Somewhere with amazing scenery?

[Custardpudding]

me and dh went to Scotland last year and really loved it. We walked every day and enjoyed the scenery and peace. We were very rural and saw barely anyone. Perfect! It really did us good. But it was a long drive! The dog wasn’t impressed!
can anyone please recommend anywhere ‘like Scotland’ but not so far? I want some wow scenery to walk, not many shops really or too touristy or towny. I just love views. Peaks? Lakes? Yorkshire? I don’t mind a beach, not bothered either way, but I like hills and views mostly! Interested in your recommendations please…
plan B would be Scotland again.
thank you

If you're midlands pop over to the Elan Valley in Wales it is stunning then go north to Snowdonia or south to the valleys!

This. I was driving to Anglesey last summer and was blown away by the scenery heading towards the Menai Bridge.

Northumberland, Western or Northern Lakes.

Brecon Beacons are beautiful. I drive through them everyday so I’m slightly biased 😊

Another vote here for the Peak District

Exactly.

I know you have clarified since OP but for some of us Scotland isn't that far.......

Honestly for the sake of a couple more hours drive I’d recommend Scotland over the Lakes. And I love the Lakes but God it’s busy. I went to Loch Lomond area last year in August after decades of going to the Lakes. I could walk all day and not see anyone where the previous year in the Lakes I was queuing for cafes, etc. I thought it was well worth the extra miles. How about Dumfries area, not too far into Scotland?

North Lakes,
Snowdonia with the Lynn Peninsula

Came on to say Glencoe until I read your post.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D0FRju0iS4Q

Northumberland - not just the coast but also the borders and Hadrians Wall. Stunning.

Another vote for Northumberland.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tacdn.com%2Fmedia%2Fattractions-splice-spp-674x446%2F0b%2F39%2F7c%2Ff5.jpg&tbnid=YUFfqI4Bhns3kM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Fen-GB%2FLake-District-attractions%2FWastwater-Lake%2Foverview%2Fd822-a18272&docid=hvkVn4CfRMtWMM&w=669&h=446&hl=en-gb&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim%2Fm4%2F3

Peak District. Mam Tor 👍

Thank you for all these, I’ve been working all week so no time to look, am going to plough through your ideas this weekend. We drove through glencoe last year and it was jaw dropping! If we did take ( and probably have to sedate) the dog to Scotland again where would you recommend… we did middle of Loch Ness and Skye last time… stunning views and deserted walks, hence trying to capture that … but not so far.

Around Dolgellau. Forests, beaches, mountains

Peak District, but then we can see Kinder from our house so I'm biased. I'd give Matlock Bath a swerve though. If you want space and fewer other people then Northumbria has beautiful beaches, forests and countryside. The Lakes are far more touristy.

I love Northumberland too but have you considered the south west of Scotland? Not as majestic as the highlands and Skye but it's on our list for a holiday.

www.visitscotland.com/inspiration/south-scotland-itinerary

Yorkshire Dales are stunning and far less touristy than the Lake District.

I would recommend the less touristy side of the Lakes - Wastwater, Ennerdale, Crummock and Loweswater. Some lovely villages. Close enough to the touristy spot of Keswick which is lovely. But amazing walks without the tourist business.

There aren’t many hills but the North Norfolk scenery is stunning. Its perfect for walking

Eden Valley in Cumbria. Like the Lakes but without the traffic and zillions of tourists.

North Wales is gorgeous and very easy for you. It has more tourists per mile than Scotland but far fewer than the Lake District which is absolutely crammed. The Llyn Peninsula or the Brecon Beacons might be the quietest, but actually there's lots of quieter places in North Wales if you just want to walk and don't do the tourist attractions.

Northumberland is a good compromise between Scotland and Wales if your priority is empty space. Fewer mountains but the beaches are amazing.

I third the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales. We did a week and could easily have done a fortnight. Glorious beaches and great walks.

I'd agree with the Durham/weardale area. I stayed there 2 years ago. I was brought up in Newcastle yet hadn't been there! Scenery was fantastic and loads of wonderful wee villages.