info on this site about the Cotswolds.

4. Drive to Bath for 2 nights.

5. Drive to Dunster for 2 nights (still has steam train railway)

6. Drive to Lelant near St Ives (my Grandmothers old house is now a private hotel). Use as base to tour the coastal area. Stay 4 nights.

7. Drive to Plymouth for 3 nights. Use as base for Dartmoor as Dartmoor hotels are huge price.

8. Drive to Salisbury for 1 night.

9. Drive back to Heathrow via Stonehenge and return car. Fly to Edinburgh for 3 nights.

10 Fly to Dublin for 2 nights.

11. 7 day tour of southern Ireland. Self Drive or join Tour?

12. Fly back to Heathrow to return to Australia.

Any ideas on accommodation in above areas. Possible options include -
Bath - Old Mill hotel
Dunster - Yarn Market hotel
Plymouth - Hotel Ibis
Salisbury - Websters B&B
Edinburgh - ?
Dublin - ?

quote:

(would like GPS but at around 8 pounds a day not sure).

Buy one. You can pick up a cheap and cheerful GPS system with UK and Ireland maps for around £50 online in the UK and probably <£100 at most shops.

TimW

Monty
Ditto Tim's comment - you can buy ones where you can add specific countries on. In addition, there are some that have 'pedestrian mode' where you can use it to navigate on foot as well.

... but also, your plan looks very sound (including being a mile outside of Oxford on a bus route - it's these little details that can make the difference). Traffic around Heathrow itself can be pretty bad most times of the day, but on balance it's worth it to be able to drive straight to the airport before catching the Edimburgh flight.

The Cornish coast is excellent for walking, but also some fine drives as well - this should be a highlight.

regards

Ian