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.

North Norfolk coast. Train to Kings Lynn from Kings Cross. The Coasthopper bus then takes you down the coast road through to Wells-Next-The-Sea. The bus isn’t quick but very scenic. Villages that fit the bill would be Titchwell, Thornham, Brancaster, Brancaster Staithe and Burnham Overy Staithe. All of them have at least one pub and the middle three have a shop.

We often walk from one village to the next down the coastal path and then get the bus back. There’s an awful lot of “nothingness” but still practical. Many of the villages there now also have full fibre broadband which is extremely good!!!!

Sowerbys Holiday Cottages are great.

Have a look at the train network in Scotland. As PPs have said, Aviemore and Fort William are both decent size towns that have train stations, plenty of shops/restaurants etc but with nature very easily accessible. Last time we hiked Ben Nevis we got the West Coast Mainline from Glasgow to Fort William (beautiful views - this or the sleeper if you’re coming from London would be amazing). We started the hike from Fort William, it’s maybe 30 mins walk to the trail head. So yes, mountains very accessible.

But there are also plenty of other smaller towns on this line and the other lines - Pitlochry, Blair Atholl, Oban, Boat of Garten.

Hi Birnam & Dunkeld in Perthshire! You can get the train directly there from London, including sleeper. It's the start of the Highlands. Lots of lovely local walks, can take local trains to Pitlochry, Perth etc or buses further afield. The village has about 5 cosy pubs serving nice food, cafes, a fab deli, coop, chemist and little gift shops. I'm always so happy there and you can def have a nice car free break

There’s some stunning walks around Goodwick and it’s easy to get to remote spots (I lived there as a child).
I also second the Hope Valley. I stayed here https://abnb.me/OZBUgWC4aHb
It’s 30 minutes walk from Hathersage or Hope. Just right for 1 person. Lovely owner.

The bus services in Eryri (Snowdonia) are pretty good. You can easily get a bus from mainline station Bangor to Llanberis, a mountain village with tourist facilities and regular buses to other N Wales destinations plus a gorgeous lake. Feels almost alpine.
Look for a property in the hills on the outskirts - but as others have said do check about wifi connections.

I was just going t to say the same.

I was going to suggest this wonderful train line as well. Ravenglass is beautiful and on the line but lacks a shop. Has a brilliant pub though!

Wow, I didn't expect to get so many replies! Loads to look into here. Thank you so much everyone!

Yes a taxi from the station and a supermarket delivery would also work. Looks like I'll have to get some trips scheduled!

Seconding the Caledonian sleeper up to the highlands. Loch Rannoch may fit the bill if you’re just after gorgeous countryside accessible by train, or Corrour or Mallaig but to be honest once you get an hour or two past Glasgow just pick a station at random (except Fort William) and you won’t go far wrong.

There are some lovely small cottages/pods (Croft4 for example) in Benderloch, just North of Oban. You can get to Oban by train/bus from Glasgow, or bus from Edinburgh, there's a bus every hour from Oban to Benderloch and all the accommodations are in easy walking distance from the bus stop. There's a fab beach (Tralee beach), hills all around, the Pink Shop has everything you could possibly need, a fish&chip caravan at the Tralee campsite, Jimmy's (Ben Lora Cafe, best scones for miles and miles) will open again at Easter, the Sustrans cycle track runs right pthrough the village (both trains and buses take cycles) and on a rainy day you could take the bus to Oban.

I second Penzance.

Aviemore has a train station.

You can go up to Perth which is a nice little city and you could do an over night in the Premier Inn first.

Beautiful train journey up and once there you have plenty of walkable options for food, little shops etc. plus you can get on the train to Inverness if you fancy.

It will definitely satisfy mountain and loch morlich has a beach.

As @ChilliPB said, take a look at our train network in Scotland because there are loads of villages with train stations.

I’d avoid Aviemore- sorry to anyone who lives there! Feels a bit grim nowadays, especially when we have such gorgeous towns and villages with decent transport links.

Mountains and coast absolutely possible, more so if you consider being lochside rather than seaside, but the west coast (Argyll especially) has loads of options.

Train and bus, directly to Tarbert in Argyll. It’s in a gorgeous area, warm and friendly, and fits the bill beautifully re transport. You could also then get the ferry and try out the Isle of Gigha, known as God’s Own Island.

@TheMoonstone Great suggestion! I’ve had such lovely weekends there and Gigha 🌊 🦀 ⛴️

Eastbourne? You could stay in the town with amenities but then you have walking access everyday to the expanse of the South Downs and Beachy Head. Obvs not mountains but dramatic coastline and you can explore a bit further to places like Cuckmere Haven in between working via the bus that travels between Eastbourne and Brighton.

Narberth? It’s on the train line from Swansea to Fishguard/pembroke dock. The journey from Paddington is easy to Swansea.

I’ve stayed here before, very comfortable and felt private, probably about a 15 minute walk from the train https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/25932581?adults=1&children=0&enable_m3_private_room=true&infants=0&pets=0&check_in=2024-02-16&check_out=2024-02-21&source_impression_id=p3_1707899587_ZwG%2BnsrNbF4FWVAD&previous_page_section_name=1000&federated_search_id=d411feab-7ee7-4f9a-af35-acb0f80d8f29

It’s a lovely little village/town, fields and greenery all around. 15 minutes or so from saundersfoot.

Filey in Yorkshire.

Lots of great walking nearby, quiet but not too remote - either to the beach or inland where it's quite hilly. Is pretty. Is 'nice'. Has a big Tesco by the station and within easy walk of the town. A number of half decent restaurants. Scarborough 20 mins or so on the train so you can also do things there.

Think it pretty much ticks the vast majority of your boxes.

If Scotland is accessible there's Blair Atholl - trains are infrequent and slow but it's a lovely little village, with a castle and grounds, gorgeous river walks.
Or Pitlochry - more of a town (but not huge), well set up for visitiors, very pretty and great walking/outdoor location, more frequent and faster trains.
There are still trains to Dalwhinnie too.

Mallaig.

I would just be careful, often these remote places do not have good wi-fi, I live rural scotland

Thirsk? A beautiful little market town, lots of greenery….

Why walking distance from a train station? That is not going to find you a quiet countryside or seaside place as all those stations were closed down years ago! Any reason you won't consider somewhere in walking distance from a reasonable bus route from the station? That w

Posted too soon!

That will open up so many more possibilities.

Train to Penzance and then get a taxi to a remote cottage on some Cornish cliffs