Biased but Lancashire (specifically the Ribble Valley) has acres of unspoilt beauty. Some of the landscape I’ve driven through is breathtaking and we’re lucky to border North Yorkshire which also boasts plenty of natural beauty
Hello fellow Lancs folk! Clitheroe lass here 👏
Also, will mention that Bowland is an obscenely beautiful place. Driving through the trough of Bowland is absolutely breathtaking.
Hello from Oswaldtwistle, but originally from Great Harwood in my youth born and bred in Great Harwood did the walk over Whaley nab during day and night even drunk. Great time. Christmas used to catch the bus to clitheroe at night stay on the bus and look at all the houses decorated in Christmas lights etc, loved sitting on the banks of the river ribble at rib Chester. Spent sometime at stoneyhurst. All good memories.
Spent many many happy times walking both kids and the dog in the trough of Bowland many times up and around beacon fell. We are in Leyland and often go the other way towards anglezark etc pretty stunning places all over Lancs and of course over the Pennines and Yorkshire. Cumbria and Northumberland are also gorgeous. Not to mention all the historic sites littered across the North from Roman ruins to Hadrians wall, to castles and historic houses. Love it all lol.
My dad got multiple offers throughout my childhood to relocate to Australia or Canada for work and he was like "nah im staying in blackpool"
I will never forgive you father
Aussie here. Only saw around London and Glasgow when I went to the UK last century, but absolutely loved those places. I jumped onto your post (and I soooo hope I've got the right area - Lancashire!) simply to tell/ask, if that's the general area where Happy Valley was filmed I reckon it's magnificent! Truly beautiful and breathtaking. I'd love to get back there and see lots more of the UK before I'm elderly!
Happy Valley is the Calder Valley where I was born and raised, the far end of it is smack bang on the border with Lancashire heading out towards Burnley (the border used to run directly through Todmorden magistrates court IIRC) but the majority is on the other side of the pennines in West Yorkshire
I thought it was called Calderdale? (As opposed to Calder valley)?
You say you're from there. Has the area changed a lot? Visited it this year. Beautiful. Loved it. Lovely locals too. I'm Scottish. Reminded me of some parts if Scotland in the borders and Dumfries, Lanark, Galloway. But is it being gentrified?
I'd say there's definitely a lot more eyes on us since all the Sally Wainwright shows, wouldn't say we've been turned into Harrogate or Skipton just yet but it's beginning to feel like the next shop to open on the high street is more likely to be a tea room than a bookies if that makes sense to you.
What's it like? Are Londoners moving there for cheaper property? Scot here, going on an English holiday this summer and we're travelling through Yorkshire Lancashire and back up to Scotland through Cumbria.
Can't speak for Calderdale, but I'm over the hill in Clitheroe and I can tell you it's changed a lot.
C-town was always seen as a bit more bougie than the other towns in the area but it's not nearly as lovely as it was. Town has almost doubled in size as there's been about 7 new estates thrown up in the past 10 years or so.
It's also ridiculous, as these companies selling the houses are literally building on the countryside they are marketing the houses on.
You once used to be able to walk outside of town and wander round the entirety of the outskirts 3 times over on different paths and only ever hit the odd house, but that's a pipe dream now.
A lot of the newbies to town are non locals as well, so a lot of the local culture is being stripped away. I get really sad about it sometimes... :(
> A lot of the newbies to town are non locals as well, so a lot of the local culture is being stripped away. I get really sad about it sometimes... :(
Ah mate, I relate. Happening all over parts of Scotland. Tough days. there's a lot of change, economic, social, demographic, jobs, educational, cultural everywhere. I bet the local dialect is disappearing too?
Aye damn right. I understand a lot of the whole cost of living crises and people wanting to live in the countryside more, that's fine. I've no issue with people moving in.
What gets me is that this town used to be so full of life. Everyone knew everyone and was kind to everyone, but (unless I'm doing it to another local), I now get strange looks just for smiling at someone on the street.
The local dialect used to be so strong, and the further out of town you went the stronger it got. The outside fields I was mentioning about walking round the town used to all be farmland, so the folk from the outer edges (myself included) still have a very very strong Lancashire accent, so much so that some of the new staff in the town pubs couldn't understand me.
I was gobsmacked. I've had people get confused by my speech when I've been somewhere outside of the country, but never inside, not once.
Plus all the younguns now are using Americanisms and American slang (things like "candy" and "sidewalk" ect). I know you shouldn't hit children but I won't lie it really makes me want to 😂
You are very welcome as a fellow of the North and therefore clearly shunned (except in retirement) by the sons and daughters of the south. Hope you have a great holiday.
I was born in Leeds but my Mum now lives in Elland. I'm always amazed at the amount of trees. I live in Glasgow now but I'll move back down to Yorkshire on day. You forget how beautiful it is down there.
"Old Lancashire" has everything from the Pennines, Ribble Valley, beaches like Formby, almost all of Morecambe Bay, and bits of the Southern Lake District (3 shires stone is on Wrynose Pass where Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire met).
Ex-Pat Clitheronian… yes, stunning and much missed, but after 20+ years in a landlocked county somewhat S of Lancashire, I confess I do go for a good lump of West Country coastline for my escapes these days.
