Interesting land-based short breaks.

[paultheeagle]

Now I shouldn't really tell you this but if Walking is what you want then try Shropshire....A gem of a county and very unerrated...not a lot of people go there...Most just bypass the county on the M5 but the countryside around Church Stretton, Craven Arms and Wenlock Edge is superb...The Long Mynde is another good walk....You are also close to Shrewsbury a town well worth visiting and you can go back in time by visiting Ironbridge and it's excellent open air museum Blist's Hill.

Another place to get away from it all is the Channel Island of Alderney...the fifteen minute flight from Guernsey is an experience not to be missed and on a clear day must be one of the most scenic short journeys in the country....St. Anne's is a smashing little town, more village really and there is loads to do and the welcome....The welcome from the locals is something else....They are so pleased to see you.

[Romig1]

Yes Paul, Shropshire is an under-rated county IMO.

There is also the lovely market town of Bridgnorth with it's funicular between Low Town and High Town. Has one of the (if not actually the) greatest density of pubs in the country too.

I would also agree with your recommendation of Blist's Hill - where there is always the chance of bumping into a forum member too!

[AngieT]

Thanks, Romig. I forgot about Alnwick with its castle and gardens. And some of the best scones around in the Strawberry Cafe.

The other beauty about Northumberland is the absence of heavy traffic. The roads around there, by comparison with the rest of the country, are so quiet.

and you don't get ripped off by parking charges like in some parts of the UK. We stay in Warkworth every year (just south of Alnwick) and this little village has it's own castle, lovely river, sand dunes leading to a beautiful & empty beach, lovely pub grub, a French Patisserie (the French owner married a local gent) and NO parking charges!

[oldbluefox]

Do they still do the Museums Passport which includes Blist Hill? Exceptional value for money and doesn't all have to be used in one go.A good reason to return to Shropshire.

The interior to RMS Olympic can be found in The White Swan, Alnwick. And even in Alnwick you can, if so desired, park without paying, in fact, I never saw any of the locals paying!!!

[Romig1]

Do they still do the Museums Passport which includes Blist Hill? Exceptional value for money and doesn't all have to be used in one go.A good reason to return to Shropshire.

The interior to RMS Olympic can be found in The White Swan, Alnwick. And even in Alnwick you can, if so desired, park without paying, in fact, I never saw any of the locals paying!!!

The last time we were there, the Passport was available.
Covers unlimited (except for special events) entry to all the museums for 12 months, and (I believe) can be used after that time for the museums that you haven't yet visited). We are back down in Bridgnorth in a couple of weeks' time....maybe we'll go to one of the venues we haven't visited yet?

[qbman1]

If you're in Alnwick and need to while away a wet morning, you could do worse than spend some time in Barter Books. Converted from the old railway station, it has log fires, comfy old armchairs, great coffee and even a model railway running right round the interior of the building. Oh, you can even browse through the thousands of books too !

[AngieT]

Totally agree QB, we always pay a visit to stock up on books. You can also sell them books too. Just give them to the assistant when you first go in & while you are browsing they will see what they want to take off your hands (depending on if they have a glut of a book you bring) and they will make you an offer when you go pay with anything you want to buy. Each time we take about 15 books (a mixture of fiction & study books) and they usually buy about 12 from us. We tend to spend about £40 (adds up to a few books at second hand prices!) and when they take off what they will give us in part exchange and 10% off when you spend over £30, we never actually hand over more than £12 in cash! You can also pick up some first editions (both old & new) if you hunt around - some very expensive old books in there.

[Boris+]

That's very interesting about the book place in the old railway station - my husband currently collects a particular railway magazine, and in part of my no-cluttering fetish I have offered to buy him all the magazines on a cd (or several), and maybe this bookshop may like to have all his old magazines?

Just a thought.

em

[qbman1]

Give them a call, 'Em - might be an excuse for a weekend away in Northumberland!

[Romig1]

That's very interesting about the book place in the old railway station - my husband currently collects a particular railway magazine, and in part of my no-cluttering fetish I have offered to buy him all the magazines on a cd (or several), and maybe this bookshop may like to have all his old magazines?

