Traveling around the UK

The Shetland Isles are magic! Preferably go in the Spring/early summer when the seabirds have arrived and are nesting. There are great boat trips , you can experience the noise and smell of huge gannet colonies, and at the reserve on Sumburgh Head, get really close to the puffins, in the hundreds there.
You really need a car to get about the islands. You can hire cars at Sumburgh Airport. Driving to the northernmost isle of Unst , hopping from island to island on the little ferries is a great experience. You’ll need several overnights. There’s a good hotel at Sumburgh, a base for visiting the bird reserve and the archaeological ruins next the hotel. A stay on a croft is interesting, several do accommodation.
Really you should visit somewhere in Scotland, if not the Shetlands, there are the beautiful Hebrides, the Highlands of course, Glasgow and Edinburgh etc etc!
It’s one of the world’s great little countries and, no, I am not Scottish!

I think we are all talking to ourselves! No sign of the OP returning ....

Bristol to Newcastle flying is very easy too and cheaper than the train.

It may take some time to travel around to such an extent. Cornwall and Shetland are both beautiful, very different and could not be further apart. Northumberland is somewhat in the middle distance wise. If you are driving you could almost do a circular tour with deviations but may have to travel by plane or ferry from Aberdeen to Shetland.

Stonehenge for sure and come on summer solstice day,
and you can into into Stonehenge for free from 03:00am on that day.
Close by is west kennet long barrow, Avebury and silbury hill.

It's quite a journey from Norfolk (Elly Griffiths) to Shetland (Anne Cleeves), by way of Northumberland and maybe Edinburgh - if you've read any Ian Rankin. Between Norwich and the North, you could see some wonderful cathedrals - Norwich, Ely, Lincoln, York, Durham. And if you are tired of cathedrals, most of these places also have castles. If you really want to go to the Northern Isles, it would be best to fly to Shetland. Even though I'm Scottish born and bred, I've never been to those Islands and I so want to see the archaeological sites.

Yes, Norwich, very pretty. I am from there. I now live in Northumberland, which is just as pretty as North Norfolk, but has a LOT less tourists.

Lots of wonderful suggestions here for you Nanamar .

Some very pleasing posts here for someone born in Northumberland and living in Yorkshire!

Just remembered Haworth, Haworth Waterfall and Top Withens...all linked to the Brontes.

Go to Yorkshire. Not just York. Whitby with it's Dracula links. Robin Hoods Bay. Pickering with it's painted church, castle and North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Hull with it's maritime history and links to onward immigration from Europe to the USA. Whilst in Hull make sure to buy a pattie and chips. Hull patties are only made in this area. You won't find them anywhere else in the UK. Go down a coalmine at the National Coal Museum in near Wakefield. Visit Castle Howard, Harwood House, Burton Agnes and a host of other stately homes. Sorry I could wax lyrical about God's own county forever

Have you read any Colin Dexter, Inspector Morse novels Nanamar ? Oxford is a must visit place along with Windsor & Elton if you are interested in history

York is lovely, steeped in history and easy to get about. Likewise Bath which is very pretty with the advantage of the resurrected Roman baths, the beautiful architecture of the crescent and connections with Jane Austin.

I love the Brecon Beacons National Park with its story of the lady of the lake and numerous other myths and legends.

Then there's the rolling landscapes and golden buildings of the cotswolds with its attractive market towns.

Don't rule out the industry if you like history - Manchester has a great industrial museum, South Wales has The Big Pit left over from the days of coal and Macclesfield has a silk mill for example - we have miles of canals with interesting locks and lots of quirky things you would hardly believe.

There really is A LOT to see here. But beware, distances may seem short but travelling is much slower than America. My American friends did only half of what they had planned as they hadn't banked on wiggly single-track lanes and miles of road with no overtaking!

If you know what you're particularly interested in you should narrow it down a bit. If you have loads of time you could consider a trip to Southern Ireland which is an all time favourite of mine.

My last summer holiday (2019) I drove round Scotland by myself staying at Airbnbs. It was beautiful and except for Edinburgh (don’t go end July/August) the roads were clear. The views were breathtaking, so much so, that I turned the car round in some places, to re drive the route again. I drove for miles on little lanes, not seeing another car, thank goodness, as some roads had only room for single traffic with lay-bys every few hundred yards. I visited many castles and country houses as well as visiting some islands. I also went on a couple of enjoyable coach tours.

Cornwall definitely and add a trip to the Isles of Scilly. April to June or September and October are the best months.

I used to live in Derbyshire. The peak district and the dales are beautiful. Country houses (Chatsworth, Haddon and Hardwick) are well worth a visit.