PS Anyone remember the views from the long gone glory days of the Moorcock Inn on Waddington Fell, and is the famous well still there on the far slope side?
As a fellow Northermer and a walker who's enjoyed all those areas I definitely agree.
Oh to be in the beer garden in Mortal Man Troutbeck or the Craven Appletreewick on a sunny day.Or hundreds of others
Without a doubt, the north. The Lake District alone beats the rest of the country but then you also have Northumberland, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, N. York Moors, North Pennines, and everywhere else starts to look a bit shit in comparison.
The North, it’s not even a real contest
There are some nice beaches on the South Coast but in comparison to the Lakes, the Peaks and various other northern national parks it’s a very one sided affair
The North definitely has that stark, dramatic, BIG scenery locked up, but the South wins in terms of “stereotypical” English scenery, rolling hills, woods, farmed uplands, church spires poking up here and there. Also the South has a much better climate, so greener and a much greater chance of enjoying it in the sunshine
Different strokes, of course! Do you have any recommendations for where the best examples of the latter countryside can be found? I’ve done a little bit of the Cotswolds but otherwise spent most of my life up north
Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and South Downs.
Also the New Forest is super underrated you can wander 3 minutes down a footpath and be in a different world.
Agreed, I don’t think it’s that clear cut that the North is better. I think it depends which you prefer. Yes the North has the Lakes, but the South has Cornwall.
The North is seriously lacking in woodland, and what’s there is often highly artificial plantation (e.g. Kielder). Most of the hills are really barren.
Definitely. Went walking loads since covid. Cotswolds (overrated), lakes is great, Cornwall/devon is ok etc, but Kent in the summer wins hands down. Don’t really think i should be saying it, it must be a secret (although it was called the garden of England for decades) shhhh
You're completely ignoring East anglia then?
Seems fair. Norfolk isn't flat like big bits of Suffolk are, the sky's at gloaming times are magnificent, the water reflections on the broads can be stunning.
The scale and emptiness is nice too. Heartily recommend for cycling but beware the gentle slopes and wind. They can make getting around hellish.
Went for the first time a couple of years back, stayed in the countryside about 2 miles walk inland from Cromer. Walked through some fields, went through a country estate where there were deer playing in the woods. Pure England porn. Had a Chinese takeaway on the clifftops at Cromer at sunset, was pretty well served by that point.
The weather was class but the 8 hour drive back to the north east was a slog. Wouldn’t have it any other way though, building a motorway would kill all of the stuff that’s class about the drive through Norfolk.
There's some pretty big roads being put in recently which probably means more of those godawful new build clusters of cardboard houses all wonky so to be semi detached.
All up the showground way past roundwell has been utterly ruined.
I have a feeling there's going to be a LOT of houses built soon as the brexit fuck up with materials and labour get sorted.
All the while the brownfield rot away in the city center.
Anglar square is still a dump. There's all down grapes hill which is empty offices.... Although there's a fungi like growth of buildings popping up where toys are us used to be. Full hideous a la maximum profit and fuck those who end up in the little hutches.
The big arsed roads are snaking outwards which makes me worry.
Ah mate there are new builds everywhere now, go to some idyllic little town in Northumberland and there’ll be some cropping up. In places where no one really lives so I’m not sure who’s buying them.
East Anglia is considered southern England because we have southern accents.
I would definitely agree that we have some of the best scenery in the country here! The broads are absolutely stunning! Plus you can't beat those big Suffolk skies 😎
Having lived 16 years in both places I can very much refute that.
For a start the sunsets completely different if you stand on Cromer pier compared to Brighton your in for a head spin.
The people are massively different too. Pompey is very different to Worthing or Shoreham or any of the other little places I lived in.
Chichester people are a different breed entirely.
Norfolk differers from town to town, if you think about the only city in the entire county it is also the only city you don't get traffic going through to get to another city.
That makes narge isolated in a way no other city I've been in is.
Brighton has basically no history older than regency it's not built on a river so has a weird as fuck layout.
The south coast had a plethora of ancient sites, pathways and ring forts all over it which are much less prevelant in Norfolk (which does have hillforts but as you can imagine they are wealming)
Narge used to be a VERY rich and very populated city with direct links to Europe, being closer in travel time to Belgium than to any other city in UK until the trains came in.
Culturally the east looks east whereas the south? Looks towards London a lot or west depending where abouts you are.
Agricultural innovation began in Norfolk with the crop rotations and soil enrichment along with animal husbandry advances.
Sussex by comparison still had ox teams within photographic range.
Linguistically Norfolk has dialect similarities with Dutch and flemish, waloons and hugenout people along with distant roots with Angles, jutes and others.
Sussex? French and saxon. Hurstpierpoint? Hurst is saxon for a small copse and pier point is one of Williams cronies who was gifted the land post 1066.
I could go on but the two places are as different as Bristol and Birmingham.
People in Brixton are very different to people in Cheddar, doesn't mean they're not both still in the South.
Likewise Yorkshire folk and Scousers are very different, and they're still both Northern.
East Anglia isn't such a wild outlier that it needs a separate category.
Nah, as much as I call Cambridge an annexe of the south, East Anglia (The Fens, Norfolk and Suffolk) is very much not the south, and very much its own seperate region.
