The best ways to explore the English countryside

The Best Ways to Explore the English countryside

The English countryside is very varied. This is somewhat of a generalistation, but in the north you will find rougher moorland and hills, while the south is known for rolling landscapes and green pastures. There is plenty to see in England beyond the cities. You can spend days walking or cycling through these areas, exploring small villages and market towns along the way.

Which option suits you best depends on how much time you have, how active you want to be and which part of England you would like to explore.

Walk one of the well known long-distance routes

Walking is one of the easiest ways to really experience the landscape.

Well-known routes such as the South Downs Way, the Cotswold Way and the Coast to Coast take you through some beautiful parts of the country. Along the way, you will pass villages, farmland, woodland and open hills. One advantage of these routes is that they are already clearly marked.

With a varity of accomodation options, there are plenty of places to stay along many sections, which makes it fairly easy to plan a trip over several days. You do not have to walk the whole route straight away. Starting with a two or three-day section is a good way to see whether this type of trip suits you.

Discover England by bike

Would you like to cover a bit more distance while still staying close to the landscape?

In that case, a cycling holiday could be a good choice. There are many routes organised by Cycling holidays uk. You can choose quieter routes through rural areas or longer journeys between villages and market towns.

Parts of the UK National Cycle Network also run through fairly peaceful parts of the country. One of the nice things about cycling is that you can visit several places in one day while still having the freedom to stop whenever you feel like it. On some multi-day cycling trips, luggage transfer is available as well. That means you do not have to carry everything with you and can travel a little more comfortably.

See the countryside from the water

England also has a large network of canals and rivers. Travelling by narrowboat is very popular and gives you a completely different way to see the countryside.

Routes along the Oxford Canal or the Kennet and Avon Canal, for example, pass through rural areas and smaller towns. Narrowboats travel at a slow pace, so you get much more time to take in the surroundings than you would from a car. Along the way, you will also come across locks and old bridges that are reminders of how these waterways were once used.

You can hire a narrowboat at many locations or just take a day trip on one. 

Stay overnight in the countryside

If you want to spend more time close to the landscape, you could also stay overnight somewhere rural.

Wild camping in England is restricted, and in many places you need permission from the landowner. Because of that, a small campsite or a designated place for walkers and cyclists is often the easier option. Spending a night outdoors can make you experience an area in a completely different way. There are many options for unique nights in the countryside glamping, from yurts and safari tents to shepherds hut or just a nice hotel.

Prepare before you set off

The English countryside can look quite gentle, but the weather can change quickly. The Brits are well know for talking about the weather a lot!

This is especially true in hilly areas and on exposed moorland such as Dartmoor, the Yorkshire Moors and the Lake District. Do not take a walk in these areas without some preparations or a local guide.

Check the weather shortly before you leave and make sure you know where you are going.  An offline map or a paper map can be useful alongside your phone. It is also better not to plan everything too tightly. Sometimes an extra break or a slower day simply makes the trip more enjoyable.

Conclusion

Exploring the English countryside is a fantastic addition to a trip to the UK and really worth the effort. With miles of beautiful coastline and a well marked countryside footpath system, there really are lots of beautful places to discover. Add in unique county pubs, historic towns and a vast range of accomodation styles there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

Photo by Illiya Vjestica on Unsplash 
English Countryside village Jordan Coleman Pexels from Canva Pro.
This is a collaborative post.