Am I looking for a UK destination that doesn't exist?

[notesfromasmallisland]

I work remotely 100% of the time so I'm lucky enough to be able to work anywhere within the UK with a WiFi connection.

Normally I work from home in London, but I need a change of scene. I've realised I should take better advantage of being able to work wherever, so I'd like to go on a few short trips.

I'd like to be self-catered, so I'm looking for a holiday cottage or similar. It would be just me, for a few days, and I'd like to stay somewhere quite remote. Ideally in the mountains, but on the coast would be OK. Somewhere with fresh air and a bit of peace and quiet. It would be just me.

Here's the catch though. I can drive, but wherever I go, I don't really want to have to hire a car, because it would just sit on the drive for the whole time I was there. Instead I'd like to get there by train or bus. I don't mind a half an hour walk to and from a train station once I arrive. And I'd need to be also within walking distance of somewhere with a small shop or supermarket.

I've spent lots of time on AirBnb and holiday cottage sites but none of them seem to have the option of being able to search for places that are accessible by train.

Am I looking for something that doesn't exist? If anyone's stayed anywhere that sounds like this, I'd love to hear about it.

Last Easter we stayed in Braithwaite in the lakes. It’s a little village near Keswick. There’s a small village shop and a cafe and a few pubs, it’s surrounded by mountains and you can walk from the village up into the hills.

You’d have to take the train to Penrith then buses. It’s really lovely there.

Penzance, then a quick bus along the coast to one of the villages nearby, eg. Marazion?

West runton, sheringham or Cromer on north Norfolk coast
teignmouth or exmouth in Devon

Just check out the WiFi situation thoroughly, a lot of areas in the UK have very slow WiFi and some people only get very basic packages.

I'd go for the Peak District - several lines including the Hope Valley one go across it, and connect with fast trains to Mcr or Sheffield from London. Edale and Hope would both be lovely.
https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/planning-your-visit/publictransport

Good buses too. Hayfield would be good and that's on the bus.

Lots of the North Wales coast is accessible by train although it might take you a whole

Somewhere like Llanfairfechan for example

Aviemore for the Cairngorms, forest trails, lochs and good train connections. You can rent a bike once you're there.

I'd do the sleeper to Fort William I think!

Isle of Bute. Take the train to Wemyss Bay, the ferry terminal and the train station are in the same building. It is a short ferry ride. You arrive in rothesay and can stay there, or take bus to beaches or hill walks.

Other option - a taxi a few miles at the beginning and end of your trip should be cheaper than hiring a car.

Malvern Hills, obvs.
Train to Great Malvern and beautiful hills are right there.

Aviemore (direct sleeper train from London Euston) - lovely town right by the CairnGorm mountains. You can book a b&b near the station (there are many). The bus outside Aviemore train station will take you into the mountains and then back.

Second the idea of starting with the stations and basing your searches there.

Ledbiry and Gt Malvern both have stations and are both near the malvern hills. Abergavenny is at the foot of the Black Mountains - and in fact the whole line up through Abergavenny towards Manchester stops at one lovely place after another up through Herefordshire Shropshire and cheshire

North Coast of NI could fit your needs. Fly to Belfast and get the train to Portrush - loads of holiday properties there or get off the train in Coleraine and catch a bus to Portstewart, Bushmills/Portballintrae or even Ballycastle (less frequent services, but at least a few times a day). All have small supermarkets of some kind. Loads of beautiful beaches to walk, and if it’s not a school holiday week they’ll not be too busy till mid-May.

Whitby.. join a Whitby Facebook forum.. loads of great places to rent.. Train station.. coast.. quaint.. history.. shops ...supermarkets.

The Lake District - you could base yourself in Penrith if you’ve got to be close to a railway station. But Keswick is a bus ride away from Penrith. The Lakes has a good bus service, better a little more in season but covering all sorts of small conurbations. Braithwaite is a lovely village on bus routes and 20-25 mins by car from the railway station in Penrith, very near Keswick where there are supermarkets.
There’s even Center Parcs on the outskirts of Penrith if you must.

Cornwall in the winter can be very wet but come spring you may find quite a few pretty coastal path towns with their own railway station. Devon too, Jurassic coast

North Wales or the Lakes are accessible by train. I'd go to Beaumaris but think you'd need to get a bus for the final part of the trip from Bangor or Anglesey.

Definitely think about Aviemore as PPs have said. It’s lovely. Some great modern comfortable holiday let’s too

Been going for years - love it

If you want coastal, I have a little one bed Airbnb detached cottage by the coast in Saltdean near Brighton, but it isn't remote at all, it's surrounded by houses. Has a little very private garden, two mins walk to the beach. The bus from the train station drops you at the end of the coast road, a minute's walk to the house. It's cozy, secure and has good WiFi. £85 a night.

Church Stretton, on the trainline and you can walk straight out of it to the long mynd. Think Wi-Fi would be good too absolutely beautiful part of the world.

There's some lovely cottages either up the hill in Conwy or outside the walls.

@notesfromasmallisland why don't you rent a bike?

Porthmadog. Train all the way from London, although it will take a long time. Steam train out into the hills or ordinary train to Harlech and keep walking upwards! You can travel the whole length of the Cambrian Coast by train. Aberystwyth would be another possibility.

Mumbles? Train to Swansea and a bus or cab? Plenty of shops and lovely walking. Or go a bit further out in Gower (bus isn't great but it does exist).

Yes, this too.