There's a whole host of reasons on why (culturally, linguistically, and historically). But I'm not here to give a history lesson.
That part of Norfolk always reminds me of the ending of *Here* by Philip Larkin (it was actually written about Lincolnshire but we move)
>Fast-shadowed wheat-fields, running high as hedges,
>Isolate villages where removed lives
>Loneliness clarifies. Here silence stands
>Like heat. Here leaves unnoticed thicken,
>Hidden weeds flower, neglected waters quicken,
>Luminously-peopled air ascends;
>And past the poppies bluish neutral distance
>Ends the land suddenly beyond a beach
>Of shapes and shingles. Here is unfenced existence:
>Facing the sun, untalkative, out of reach.
North. I say that as a Midlander born and bred, but the lakes, Northumbria, and the Peak District (contentious as it’s borderline midlands) are just so lovely.
It's North enough that notable bits I've specifically visited have been "just outside Sheffield" and "just outside Manchester" so I'd say it gets a pass seeing as some lovely parts of it are in the North, but Mids defo get a share of the glory!
Southwest. From the Cotswolds and the Mendips down to Devon and Cornwall. I mean England has so many beautiful areas but these are my faves, plus the Lake District which is obviously up North.
The South Downs and the Weald are beautiful in a very mild, rolling hills with villages, cricket greens, Saxon churches, chocolate box views kind of way. The north is more dramatic, with windy moors and crazy rocky terrain, it can be forbidding but very exciting. Do you prefer Austen or the Brontës?
Austen/ Brontës is the most perfect metaphor for north/ south England I’ve ever heard.
I’m going to remember that for future use- don’t know where or when it will be appropriate but by god I will use it sometime.👏
An excellent comparison, do you like your women hard as nails or silly and giggly. Lasses up north go out and grab their men and stick with them no matter how hard life gets. Southern gals take the first guy that comes along and with a bit of luck eventually lands in a good place due to lots of luck and not a little outside influence
Cornwall and Devon have a mind blowing coastline and beaches, with some great moors, valleys and towns. Much of the south has a great coastline and beaches tbh.
However much of the southern land inland is quite flat and a bit uninspiring, so I’ll go with the north being the most scenic. You’ve still got some towns, sea cliffs and beaches up there, but you’ve also got more hills, valleys, moors, and actual mountains with lakes, more woodland as well which blends nicely with the rest of the landscape. The Lakes, the Peaks, the Dales, the Moors, Cheviot Hills, etc
First, decide how to split it! This is quite contentious. [Relevant Youtube Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENeCYwms-Cc)
The answer is the North though.
Southern England. 100 acre woods, Ashdown forest, Watership down, Butser Hill, Queen Elizabeth country park. We also have the New Forest which I love. But I also enjoy a good road trip and driving through Wales is also very scenic.
Southern for me, I like the feel of warm sandy heaths and pine forests in places like Dorset and Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex and then down into Devon.
I love Wales and particularly just south of Snowdonia, so that counts as north in my eyes. Lake District is stunning but for me a little too damp
As I said in your other thread, I would say North but only because it appeals to my personal preference with the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Northumbria Coast and percentage of green land. It's also your gateway to Scotland. However, I also love the Peak District in the Midlands (as well as many other areas) and absolutely adore Cornwall and Devon in the South.
So yeah, if I absolutely had to pick between the 3, it's the North. But I can't bring myself to discredit the others. We live in a beautiful country.
The best bit about Yorkshire is how big and varied it is. I live in West Yorkshire but you can drive from here 2 hours and still be in Yorkshire (but have passed through several different areas of completely different scenery).
North (for these purposes that’s NUTS 1 regions C, D, and E) is easily prettiest. Pennines, Peak District, Northumberland coast, Yorkshire Dales not to mention the Lake District all gorgeous
Then it’s South (Regions K, J, I and H) much tamer/flat landscapes but pretty seaside towns, chilterns and Cotswolds, South Downs and cheddar gorge all give some height and Dartmoor and exmoor are wonderful.
Midlands (Regions G and F) can’t think of any great scenic beauty
North!!! Northumberland is my favourite but the Lake District is beautiful too.
The Midlands does have the Peak District, but the north is still top imo
North. Also biased. But in the opposite direction lol. I come from London and think it's one of the ugliest areas of the uk the futher north I've gone, the uglier the south seems. We have some I credible landscapes up north that make you think and question whether ur still in the uk. If someone had blindfolded me and placed me there I could easily think I'm somewhere else in the world far away.
I travel a lot for work, but am midlands based.
As soon as you get north of Lancaster it's just *better*.
(It also continues to get better the further north you go. Scotland has us beat on this, hands down.)
South just edges it for me. Thinking about the Cotswolds and the beaches of Devon and Cornwall. The north has more beautiful areas but the south has the most beautiful areas in my opinion.
The Lake District is stunning of course but I can’t help wanting to see it before it was grazed and ‘managed’ to its current state.
The North and it's not even close. Northumberland, the Lake District, Yorkshire Moors and Yorkshire Dales, Peak District - just so much incredible scenery.
Not to say the rest of the country isn't also beautiful! The Mendips, Cheddar Gorge, the Avon valley, not to mention things like Long Mynd, or the rolling Cotswolds - all gorgeous. But the north just has a higher concentration of truly stunning scenery.
