Recommend me a destination for a walking weekend

[dairymoo]

Can anyone help me narrow down some locations for a 2 night break with my lovely SIL in October?

Ideally, we’d like:

• No more than 3.5 hours from S London
• Nice hotel or B&B - but open to quirky suggestions too (treehouse, Shepherds Hut, etc)
• Easy access to good, long walks (we’ll have a car)
• Delicious food nearby - preferably within walking distance

I’ve considered Cotswolds, Brecon Beacons and possibly Peak District (albeit a bit far) but I would love some specific recommendations for where to base ourselves.

Killingworth Castle in the Cotswolds has lovely walks. Probably enough for 2 days www.thekillingworthcastle.com/local-walks

Come south to the South Downs. You can walk any bit you like as it goes from Winchester to Beachy Head.

Norfolk. Sheringham is nice.
https://www.norfolk-norwich.com/norfolk/towns/sheringham.php

Gower peninsula is absolutely beautiful and well worth a visit.

This comes highly recommended with walks around The Roaches

https://www.3shoesinn.co.uk

I second south downs. Been there many, many, many years ago!
Same for Dungeness... used to go there a lot while living in London. Not sure if it is still wird & eerie landscape.

Or Buxton Peak District, we just stayed in a little cottage and drove to hiking destinations. Had the dogs with us, so got some pre prep food from home one night and a lovely Turkish takeaway the other.

Also you can walk miles on Island especially around the coast.. Plenty of quirky there too. Get off the Cat walk round to Bembridge, Stay in a Yurt in Bembridge Harbour and the Island isn't short of hotels with sea views.

New Forest.

Whistable - nice little town to base yourself, and then you can do lots of coastal walks.

South Shropshire every time.

Make your base in Canterbury or Whitstable and walk sections of the North Downs Way. You would be following some of the ancient trackways that formed part of the pilgrimage route from Rochester to Canterbury. Pretty medieval villages, lovely views across an area of outstanding natural beauty, and both Canterbury and Whitstable have some nice restaurants.

Ludlow area.

Right on the edge of 3.5 hours but head to the Brecon Beacons, totally agree with your thoughts on that. Train from Paddington to Abergavenny takes about 2hrs 20 mins. Taxi to Crickhowell and stay at The Bear or The Dragon. Absolutely loads of great walks straight out from there including Table Mountain. If you’re driving it’s a tiny bit of a longer journey but you can drive to Sugar Loaf, Keepers Pond and more. It’s bloody marvellous.

Isle of Wight! Lots of great walks, a variety of places to stay, from yurts to houseboats to treehouses and within three hours of London.

Peak District! Buxton is perfect though a bit far, depending on your budget I do love the crescent hotel

Love the look of Killingworth Castle! That could work well.

And the recommendations for Brecon Beacons. Although the train would be easy, I think it'd be nice having a car.

I'm now thinking the Peak District is a little far and we've done South Downs & Shropshire before. Great idea though!

Isle of Wight could be a good shout...love the idea of a treehouse or houseboat! Any good recommendations for accommodation or fun places to eat?

Some things are best kept quiet or we might not be able to get in next time!

Another vote for the Shropshire Hills (a National Landscape (what was called an AONB)) and one of the less visited ones. Walk elements of the Shropshire Way or Offa's Dyke, Jack Mytton Way, Kerry Ridgeway, the Stiperstones, etc. There's also a good path that runs along the route of the Heart of Wales Railway line - so you can walk one way and ride the (infrequent) train the other.

Having a car makes it all accessible.

Woburn? The village is really nice with lovely hotels and restaurants, and nearby for walking you have the Dunstable Downs, Sharpenhoe Clappers, the Greensand Ridge Walk, Rushmere Country Park, the Forest of Marston Vale, Ampthill Park (famous for that treasure hunt book called Masquerade - the treasure was found there), and loads of other places.

Bedfordshire is a bit of a forgotten county.

The are miles of really well maintained and signposted footpaths in coastal Suffolk. I would recommend Westleton and Dunwich area for pubs, interesting food and fab walks.

Shropshire is a hidden gem
Some ideas here
https://www.donthibernate.co.uk/shropshire-autumn-weekend/

North Wales is fantastic loads to see and do but a bit too far to travel

Dartmoor - stay in Chagford