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?

I didn’t love Kilve beach but I did love the walk down to the sea from our cottage . I think it was called Sea lane , had peacocks roaming and was quite magical.

@NellieJean , the feeling of resentment about tourism from local people that you sometimes feel in Wales and Cornwall.
I believe it is because they tend to rent an 'airbnb' and turn up with their car full of food and drink, and don't spend much when they get there.
If you live somewhere where a quarter or more of the housing stock is holiday lets - dwellings that would otherwise be family homes - you'd feel resentful.
Because the homes are not permanently occupied, the village pub closes, the village shop closes, the village school closes, the chapel closes. It damages the community.

Tourists can be rude. Imagine you were talking to your friend/relative/colleague in your normal daily language and someone was making disparaging remarks about it. Not all of them are rude but many are.

I don't mind tourists as long as they behave respectfully and support the economy. The tourist areas can be bleak in the winter.

Not the Cotswolds but could win its own category

dont get this...

Ithink this is a real discussion point and honestly do think Cornwall tourist board should do a "Polite Tourism" campaign. It would alleviate many frustrations locals feel i imagine

Piecehall’s username gave it away, so I hope to visit and report back from somewhere in W Yorks that isn’t too busy:
https://www.thepiecehall.co.uk/#

NB Very happy to add other bits of W Yorks (nearish Leeds) to my list of interesting buildings/stately homes/not too far hikes/quirky pubs. We will have a car, but can quite easily bung suggestions on a bucket list.

Never having lived north of the M4 (except holidays), I like seeing industrial stuff.

Popping back to Cotswolds issues to suggest that I rather like Malmesbury and Bradford on Avon (Cotswold map reckons the Wold gets down that far).

The Piece Hall is wonderful, as the world’s only surviving medieval cloth hall. The outdoor gigs are amazing. If you’re coming this way, I would urge you to visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum and all of the associated Brontë landmarks in Haworth and environs, plus the Brontë birthplace museum in Thornton. If you like industrial stuff, there is an industrial museum in Halifax. Bradford city centre is also interesting with dozens of grade 1 listed building. The Waterstones bookshop there is probably one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world (check out pictures).

Hardcastle Crags near Hebden Bridge.

Isle of Wight.

If you're going to Ripon Newby Hall is great, some of the most beautiful gardens in Yorkshire. And Fountains Abbey/Studley Royal is a World Heritage site and free for both NT and EH members. Or if you want something a bit less manicured Brimham Roocks is great - bring a picnic. Closer to Leeds Knaresborough is worth a visit - go to Mother Skipton's Cave and row a boat on the river or Harrogate is beautiful, go to the Turkish baths, Betty's Tearooms and RHS Harlow Carr. And finally, for a very historic stately home just north of Leeds go to Harewood House.

And Weardale! How could I forget Weardale!

The FOD is much nicer than the Cotswolds, my granny is from there and my uncle is only a distant cousin of his wife 🤣🤣

Sshhhh. Stop telling people how lovely County Durham is, nobody knows and it's great. Where else could you go somewhere as beautiful as e.g. Finchale Priory and for there to only be a few locals there?

I love the Scottish Borders - we had a fabulous time there last winter, also staying one night near Kielder Forest, which was beautiful. Quiet, unspoilt, amazing scenery.

We've just spent a week in Dorset and it was amazing!

Another vote here for Northumberland too. I have a real soft spot for it.