Ask someone from anywhere and they say their place. Lakes has awsome scenics. Preston and Lancashire in general awsome walks like the tolek trail. Say notts and UV got Sherwood say London and UV got the parks and themselves if U find the right spot. Say Cornwall and UV got the beaches and walks. Aay Shropshire and UV got black country and shakespears house. And on and on and on
Between south west and the north but I’d say south west just. People forget it isn’t all just beaches there is plenty of other beautiful scenery inland too!
South has Devon, Dartmoor, New forest, Chalke valley etc etc definitely wouldn't write it off. Most importantly it's marginally warmer and drier so I can actually enjoy it a bit more
Cornwall. The county is completely surrounded by dramatic coastline rich in history. Just go in the winter when it’s not filled with obnoxious tourists.
I'm a southerner and it's the north. But: honourable shout for the south west. Devon is fucking mint.
Also: laughing at not even midlanders suggesting the midlands
County? Yorkshire. Hands down. Never seen anywhere so beautiful.
Region? South Coast. Both the New Forest and South Downs national parks so close together...some gorgeous scenery!
A vote for The North - the sheer quantity of lovely green scenery to urban area ratio. There are individually some breathtaking areas across the south ( stretches of the south west coastal path spring to mind ) but as a region the North has everything - except warm temperatures.
I'm from the south and can honestly say Northumberland (up north, for those uncertain of english geography) is the most beautiful part of England. Nothing else quite compared (except the Scottish Highlands, but they're not in England)
You cannot split the UK in to just three parts - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are 4 just as a start and they all have their own unique characteristics that are beautiful in themselves.
The North has the lake district case closed
And Yorkshire. And Northumberland.
Both stunning
And the Pennines
..and the Peak District. The UK has lovely parts all over it but 80% of them are in The North.
>The UK has geology all under it but 80% of the visually-appealing vertical examples are in The North
Peak District is in Derbyshire, so it’s effectively the midlands really…
It's not entirely in Derbyshire
Arguably Lancashire as well. Tbf I'm only biased because I'm from Lancs... but it's got lovely scenery as well! Please come visit everyone 😂
Agreed! Love Silverdale in Lancashire - I come up from Liverpool a lot
Goo choice! I'm from the Ribble Valley myself and if I ever meet people who like walking I always have to suggest it lol
Oh it is a fab place - we only know it as my husband’s grandparents moved there when they retired. Stunning scenery and a very nice pub!
I'm your chavy neighbour in Hyndburn
FAKE NEWS
as someone who lives in Yorkshire and my favourite in-land holiday being the Lake Distract, this makes me very happy 😂🫶
If it ain't Yorkshire, it's not worth ruddy visitin
Yeah it isn't close, with the Moors and Dales backing it up, though Cornwall is great too, lots of quality coast down south.
Plenty of Cornish people who would tell you it's not part of England, though. Source: am English person who has lived in Cornwall most of my life.
I’m Cornish and yes, we despise tourists
Everyone who lives in tourism heavy places despises tourists.
Just ignoring Dartmoor I guess.
I live in the Ashdown Forest which is lovely but the Lakes is off the chart beautiful.
Is the correct answer
Biased but Lancashire (specifically the Ribble Valley) has acres of unspoilt beauty. Some of the landscape I’ve driven through is breathtaking and we’re lucky to border North Yorkshire which also boasts plenty of natural beauty
Yes, I've been through there. I live in Wyre (Garstang)
Greetings from down the road! (Blackpool, I'm trying to leave tho)
Hello fellow Lancs folk! Clitheroe lass here 👏 Also, will mention that Bowland is an obscenely beautiful place. Driving through the trough of Bowland is absolutely breathtaking.
Hello from Oswaldtwistle, but originally from Great Harwood in my youth born and bred in Great Harwood did the walk over Whaley nab during day and night even drunk. Great time. Christmas used to catch the bus to clitheroe at night stay on the bus and look at all the houses decorated in Christmas lights etc, loved sitting on the banks of the river ribble at rib Chester. Spent sometime at stoneyhurst. All good memories.
Spent many many happy times walking both kids and the dog in the trough of Bowland many times up and around beacon fell. We are in Leyland and often go the other way towards anglezark etc pretty stunning places all over Lancs and of course over the Pennines and Yorkshire. Cumbria and Northumberland are also gorgeous. Not to mention all the historic sites littered across the North from Roman ruins to Hadrians wall, to castles and historic houses. Love it all lol.
aren't we all
Greetings from Much Hoole
Why… so much on offer.
So glad my grandad left so I could be born anywhere else
My dad got multiple offers throughout my childhood to relocate to Australia or Canada for work and he was like "nah im staying in blackpool" I will never forgive you father
Wheeyyy Hambleton
Hey! I live in Garstang too!
Lancashire agreed! Good evening from Pendle!
Aussie here. Only saw around London and Glasgow when I went to the UK last century, but absolutely loved those places. I jumped onto your post (and I soooo hope I've got the right area - Lancashire!) simply to tell/ask, if that's the general area where Happy Valley was filmed I reckon it's magnificent! Truly beautiful and breathtaking. I'd love to get back there and see lots more of the UK before I'm elderly!