Have you heard of Women Welcome Women World Wide?

www.womenwelcomewomen.uk/article/home.aspx

If you are going to be touring alone, it may be worth checking out to find companions and hosts along the way.

I’ve missed out Warwick and Stratford upon Avon, Shakespeare country.

Not Herbert but Hever castle in Sussex home of Ann Boleyn.

Looking at your likes in novels I’ll go with Ann Cleeves first. The ITV have done several series with Brenda Blethyn as Vera Stanhope. The tv programme is filmed in Newcastle upon Tyne and the north east of England. Northumberland has the most castles in one county in the UK. Alnwick (pronounced Anick) Castle is the seat of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland. The castle, the gardens and the town are good to visit. One of the Harry Potter films had some scenes filmed there. The town has a wonderful second hand bookshop based in the old railway station. Just up the coast is Lindisfarne where the gospels were written about 700 AD. It was the founding monastery of Christianity on the mainland of Britain. It was sacked by the vikings and the bones of St Cuthbert were moved to Durham cathedral. I currently live in this part of the UK. Lots to see and do with great restaurants, theatres, beautiful towns and villages.

I love Norfolk and Norwich is interesting to visit. I’ve never been to Walsingham but I’d love to spend more time exploring here. The Norfolk broads were once a huge area of salt marsh. These days you can take trips on the broads, visiting pubs etc. Although it is relatively close to London it’s rather unspoilt. Some of my ancestors come from Suffolk and I want to go back to see more.

Even though England is a small country each area has it’s own character. My personal favourite place is Brighton with the Royal Pavillion. It’s a vibrant city and close to historic places such as Hebert Castle, childhood home of Ann Boleyn, Henry V111 second wife. Sussex was my childhood home. Rye is a very pretty small town with cobbled streets and smugglers pubs. It used to be on the sea but is now inland!

The Lake District is quite distinct but can be very busy in July and August. The scenery is quite spectacular but more like Scotland in many ways. Cornwall too can be very busy in the summer too. The weather there tends to be warm and of course lots to see.

It really depends on what spikes your interest. Lots of historic houses etc. all over the British Isles. I’d love to go to the Shetlands but my choice to go there would be to the Viking festival held I think in February. You can buy a National Trust pass and/or an Historic England pass that will give you entrance to all their properties.

Bristol is a vibrant city in the south west of England. It’s wealth came from sugar, tobacco and the slave trade. They have the first iron steamship produced by Brunel in one of the harbour areas.

To be honest, the choice is endless. If you’re interested in the first iron built bridge in the world go to Ironbridge in Shropshire, lots to see there in terms of outdoor working museums. There are a number of these across the country: Ironbridge, Black Country, Beamish near Newcastle upon Tyne, Wealden Museum (Sussex) and I’m sure there are more.

Perhaps you could do some research about your particular interests and think about where your time would be best spent. It’s so difficult to advise but I’m sure others will have many other suggestions to offer.

Good luck with your travels. It sounds so exciting.

So many places. The Lakes, Cornwall, Yorkshire but I too was going to single out Northumberland. We visited a couple of years ago and it was marvellous. So many wonderful places to visit, including Lindisfarne.

How long have you got?

I was about to say Northumberland, incredibly beautiful. But I am a bit biased.

Ann Cleeves will certainly take you to Vera country, Northumberland - a county rich in history and beautiful places. Then you could come down through Yorkshire - another beautiful county full of contrasts - well I would say that wouldn’t I? Wherever you go, be assured you will be welcomed!

Are you driving or do you want to go on an escorted coach tour? Or even a cruise around the British Isles or by rail. Do you prefer cities or scenery?

www.vjv.com/europe-tours/united-kingdom/?infinity=ict2~net~gaw~ar~454392194526~kw~%2Bbritain%20%2Btours~mt~b~cmp~UK+TOURS+-+BMM~ag~Britain&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6b_N8-qr7wIViJ7tCh0n4gZiEAAYAiAAEgI7z_D_BwE
www.cunard.com/en-gb/cruise-types/scenic-cruises?otprrf=https_www.google.com%2F

I'm sure there are crime book and mystery tours too eg
www.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/ann-cleeves

I don’t live in the uk,either and I would say to choose your time when you go carefully. Avoid British school holidays because the roads are clogged badly. We went to the Lake District in early October in 2019 and it was magic with Autumn colours etc and not too many tourists. There is so much to see and so surprising the contrasts between ugly sprawling towns and stunning little villages just a few miles apart. I could tell you where to avoid but I wouldn’t dare !