#9

I’d say if you’re looking at the Peak District: Castleton > Bakewell > Buxton…but bear in mind Castleton is small and you’d need to like rural pursuits.

If you’re a fan of Cheese and Beer I’d recommend the Wensleydale Cheese site has in Hawes and the Bkack Sheep/Theakston breweries in Masham (both in the Yorkshire Dales…or near enough in the case of Masham).

If you’re looking at cities…York, Cambridge, Oxford, Lancaster, Exeter (bit out the way) and Bath are some of the most picturesque…whereas Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Nottingham and Bristol have the biggest activity variety.

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#10

Hebden Bridge is a cool little place, IMO. It’s got a slightly alternative/hippy edge that you don’t get in pretty much any other rural(ish) English town.

#11

Yeah, Hebden Bridge is a great little place to visit.

If you’re coming down from Ed i’d recommend some of the little towns on the east coast, like Filey and Whitby, i love coastal resorts out of season.

Cambridge is always a bit drab in the winter, much better place to visit in the summer, imo.

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#12

Yes I love little rural places so Castleton/Hebden Bridge sound good. Not too keen on driving in and out of big cities I’ve never been to before, tbh.

Is there anywhere interesting to stop off at for an hour or so between the Peak District and London? I like trying local food specialities so anywhere like that is good too.

#13

My personal favourite east coast place is Robin Hood’s Bay… especially during off season when there’s nobody about.

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#14

And nip to Haworth en route.

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#15

Bring my brother and his wife up to Hebden Bridge with you and be rewarded with a night at Ol’ Ma Dots’ b&b!

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#16

Northumberland coast

#17

come over to my house if you like?

#18

As a born and bred Lancastrian I can’t say I have that much of an affinity for the place… but it’s nice enough and would be a good/nice/cheap lay over point if you drove through the Lake District and maybe stopped off at Grasmere/Ambleside on the way (weather permitting on that one!).

#19

And Buxton has an awesomely good brewery if you can get somewhere to sleep the night without having to drive there after the beer.

#20

York is definitely worth a visit for someone who’s not been there before.

#22

Looking at a map, York appears to be about halfway between Edinburgh and London, plus not too far a detour (assuming you’re coming down the A1). Only ever been there once and it was pissing it down but it looked like it would have been nice to explore.

Harrogate is about halfway as well: I’ve heard nice things about it but never been.

Bakewell is fine… the surroundings in the Peak District are nicer than the towns imho but there’s a pretty river that runs through it and you could take a picturesque drive. Peverel Castle in Castleton is pretty cool, mainly for the view at the top of the hill.

#23

Another vote for Hebden Bridge. Lovely place. Weird number of people from Chorlton with links to there. When i went i bumped into about three people who i live near. Seems to have the same sort of grow your own veg/pretend being in a band’s a job/fuck the Tories vibe.

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#24

Definitely recommend Castleton

#25

Also would give you the chance to stay at peak hotel and set up a bantsy thread titled ‘have we reached peak hotel?’ And the OP Just having a photo of it and saying ‘Yes’ (definitely never toyed with posting such a thread at any point, of course)

#26

Guildford

#27

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#28

Parked in the car park of peak hotel last weekend and thought of doing this too if I wasn’t on a twitter/FB hiatus

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#29

Between the peak district and London, you could stop off at Melton Mowbray for an hour to stock up on pork pies and stilton

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