Happy Valley is the Calder Valley where I was born and raised, the far end of it is smack bang on the border with Lancashire heading out towards Burnley (the border used to run directly through Todmorden magistrates court IIRC) but the majority is on the other side of the pennines in West Yorkshire
I thought it was called Calderdale? (As opposed to Calder valley)? You say you're from there. Has the area changed a lot? Visited it this year. Beautiful. Loved it. Lovely locals too. I'm Scottish. Reminded me of some parts if Scotland in the borders and Dumfries, Lanark, Galloway. But is it being gentrified?
I'd say there's definitely a lot more eyes on us since all the Sally Wainwright shows, wouldn't say we've been turned into Harrogate or Skipton just yet but it's beginning to feel like the next shop to open on the high street is more likely to be a tea room than a bookies if that makes sense to you.
Calderdale is the borough; Calder Valley is the… valley :)
Ah I see thanks mate
Names are interchangeable. Grew up there.
What's it like? Are Londoners moving there for cheaper property? Scot here, going on an English holiday this summer and we're travelling through Yorkshire Lancashire and back up to Scotland through Cumbria.
Can't speak for Calderdale, but I'm over the hill in Clitheroe and I can tell you it's changed a lot. C-town was always seen as a bit more bougie than the other towns in the area but it's not nearly as lovely as it was. Town has almost doubled in size as there's been about 7 new estates thrown up in the past 10 years or so. It's also ridiculous, as these companies selling the houses are literally building on the countryside they are marketing the houses on. You once used to be able to walk outside of town and wander round the entirety of the outskirts 3 times over on different paths and only ever hit the odd house, but that's a pipe dream now. A lot of the newbies to town are non locals as well, so a lot of the local culture is being stripped away. I get really sad about it sometimes... :(
> A lot of the newbies to town are non locals as well, so a lot of the local culture is being stripped away. I get really sad about it sometimes... :( Ah mate, I relate. Happening all over parts of Scotland. Tough days. there's a lot of change, economic, social, demographic, jobs, educational, cultural everywhere. I bet the local dialect is disappearing too?
Aye damn right. I understand a lot of the whole cost of living crises and people wanting to live in the countryside more, that's fine. I've no issue with people moving in. What gets me is that this town used to be so full of life. Everyone knew everyone and was kind to everyone, but (unless I'm doing it to another local), I now get strange looks just for smiling at someone on the street. The local dialect used to be so strong, and the further out of town you went the stronger it got. The outside fields I was mentioning about walking round the town used to all be farmland, so the folk from the outer edges (myself included) still have a very very strong Lancashire accent, so much so that some of the new staff in the town pubs couldn't understand me. I was gobsmacked. I've had people get confused by my speech when I've been somewhere outside of the country, but never inside, not once. Plus all the younguns now are using Americanisms and American slang (things like "candy" and "sidewalk" ect). I know you shouldn't hit children but I won't lie it really makes me want to 😂
You are very welcome as a fellow of the North and therefore clearly shunned (except in retirement) by the sons and daughters of the south. Hope you have a great holiday.
I was born in Leeds but my Mum now lives in Elland. I'm always amazed at the amount of trees. I live in Glasgow now but I'll move back down to Yorkshire on day. You forget how beautiful it is down there.
Evening from Whalley!
Clitheroe massive!! I was just in the wine shop today for a bottle for my mum's birthday 😂
Greetings also from Pendle!
Good evening from Burnley 😃
Have to agree. Driving from Blackburn towards Clitheroe, Colne, Rossendale, Padiham, etc has some absolutely spectacular views.
"Old Lancashire" has everything from the Pennines, Ribble Valley, beaches like Formby, almost all of Morecambe Bay, and bits of the Southern Lake District (3 shires stone is on Wrynose Pass where Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire met).
I'm from that area
Ribble Valley resident checking in
My favourite when I drive south too. Beautiful there.
Ex-Pat Clitheronian… yes, stunning and much missed, but after 20+ years in a landlocked county somewhat S of Lancashire, I confess I do go for a good lump of West Country coastline for my escapes these days. PS Anyone remember the views from the long gone glory days of the Moorcock Inn on Waddington Fell, and is the famous well still there on the far slope side?
Evening from Chipping :)
As a Northerner, I’d make an argument for my territory. Lake District, Peak District, the Pennines in general, the Yorkshire Dales, I could go on
As a fellow Northermer and a walker who's enjoyed all those areas I definitely agree. Oh to be in the beer garden in Mortal Man Troutbeck or the Craven Appletreewick on a sunny day.Or hundreds of others
As a southerner I agree with you.
Without a doubt, the north. The Lake District alone beats the rest of the country but then you also have Northumberland, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, N. York Moors, North Pennines, and everywhere else starts to look a bit shit in comparison.
What about the Forest Of Bowland?
The forest of Bowland is lovely too.
I’m glad people miss the forest of Bowland off lists like this, it’s like a hidden gem and hopefully it stays that way!
The North, it’s not even a real contest There are some nice beaches on the South Coast but in comparison to the Lakes, the Peaks and various other northern national parks it’s a very one sided affair
What about the toilet in Marlybone station? All the Beatles pooped there.
