Are the Cotswolds overrated and what are your UK hidden gems?

[beardedirislover]

Is it me or are the Cotwolds a bit overrated.

Theyre too twe, too stylised, too much black estate fencing that's perfectly painted. It's like disney version of countryside.

Where are your hidden gems in the UK not the normal tourist hotspots?

Dorset is lovely.

Just back from a wonderful weekend in Hambleton, Rutland Water. Absolutely loved it. Was like a cross between the Cotswolds (stone properties) and the Lake District, but much less crowded.

My part of the world - glad you liked it. Did you check out stamford, oundle or Uppingham? Lovely towns in their own rights.

Love Northumberland but also the North Pennines Blanchland is often bypassed on the way. In the same way I love The Lakes, but not the crowds, so the Forest of Bowland or Ribble Valley are lovely. Both of these places offer the same walking, eating options as busier spots.

The question could be where near where you live do tourists flock to and where is a lesser known (but not unknown to locals) gem?

Portsmouth is great. Yes it's a bit rough but it's very much a working city with a great uni. The sun shines, they have done a great with the seafront - it's genuinely easy and interesting. There's quirky independent shops.old school theatre, the naval ships you hear on the news , Charles Dickens birthplace a great fish market ... Love it. And it's solid enough to absorb tourists unlike rural places that end up all cream teas and coach tours.

No, we only had one full day but did a walk around the water and a boat trip. Stayed at Hambleton Hall and ate at the Finch’s Arms one night. Would definitely go back ☺️

yesss. both are so nice !

I live in the centre of the “golden triangle” tourists and instagrammers have ruined all three of my local towns, Bourton, Chippy and Stow please don’t slag off the Cotswolds it was very different before the crazy publicity, tourism now brings little to nothing to locals in the area all the pubs are owned by chains, the holiday homes are owned by people out of the area and Jeremy Clarkson has singled handedly killed Chippy, there has never been so many empty shops as there are now. He is also causing car accidents on a regular basis at both his sites in Chad and at the Dog but who cares it’s all Instagram perfect!

Hebden Bridge is totally horrible (please don’t come).

Jeremy Clarkson has singled handedly killed Chippy, there has never been so many empty shops as there are now. He is also causing car accidents on a regular basis at both his sites in Chad and at the Dog but who cares it’s all Instagram perfect!

I'm intrigued! Can you elaborate? How has he killed it?

Chipping Norton is now famous for being the “Chipping Norton Set” which is crazy as none of the famous people that live in the Cotswolds live in the town it’s become a pass through place as everyone visiting the area spends their money in his farm shop and other Cotswold highlights eg Daylesford and Soho farm house. Obviously I’m being a bit dramatic saying Clarkson killed it but he’s part of the publicity & social media that has focused on a few places in the area. Other local businesses do flourish but only if they are part of the Instagram culture which doesn’t benefit everyone. It’s only my opinion as other people will say it allowed Airbnb’s to flourish and holiday homes are always booked which is great but not always for people who live here. But the traffic accidents are very real with lack of traffic management being a big problem but no one seems to want to deal with loads of people randomly crossing an A road in loads of different places with no regard for traffic. I’m not sure that would be allowed to happen at any other tourist attraction 🤔 and that’s what Clarksons sites are, it’s not a pub or farm shop it’s a major tourist attraction with no regulation.

The Wye Valley is so beautiful but the river is now seriously polluted by agricultural run off (chicken farms). It’s very sad 😞

I loved the Northumberland coast line tho inland is intensively farmed. The Isle of Purbeck in Dorset is quiet and lovely. Snowdonia is breathtaking and the nearby Llyn peninsula well worth visiting.

Anywhere more than a mile or two from a road. Partly because most people don't walk all that far and partly because cars ruin everything

What about visiting your username?

Clun is lovely and the area around it is indeed very quiet with beautiful walks.

I absolutely love Stamford.

You keep quiet 🤫 and I don’t blame you!

Yyy to Blanchland. I think that corner of Country Durham/edge of Northumberland with the north penines, Derwent valley and Teesdale is breathtaking.

I’m driving past Rutland at the weekend. A1. Have been to Stamford, Oakham and uppingham. Where else would you recommend stopping off please to break up journey? TIA

I live in North Norfolk and can vouch for the fact that it’s not massively busy unless it’s August in the chi chi bit (Burnham etc). The other beaches and the Broads are pretty uncrowded. Yes and we do appreciate tourists because without them we wouldn’t have naice shops and great pubs.

I also love Northumberland!

Permitted. Plenty of space there!

Oundle!!!!!

Thank you!

Hehehe - noted! Keeping schtum

So pleased to see all the love for Dunster - we loved going there, but MIL moved away so we don’t have so much opportunity now.

The Peak District is my go-to - some of the sights are a bit overrun now (Dovedale 😔), but we adore Tissington.

I wonder how many people have explored the Chilterns? So beautiful and not touristy at all, I’ve found. Maybe because it is closer to London, people don’t think of visiting?