Just a thought.

em

If they do Em...ask them if they are interested in my collection of National Geographics...about 10years all boxed in the garage...much to Wina's dismay!

[Kenmo1]

Romig/Wina - I wish we had known you collected National Geographics,we have just dumped a load from years and years ago - I think the 1950s which were given to me by my godmother. When she gave them to us she said they would be valuable one day. I don't think we have ever looked at them and were just collecting dust at the bottom of a cupboard. Is Wina the hoarder or is it you, Rob. See Suespuds entry on hoarding and collecting. M.

[Romig1]

Romig/Wina - I wish we had known you collected National Geographics,we have just dumped a load from years and years ago - I think the 1950s which were given to me by my godmother. When she gave them to us she said they would be valuable one day. I don't think we have ever looked at them and were just collecting dust at the bottom of a cupboard. Is Wina the hoarder or is it you, Rob. See Suespuds entry on hoarding and collecting. M.

I don't actually collect them as such.....just have never been able to get rid of the piles that I kept from the years that I subscribed.
.....that's unless Wina hasn't taken them to the tip since I last tripped over them!

[Boris+]

Well we're going to try out a trip to Yorkshire first, and then as the weather warms up I think we'll try out Alnwick - and possibly the West Country in October.

Sounds like a plan.

Em

[oldbluefox]

Looks like we'll have to go back to Northumberland.......... again! For all the times we have been to Alnwick we have yet to visit the castle and gardens, neither did we know about this wonderful book shop.

Another lovely area to visit is Norfolk. We visited for the first time last year and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We found an absolutely marvellous B&B outside Norwich, which is well worth a visit in its own rite. We used our National Trust cards to visit Blickling Estate, which is magnificent, and Felbrigg Hall which, although much smaller is equally as interesting, in particular the tale of a rather colourful former owner. Not so far away are Beccles and Southwold, both of which I can recommend.
There is also a plentiful supply of micro breweries making some rather tempting ales and some of the biggest tractors I have ever seen.

If you decide to go take your satnav as I reckon the design for the layout of the minor roads was influenced by a tangled ball of wool and the lack of direction signs adds further to the fun.

What a great title thread this is.

[Admiral of the Humber]

Derby is a very pleasant place to visit for a weekend. The locals are friendly!

[Dark Knight]

Hull as it attractions
some kind old bloke took us to see the fishies in the aquarium and it was well

[AngieT]

OBF,

A tip - when visiting Alnwick Castle & Gardens get a day pass to both. You can spend a pleasant day visiting one of them in the morning, walking the 5 minute walk into Alnwick centre for lunch & then going back to do the other half in the afternoon. There is a lovely little Italian deli/cafe in Alnwick Market Square where you can sit & watch the world go by over a panini & cappaccino (or wine)!
Also, get your day pass validated when you buy it & you can use it again as many times as you want during the year (should you choose to go back to this lovely part of the country again).

[Boris+]

Thanks for the tip about the day-pass - thats really helpful. It's good to know these little hints and tips.

Em

[trixie]

Em ,
I am staying at Burgh Island in August and really looking forward to it. I will let you know what its like.
Perhaps I should do a review !

[qbman1]

Am I at all envious? Grrrrr - you bet I am ! Do let us know how you get on

[Boris+]

Ok, when I have a bit of time I'll google Burgh Island and see what's going on there - is it nice then?

Meanwhile I really do want to do Alnwick this year - now that I have found out that Black Adder was set there; however I suppose that Baldrick will be in Leicester with Time Team!

Em

[Romig1]

Em, it was also where they filmed some Harry Potter.

I refused to pay the entrance fee for the castle (let the Potter aficionados spend their cash instead). We made do with the gardens (and fountain) which are well worth the entrance fee.

[qbman1]

I'll bet you were playing in the tree house R !!

[Romig1]

I'll bet you were playing in the tree house R !!

Absolutely...hours of fun I had!

[GillD46]

Ok, when I have a bit of time I'll google Burgh Island and see what's going on there - is it nice then?

Meanwhile I really do want to do Alnwick this year - now that I have found out that Black Adder was set there; however I suppose that Baldrick will be in Leicester with Time Team!

Em

Worth going just for the sea tractor alone. The hotel is wonderful.