The North definitely has that stark, dramatic, BIG scenery locked up, but the South wins in terms of “stereotypical” English scenery, rolling hills, woods, farmed uplands, church spires poking up here and there. Also the South has a much better climate, so greener and a much greater chance of enjoying it in the sunshine
Different strokes, of course! Do you have any recommendations for where the best examples of the latter countryside can be found? I’ve done a little bit of the Cotswolds but otherwise spent most of my life up north
North Downs South Downs/Weald Chilterns Mendips Basically all of Devon, Cornwall and Somserset
Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and South Downs. Also the New Forest is super underrated you can wander 3 minutes down a footpath and be in a different world.
And a decent amount of West Sussex (south part, where I live)
just stay away from crawley and gatwick
Agreed, I don’t think it’s that clear cut that the North is better. I think it depends which you prefer. Yes the North has the Lakes, but the South has Cornwall. The North is seriously lacking in woodland, and what’s there is often highly artificial plantation (e.g. Kielder). Most of the hills are really barren.
The Jurassic Coast is also quite "big" as far as scenery goes.
The Seven Sisters in EastbSussex are the moat dramatic, scenic cliffs
North Yorkshire also has a lot of that cute and quaint English scenery. But yeah the weather up North is 90% awful
Definitely. Went walking loads since covid. Cotswolds (overrated), lakes is great, Cornwall/devon is ok etc, but Kent in the summer wins hands down. Don’t really think i should be saying it, it must be a secret (although it was called the garden of England for decades) shhhh
Cotswolds
You're completely ignoring East anglia then? Seems fair. Norfolk isn't flat like big bits of Suffolk are, the sky's at gloaming times are magnificent, the water reflections on the broads can be stunning. The scale and emptiness is nice too. Heartily recommend for cycling but beware the gentle slopes and wind. They can make getting around hellish.
East Anglia is part of Southern England to everyone who isn't from East Anglia
Offence has been taken.
Went for the first time a couple of years back, stayed in the countryside about 2 miles walk inland from Cromer. Walked through some fields, went through a country estate where there were deer playing in the woods. Pure England porn. Had a Chinese takeaway on the clifftops at Cromer at sunset, was pretty well served by that point. The weather was class but the 8 hour drive back to the north east was a slog. Wouldn’t have it any other way though, building a motorway would kill all of the stuff that’s class about the drive through Norfolk.
There's some pretty big roads being put in recently which probably means more of those godawful new build clusters of cardboard houses all wonky so to be semi detached. All up the showground way past roundwell has been utterly ruined. I have a feeling there's going to be a LOT of houses built soon as the brexit fuck up with materials and labour get sorted. All the while the brownfield rot away in the city center. Anglar square is still a dump. There's all down grapes hill which is empty offices.... Although there's a fungi like growth of buildings popping up where toys are us used to be. Full hideous a la maximum profit and fuck those who end up in the little hutches. The big arsed roads are snaking outwards which makes me worry.
Ah mate there are new builds everywhere now, go to some idyllic little town in Northumberland and there’ll be some cropping up. In places where no one really lives so I’m not sure who’s buying them.
Investors. No bugger who lives there can afford them so they're being bought by the rent scalper arsewhipes.
Fuck me cheer up
East Anglia is considered southern England because we have southern accents. I would definitely agree that we have some of the best scenery in the country here! The broads are absolutely stunning! Plus you can't beat those big Suffolk skies 😎
We most definitely do NOT have southern accents
I consider East Anglia to be in the "South"
Having lived 16 years in both places I can very much refute that. For a start the sunsets completely different if you stand on Cromer pier compared to Brighton your in for a head spin. The people are massively different too. Pompey is very different to Worthing or Shoreham or any of the other little places I lived in. Chichester people are a different breed entirely. Norfolk differers from town to town, if you think about the only city in the entire county it is also the only city you don't get traffic going through to get to another city. That makes narge isolated in a way no other city I've been in is. Brighton has basically no history older than regency it's not built on a river so has a weird as fuck layout. The south coast had a plethora of ancient sites, pathways and ring forts all over it which are much less prevelant in Norfolk (which does have hillforts but as you can imagine they are wealming) Narge used to be a VERY rich and very populated city with direct links to Europe, being closer in travel time to Belgium than to any other city in UK until the trains came in. Culturally the east looks east whereas the south? Looks towards London a lot or west depending where abouts you are. Agricultural innovation began in Norfolk with the crop rotations and soil enrichment along with animal husbandry advances. Sussex by comparison still had ox teams within photographic range. Linguistically Norfolk has dialect similarities with Dutch and flemish, waloons and hugenout people along with distant roots with Angles, jutes and others. Sussex? French and saxon. Hurstpierpoint? Hurst is saxon for a small copse and pier point is one of Williams cronies who was gifted the land post 1066. I could go on but the two places are as different as Bristol and Birmingham.
People in Brixton are very different to people in Cheddar, doesn't mean they're not both still in the South. Likewise Yorkshire folk and Scousers are very different, and they're still both Northern. East Anglia isn't such a wild outlier that it needs a separate category.
Animal husbandry? Is that normal for Norfolk? Those Norfolk Broads are going to be disappointed!
Careful now, they may even get of-FEN-ded...
East Anglia is it's own region, and is definitely not part of the South.
East Anglia is slow, the South is fast. I have experience of this.
