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My girlfriend and I both have a few day off next week as we were due to be going to Cornwall.... we've canned that as for us it looks like hell on Earth currently!
We had decided against going away at all this year, but I quite fancy a break from everything (I've been wfh since lockdown and have actually only had one full week off since last August!)
So a couple of nights, either in a BandB/Pub/Hotel/anything really.....somewhere quiet that we could just take our books and walking gear. We're in Cheshire, normally we head to either the lakes or Snowdonia. Lakes is a definite no, Snowdonia looks crazy busy too!
Or just stay at home and buy a new guitar?
Northumberland?
North Pennines maybe - Teesdale/Weardale? OK, maybe not Weardale, but you get the idea.
Mid Wales
Loads of gorgeous places outside the honeypots. Even in the Dales, there are only a handful of spots that get rammed, and it's only accommodation that might be the sticking point, but ring around a few of the less-well-travelled bits and you might get lucky.
Calderdale? We had a very pleasant few days in Hebden Bridge earlier this month. It doesn't have the buzz that it has in normal times, but the hiking and the riding is still just as good.
How about Shropshire for walking along/around Long Mynd, or mid Wales for walking around the Elan Valley?
My girlfriend and I both have a few day off next week as we were due to be going to Cornwall…. we’ve canned that as for us it looks like hell on Earth currently!
its a bit windy but the temperatures aren't that hot...
Snowdon itself might well be crazy busy. But much of the rest of Snowdonia really isn't. Above Harlech I startled a runner on my road bike last week simply by existing - he hadn't seen anyone or been passed by a vehicle for over an hour.
I'd take a look at the Isle of Purbeck.
I think accommodation might be tricky at short notice. It's easy to avoid the crowds, I've recently spent the day on an 'out the way' beach and saw no more than a dozen people. Coastal walks are plentiful and many inlands walks are available too. The Clavell Cafe at Kimmeridge does very good food and I am told Shell Bay restaurant is worth a visit.
A couple of likely places to stay on Airbnb - https://www.airbnb.co.uk/s/Isle-of-Purbeck/homes?checkin=2020-08-25&checkout=2020-08-28&adults=2&children=0&landing_page_section=MARQUEE
Or you could try phoning the Kingston Country Courtyard to see what they have. There are plenty of campsites too.
Ive been looking at treehouses recently, really fancy a few days in one..
Come down south. Walk the Thames or Ridgeway
Either http://www.swanatstreatley.co.uk/ or https://millerofmansfield.com/. The Ridgeway is still very quiet. The Thames path is a little busier, but paddleboard hire from the Swan.
Or Norfolk - https://www.holkham.co.uk/stay-eat/the-victoria-inn/welcome, https://www.morstonhall.com/ etc The beaches may seem busy from the carparks, but there's so much space when you walk 10 minutes.
Both spots depend on budgets etc. Some places are poncier than others. Some places still appear not to be doing rooms since reopening like http://www.perchandpike.co.uk/accommodation.html
Nah Snowdonia's not rammed, loads of space. Why don't you try Machynlleth area, dyfi forest. Lovely area, loads of mountains and forests and you've got the coast there too if you fancy the beach.
Actually, going back to the Cornwall point, we were there last week, staying near Fowey, and I think the media hype is, well, hype. The centre of Fowey was busy, but not rammed, in fact given it was in the middle of school holidays, Covid or no Covid, I'd have expected it to be busier if I'm honest. The beach with a car park nearby (Polkerris) was again, fairly busy but not rammed at all. The beach with a bit if a walk from a car park (Polridmouth) was lovely and only had a relatively few people on it.
And if you're interested in walking, we had the dog with us so were walking every day and the footpaths in and around the nearby countryside were, basically, empty. We walked to Golant and saw, in about three hours walking, exactly four people. It's really very easy to be nowhere near anyone else.
We were able to keep ourselves to ourselves in Cornwall, most don't want to stray too far from their cars, so beaches and town centres busy but plenty of quiet walks around the coast and little known beaches to enjoy if you want them.
If you avoid the "honeypots" in Snowdonia and the North Wales coast such as Snowdon itself and Llandudno (but even that is ok if you avoid the town centre and walk up Great Orme), there's plenty of places that aren't crazy busy.
Just inland from Prestatyn is lovely and quiet, around Dyserth, Craig Fawr, Rhuallt etc. and/or head a bit further afield to some great walking around the Llyn Brenig/ Alwen Reservior area just south of Denbigh (at top of the B4501 "Road To Hell" cat2 climb).
We went to Southwold in Suffolk for a long weekend about three weeks ago, took the bikes, pootled around it was lovely. Very relaxing and you can do the Adnams brewery tour too.
Might give you some accommodation options.
We've just booked 2 nights about 45min drive away in 3 weeks time. Staying local ish appeals to us as it's only a short break and we'd rather not spend hours in the car. There's still plenty of stuff like pubs and walks we've not explored on our doorstep.
On your doorstep you have some beautiful untouched countryside. I’d be looking at the Berwyn Mountains ish area, and then down towards Bala, Dolgellau.
No idea how busy it gets, but I'd imagine exploring around Lake Vernwy, Hirnant Pass and Bwlch Y Groes would be fun by foot (along with its normal association with cycling).
Cornwall is always nearly full during school holidays.
This year there is reduced capacity due to COVID, so it cant be any more full than usual which does mean hot spots get busy.
Your best bet - delay your leave for 2 weeks til the schools have gone back, or just book a random travelodge / premier inn somewhere for cheap and enjoy wherever you end up.
It doesnt have to be perfect to be perfect.
No idea how busy it gets, but I’d imagine exploring around Lake Vernwy, Hirnant Pass and Bwlch Y Groes would be fun by foot (along with its normal association with cycling).
It’s not been too bad. However on a Saturday a few weekends back I ran up Cadair Berwyn from Pistyll Rhaeadr and must have seen at least 10 people at the top which is madness !
My girlfriend and I were in Lustleigh, on the edge of Dartmoor, last weekend and it was great. Tiny village, handful of locals and a few tourists. Fresh air, peace and quiet and some long walks or rides.
View from the top of Cadair Berwyn
You are not far from dumfries and galloway. https://www.lochken.co.uk/accommodation/glamping/eco-pods