My sister and I are traveling to England next October and will be touring the countryside from October 25 to November 8, then we will be back in London from November 25 through December 3. We really need help figuring out where to go on the first leg of our trip. I am primarily responsible for the research for our trip and I am so confused. Currently we have planned two days in Devon, but I don't know where to go while there, then a day in Bath, then two days at Thornbury Castle, then up to York for a day, then to Edinburgh for three days then to Bury St. Edmunds for two days, then on to Paris, etc. We plan to travel by rail and then rent a car in Bath to tour the Cotswolds and maybe in Bury St. Edmunds. I am 55 and my sister will be 50 by trip time, in fact this is a trip to celebrate her 50th birthday. We want to have a great time, but are getting anxious about so many details. Is there someone who might help us with some of our travel dilemmas? Thanks, Dale Maureen Stoll
Posts: 3 | Location: Athens, Ohio USA | Registered: 03 November 2002
First of all, what sort of things interest you? There's no point in my suggesting a tour of victorian theatres if you're primarily interested in geology or nature walks.
Then, the question is why Devon and the other places? They are quite spread out meaning that you will be doing a fair bit of travelling. Anyway, if you can identify what you enjoy doing, I'll see if I can suggest something.
Beebee
Posts: 1951 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 09 September 2002
I think you are doing way too much moving about. Pick one place in England and spend a week. Have a look at the vacation rentals from this agency: http://www.villaeurope.com/ - Suzanne Cohen. She is the US rep for a fabulous UK rental agency: www.ruralretreats.com
Check out their website, but you can book with the US rep for the same price and it is easier.
You have about two weeks for the countryside. I would do a week in the Cotswolds (I like the area in the southern part) or in Devon or Cornwall - then a week in the Lakes District or a week in Scotland.
I'm new to this message board, so I'm probably going over well-worn territory, but I haven't seen any mention of renting self-catering cottages and flats from the National Trust. We rented four of them in November and December last year. They are delightful, and off-season they are very affordable. There are more of them in Devon and Cornwall than in any other part of England, I believe, but there are two we used that were commuting distance from London.
I'd second Pauline's recommendation that you stay a week in one or two places, and then pass along this link to the National Trust site: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/holidays/ The cottages at Ightham Mote in Kent are truly wonderful -- Laura Ashley in 14th century converted stables! -- and work well for both London and the southern England countryside.
Also, I submitted a report that hasn't been posted yet about a great group of cottages in the Cotswolds. The owner does a fantastic job. Her website is at http://www.campdencottages.co.uk/
As you have an interest in Devon, I'll also mention two delightful towns there we really liked: Topsham (south of Exeter) and Fowey (pronounced Foy, farther west). Both are on the water and really ancient, quaint and wonderful. We didn't stay in self-catering in those towns, but saw cottages to rent.
Thanks Libbie - I do have the National Trust places on my page of listings - and I think they look great. I will get your review posted this week. Send in any others - everything is welcome.
I have been much slower than usual posting reviews these past two months because of work things and because I got a flood of reviews from an Italian agency who emailed all their clients asking them to wrote reviews. But this is a good problem!!
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