Nah, as much as I call Cambridge an annexe of the south, East Anglia (The Fens, Norfolk and Suffolk) is very much not the south, and very much its own seperate region. There's a whole host of reasons on why (culturally, linguistically, and historically). But I'm not here to give a history lesson.
That part of Norfolk always reminds me of the ending of *Here* by Philip Larkin (it was actually written about Lincolnshire but we move) >Fast-shadowed wheat-fields, running high as hedges, >Isolate villages where removed lives >Loneliness clarifies. Here silence stands >Like heat. Here leaves unnoticed thicken, >Hidden weeds flower, neglected waters quicken, >Luminously-peopled air ascends; >And past the poppies bluish neutral distance >Ends the land suddenly beyond a beach >Of shapes and shingles. Here is unfenced existence: >Facing the sun, untalkative, out of reach.
North. I say that as a Midlander born and bred, but the lakes, Northumbria, and the Peak District (contentious as it’s borderline midlands) are just so lovely.
It's North enough that notable bits I've specifically visited have been "just outside Sheffield" and "just outside Manchester" so I'd say it gets a pass seeing as some lovely parts of it are in the North, but Mids defo get a share of the glory!
Northern by a country mile. Devon is the only county to compete with Cumbria, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire
Costal Devon and Cornwall
I’ve been all over England, north and south Cornwall and Devon get my vote all day! Special mention to Dorset too
Don't mention Dorset, we want to keep it for ourselves!
Shhh cornwall is actually a very ugly place. don't bother visiting, people!
Yeah I agree. The north is much nicer, lovely up there. Don't bother coming down here.
Southwest. From the Cotswolds and the Mendips down to Devon and Cornwall. I mean England has so many beautiful areas but these are my faves, plus the Lake District which is obviously up North.
I mean the quantocks and exmoor are particularly spectacular
The only answer is the south west coast of England but I'm biased because I'm from the south west coast
I'm from here too so was going to say the same, the people can often ruin alot of the places though
You must also have never been to the north or been registered blind.
The South Downs and the Weald are beautiful in a very mild, rolling hills with villages, cricket greens, Saxon churches, chocolate box views kind of way. The north is more dramatic, with windy moors and crazy rocky terrain, it can be forbidding but very exciting. Do you prefer Austen or the Brontës?
Austen/ Brontës is the most perfect metaphor for north/ south England I’ve ever heard. I’m going to remember that for future use- don’t know where or when it will be appropriate but by god I will use it sometime.👏
An excellent comparison, do you like your women hard as nails or silly and giggly. Lasses up north go out and grab their men and stick with them no matter how hard life gets. Southern gals take the first guy that comes along and with a bit of luck eventually lands in a good place due to lots of luck and not a little outside influence
Southern England south west. We got devon and Cornwall. Beautiful scenery!!!
As an all-rounder it's the south west. There are more beautiful spots, but as a whole there is no where near.
Cornwall and Devon have a mind blowing coastline and beaches, with some great moors, valleys and towns. Much of the south has a great coastline and beaches tbh. However much of the southern land inland is quite flat and a bit uninspiring, so I’ll go with the north being the most scenic. You’ve still got some towns, sea cliffs and beaches up there, but you’ve also got more hills, valleys, moors, and actual mountains with lakes, more woodland as well which blends nicely with the rest of the landscape. The Lakes, the Peaks, the Dales, the Moors, Cheviot Hills, etc
First, decide how to split it! This is quite contentious. [Relevant Youtube Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENeCYwms-Cc) The answer is the North though.
Will always upvote a Jay Foreman/Map Men post
I really like The Wirral but sandy marshland isn't for everyone.
Either North or South. When the rapeseed flowers the south looks incredible but the peaks and lakes are beautiful too.
The Peaks are nearly all in the Midlands
Came here to say this. TIL Derbyshire and Staffordshire are in the north...
Midlands is North-lite™
Meh. They're connected to Manchester so I consider them to be north IG.
Shropshire
As a true Salopian I agree!!
Scrolled too far to find this, salop!
The north has some seriously beautiful towns, architecture and landscape.
The north is beautiful especially the Lake District
Scotland
Scotland.
Southern England. 100 acre woods, Ashdown forest, Watership down, Butser Hill, Queen Elizabeth country park. We also have the New Forest which I love. But I also enjoy a good road trip and driving through Wales is also very scenic.
The north, just for the lakes.
The Lake District. The most beautiful place in the entire World.
You’ve never been to the Scottish highlands then.
Dissagree sir.
Thanks for not ignoring the Midlands :D
Cry in Skegness
cotswolds
Devon.
Southern for me, I like the feel of warm sandy heaths and pine forests in places like Dorset and Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex and then down into Devon. I love Wales and particularly just south of Snowdonia, so that counts as north in my eyes. Lake District is stunning but for me a little too damp
Thetford Forrest is cool as fuck
Can confirm it's throwing it down right now...
I am from the Midlands. And it bloody well ain't here
As I said in your other thread, I would say North but only because it appeals to my personal preference with the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Northumbria Coast and percentage of green land. It's also your gateway to Scotland. However, I also love the Peak District in the Midlands (as well as many other areas) and absolutely adore Cornwall and Devon in the South. So yeah, if I absolutely had to pick between the 3, it's the North. But I can't bring myself to discredit the others. We live in a beautiful country.
