Horrendous year. North Yorkshire? Somewhere else? Where will I find my perfect mini-break?

[Woahbodyforrrrm]

I’m looking to replicate (as much as possible) a wonderful trip my friend and I had a few years ago and it’s really important I make it as lovely as possible.

My best friend has had a shocker of a year. Her 64yr old mum dropped dead in April, leaving her with no parents left at the age of 38, they haven’t been able to find a cause of death so she’s left in limbo. They were close so it has been very hard for her. Then her half brother took his own life last month, his funeral was held last Thursday. The following day, she and I lost a very close and much loved friend.

I’d like to arrange a lovely four night trip somewhere for us. We’re doing a Thursday to Monday mid-November. I’m just looking for the perfect location.

A few years ago, we stayed in a lovely b&b in the Lake District, 3 miles outside of Keswick. It was nothing fancy, just set in beautiful countryside surroundings and lovely and clean and homely. We were a short cab ride from Keswick so could pop into town for bars/restaurants. We had Derwent Water nearby and enjoyed walking around that as well as climbing the Cat Bells. Close by was a lovely hotel for a spa day.

We will be travelling from London by train and I’m just not sure where to go to get what I’m looking for, which in short is a nice location with easy access to a lovely town, countryside for walking (bonus for lovely pubs along the way), a nice spa hotel and perhaps a stately home or something to explore.

I’m not tied to North Yorkshire, happy to go back to the lakes or look somewhere else altogether. I’m just keen to get the right balance of countryside and access to a lovely town.

If anyone has any recommendations, I would greatly appreciate it. TIA

Cotswolds might fit the bill. Your poor friend.

Derbyshire - east side of the Peaks around Bakewell.

Nice towns with pretty countryside nearby

Stamford
Bath
Tunbridge Wells (might feel too close to London for you?)
Ludlow
Chichester/South Downs

Obviously, November could be a washout, so I’d focus on somewhere with plenty of indoor options in case it tips it down

Take at look at HF holidays . We stayed ( was about 6/7 years ago ) in their North Yorkshire hotel and it was very nice . It's mainly a walking holiday ( guided ) but you pick and choose from 3 walks easy , med , hard so all having to work out , where you are going etc is done for you and it's very relaxing as someone is taking all the hassle away , it's full board including your choice of packed lunches . You also get the info / history of the places as you go along .

Look at the North Yorkshire Coast

I was going to suggest this area too. Lots of nice hotels, walks, pubs, museums etc.

Haddon Hall just outside Bakewell is gorgeous for a day out, and The Rutland Arms Hotel is a great place to stay. I can also recommend The Bakewell Pudding Shop which has a cafe upstairs with lovely lunches and afternoon teas. And proper traditional Bakewell Pudding of course!

If you're going by train and it's November , I'd think I'd pick somewhere on a mainline station and a hotel with a nice spa in case it's just horrible out and you want to chill. Perhaps Harrogate? Betty's tearoom and lots of spas. You'd be like Victorian ladies having some respite 😁

Saying that, I'm not a very fancy person. Me and my bestie had an amazing November weekend away at a very down to earth pub that had the best beer and pies and we walked around a beautiful reservoir in the pissing rain and were happy 😊 That was near Sheffield. Lovely lovely people round there I have to say.

Sorry for your friend and what's happened too btw and you also losing a friend x

I don't know the area so can't make recommendations - but wanted to say sorry for your loss and what a brilliant friend you are. I hope you both have a brilliant break - I know a great place in Monmouth to recommend, but it's really reliant on having a vehicle. I hope you both have a restful and restorative time. X

Ilkley a is lovely spa town with a Bettys
also Bath and Edinburgh are lovely, lots to do, great shops, tourist attractions and walks

Thank you all for your kind words and for taking the time to make some suggestions. I’ll set aside plenty of time today to research the perfect place for us.

Thank you all again

Arundel/Chichester, the South Downs in general. West Sussex in general

Love Arundel. That's a good shout. 👍🏻

Helmsley is lovely.

The New Forest has some gorgeous pubs with rooms (I think they’re in The Pig family) and a really gorgeous fancy hotel (Line Wood) which would be amazing if the weather is bad. Their grounds are big enough for short walks if weather changeable.

Bradford on Avon might suit you - has both b@bs, and a very fancy hotel - nice for walking , has plenty of nice restaurants and cafes, canal walks and lovely walking countryside close by in all directions plus Bath on the train in 16 minutes or 20
minutes drive and an easy trip from London either on train or driving.

If you fancy Arundel Op, check out this place.

It’s a cottage owned by Sarah Moore, from Money for Nothing. I’ve never stayed, but it’s on my list. It looks lovely (at least I think so!) House

I would go to Haworth or Whitby

How about Cirencester?

You can get a train into the Peak District and be surrounded by hills and good views.
Castleton is a good base, there’s a station at Hope.

Helmsley has a nice spa hotel (Feversham arms) and is pretty. Harrogate has lots to do and Rudding Park hotel has a nice spa. Ilkley is lovely with nice shops, cafes restaurants with the moor right there and other walks further afield. Or maybe Skipton. The Devonshire Arms a few miles away at Bolton Abbey has a spa and is v posh.

Swinton estate spa is absolutely wonderful. Really really relaxing, very good restaurant on site, gorgeous rooms and estate to walk in. They do regular deals too so worth having a look. You could do a night there as well as Harrogate or Ripon? There's fountains abbey and RHS Harlow carr to explore and loads of good pubs and food, particularly in Harrogate and surrounding areas. Hope you have a lovely weekend!

could you share the name of the pub, sounds just what I am looking for later in the year, thanks

@nabanna I just checked earlier after it sprang to mind and very sadly they went out of business last year. Such a shame.