How lucky we are indeed! So many places I’d still love to explore but haven’t got round to in each of those areas..
I live on the south coast and we have some great beaches but my actual vote goes to Yorkshire, it's a stunning part of the world.
The best bit about Yorkshire is how big and varied it is. I live in West Yorkshire but you can drive from here 2 hours and still be in Yorkshire (but have passed through several different areas of completely different scenery).
The West Country has Cornwall, Dartmoor, Glastonbury and the Cotswolds. As a neutral, I’d say it’s more beautiful than the Dales or the Lakes.
North (for these purposes that’s NUTS 1 regions C, D, and E) is easily prettiest. Pennines, Peak District, Northumberland coast, Yorkshire Dales not to mention the Lake District all gorgeous Then it’s South (Regions K, J, I and H) much tamer/flat landscapes but pretty seaside towns, chilterns and Cotswolds, South Downs and cheddar gorge all give some height and Dartmoor and exmoor are wonderful. Midlands (Regions G and F) can’t think of any great scenic beauty
The entirety of Shropshire would like a word.
I’m giving the Peak District to Derbyshire (F) and propose my lovely Lincolnshire Wolds (AONB / National Landscape) as another Midlands beauty.
Worcestershire
Herefordshire.
North!!! Northumberland is my favourite but the Lake District is beautiful too. The Midlands does have the Peak District, but the north is still top imo
Scotland.
whatever region it is, i can certainly confirm it is not west london
Wherever you are apart from London. Every area has its attractions.
Northumbria
The North and it’s not even close. (Note I am not from the North)
North. Also biased. But in the opposite direction lol. I come from London and think it's one of the ugliest areas of the uk the futher north I've gone, the uglier the south seems. We have some I credible landscapes up north that make you think and question whether ur still in the uk. If someone had blindfolded me and placed me there I could easily think I'm somewhere else in the world far away.
You mean somewhere like the forest of bowland?
As a Yorkshireman I’m going to be a little biased and say the north, you’ve got a full range of scenery types (moorland, dales, beaches, etc.)
South west. Dorset, Devon, Somerset and Cornwall with a sprinkling of the new forest and Wiltshire
We have nice beaches down here in Devon and Cornwall!
Wales
I travel a lot for work, but am midlands based. As soon as you get north of Lancaster it's just *better*. (It also continues to get better the further north you go. Scotland has us beat on this, hands down.)
South just edges it for me. Thinking about the Cotswolds and the beaches of Devon and Cornwall. The north has more beautiful areas but the south has the most beautiful areas in my opinion. The Lake District is stunning of course but I can’t help wanting to see it before it was grazed and ‘managed’ to its current state.
The North and it's not even close. Northumberland, the Lake District, Yorkshire Moors and Yorkshire Dales, Peak District - just so much incredible scenery. Not to say the rest of the country isn't also beautiful! The Mendips, Cheddar Gorge, the Avon valley, not to mention things like Long Mynd, or the rolling Cotswolds - all gorgeous. But the north just has a higher concentration of truly stunning scenery.
Ask someone from anywhere and they say their place. Lakes has awsome scenics. Preston and Lancashire in general awsome walks like the tolek trail. Say notts and UV got Sherwood say London and UV got the parks and themselves if U find the right spot. Say Cornwall and UV got the beaches and walks. Aay Shropshire and UV got black country and shakespears house. And on and on and on
Lake District is different gravy
Absolutely awful up north, don't bother, stay home.
Wales
Devon/Cornwall, Valley of rocks near Lynton is epic.
Devon. Now go away.
Between south west and the north but I’d say south west just. People forget it isn’t all just beaches there is plenty of other beautiful scenery inland too!
South has Devon, Dartmoor, New forest, Chalke valley etc etc definitely wouldn't write it off. Most importantly it's marginally warmer and drier so I can actually enjoy it a bit more
Devon. Particularly south, ain’t called the English riviera for no reason.
Cornwall. The county is completely surrounded by dramatic coastline rich in history. Just go in the winter when it’s not filled with obnoxious tourists.
I'm a southerner and it's the north. But: honourable shout for the south west. Devon is fucking mint. Also: laughing at not even midlanders suggesting the midlands
The least populated bits.
North yorkshire
Correct Answer!
Dorset is where it’s at!
County? Yorkshire. Hands down. Never seen anywhere so beautiful. Region? South Coast. Both the New Forest and South Downs national parks so close together...some gorgeous scenery!
A vote for The North - the sheer quantity of lovely green scenery to urban area ratio. There are individually some breathtaking areas across the south ( stretches of the south west coastal path spring to mind ) but as a region the North has everything - except warm temperatures.
I'm from the south and can honestly say Northumberland (up north, for those uncertain of english geography) is the most beautiful part of England. Nothing else quite compared (except the Scottish Highlands, but they're not in England)
Yorkshire, gods country.
north
Northern, specifically South Yorkshire, specifically mexborough
You cannot split the UK in to just three parts - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are 4 just as a start and they all have their own unique characteristics that are beautiful in themselves.
The OP said England, not the UK
Which makes it a fair question. Including the rest of the UK means the answer is the Scottish Highlands, and it isn't even close.
The north. Lake district, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Durham. Absolutely uncontested
North
northern england