Best Countryside Places to Visit in England for Walks, History and Proper Fresh Air

Last reviewed and updated: May 2026

England is not short of countryside places worth visiting.

The tricky bit is choosing somewhere that gives you more than a nice view and a car park full of people eating crisps in waterproofs.

The best countryside places in England are the ones that combine walking, landscape, history and a proper sense of place. Old villages, ruined castles, church towers, river paths, hill tracks, wooded valleys, ancient lanes and the occasional pub that looks like it has been quietly judging walkers since 1742.

This guide brings together some of the best countryside places to visit in England if you enjoy scenic walks, historic places, old landscapes and days out that feel a little more meaningful than simply “going somewhere nice”.

The short answer

Some of the best countryside places to visit in England include the Lake District, the Cotswolds, the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District, Northumberland, the South Downs, the Shropshire Hills, the North York Moors, the Norfolk Broads and the Dorset countryside.

For Rambl, the best places are not just beautiful. They also offer walking routes, villages, old churches, castles, ancient paths, folklore, local history and the sort of fresh air that makes sitting in an office all week feel slightly less tragic.

Quick comparison

Place	Best for	Good for beginners?	History and heritage
Lake District	Mountains, lakes and classic walks	Some routes	Strong
Cotswolds	Villages, lanes and gentle countryside	Yes	Strong
Yorkshire Dales	Valleys, waterfalls and old stone villages	Yes	Strong
Peak District	Accessible hills, edges and villages	Yes	Strong
Northumberland	Castles, coast and big open landscapes	Yes	Very strong
South Downs	Chalk hills, ridges and old routes	Yes	Strong
Shropshire Hills	Quieter walks and historic market towns	Yes	Strong
North York Moors	Moorland, abbeys and coastal villages	Some routes	Very strong
Norfolk Broads	Flat waterside walks and big skies	Yes	Moderate
Dorset Countryside	Hills, villages and ancient landscapes	Yes	Very strong

1. The Lake District

The Lake District is the obvious choice, but it is obvious for a reason.

You get lakes, fells, stone villages, old tracks, churches, packhorse bridges, sheep that look mildly disappointed in you, and some of the finest walking in England. It can be busy, especially around places like Ambleside, Keswick, Windermere and Grasmere, but there are still quieter valleys and routes if you step away from the most famous spots.

For Rambl, the Lake District is one of the strongest countryside destinations because it works on almost every level. You can go for proper mountain walks, gentle lakeside strolls, literary history, old churches, mining heritage, folklore and classic village days out.

Best for: big views, proper walks, lakeside routes, villages and mountain scenery.
Good places to start: Grasmere, Buttermere, Keswick, Ambleside, Coniston.

2. The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds are the England people imagine when they have watched one too many cosy dramas and started believing every village comes with honey-coloured cottages and a suspiciously perfect pub.

To be fair, the Cotswolds often do look exactly like that.

This is one of the best countryside areas in England for gentle walking, village-hopping, old churches, market towns, dry-stone walls and quiet lanes. It is not the place for dramatic mountain days, but it is excellent for slower countryside trips where the walk is as much about the village, churchyard, tea room and old lane as the distance covered.

Best for: villages, easy walks, old churches, market towns and gentle countryside.
Good places to start: Castle Combe, Bibury, Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold.

3. The Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales are perfect if you like limestone valleys, waterfalls, barns, dry-stone walls and villages that look like they were built to withstand both weather and nonsense.

It is a brilliant area for walkers because you can choose anything from gentle riverside paths to harder hill days. Places like Malham, Grassington, Aysgarth, Kettlewell and Reeth give you that strong mix of landscape, local history and proper countryside character.

The Dales are also ideal for Rambl because they feel rooted. You are not just walking through scenery. You are walking through old farming landscapes, village lanes, field paths, abbey ruins, market towns and places shaped by centuries of rural life.

Best for: waterfalls, valleys, stone villages, limestone scenery and classic walking.
Good places to start: Malham, Grassington, Aysgarth Falls, Kettlewell, Reeth.

4. The Peak District

The Peak District is one of the best countryside places to visit in England because it gives you a lot without needing an expedition-level plan.

You can do dramatic walks on Kinder Scout, Stanage Edge and Mam Tor, or you can keep things gentler around Castleton, Bakewell, Dovedale and the Monsal Trail. That makes it a strong choice for beginners, day walkers and anyone who wants big countryside without feeling like they need to train like a Victorian explorer.

It also has exactly the sort of mix Rambl needs: walking routes, caves, old villages, stone walls, churches, market towns, edges, moorland and folklore-friendly landscapes.

Best for: accessible hill walks, villages, edges, caves and day trips.
Good places to start: Castleton, Bakewell, Edale, Dovedale, Hathersage.

Related Rambl Guides

• Beginner Walks in the Peak District
• Best Beginner Day Hikes in Northern England
• Day Hiking Essentials for UK Countryside Walks
• Best Waterproof Walking Jackets UK

5. Northumberland

Northumberland is one of England’s finest countryside and heritage counties.

It has castles, coast, huge skies, quiet roads, Roman history, dark skies, old churches, windswept beaches and inland landscapes that feel far less crowded than many southern hotspots. If Rambl ever needs a place that screams “walks, history and proper fresh air”, Northumberland is standing there in a wax jacket looking calmly superior.

You have Hadrian’s Wall, Bamburgh Castle, Lindisfarne, Alnwick, the Cheviots, old villages and some of the best coastal walking in England. It is not always gentle weather, but that is part of the charm. Or at least what we tell ourselves when horizontal rain arrives.

Best for: castles, coast, Roman history, big skies and quieter walking.
Good places to start: Bamburgh, Holy Island, Hadrian’s Wall, Rothbury, Alnwick.

6. The South Downs

The South Downs are a brilliant choice for ridge walks, chalk grassland, old routes and wide views.

The South Downs Way is one of England’s great long-distance trails, but you do not have to walk the whole thing to enjoy the area. There are plenty of shorter walks around places like Devil’s Dyke, Ditchling Beacon, Lewes, Alfriston and Seven Sisters.

This is countryside with layers. Chalk hills, old tracks, ancient settlements, churches, villages and views that make you understand why people have been walking these routes for a very long time.

Best for: ridge walks, chalk hills, ancient paths and coastal views.
Good places to start: Alfriston, Lewes, Ditchling Beacon, Seven Sisters, Amberley.

7. The Shropshire Hills

The Shropshire Hills are a very Rambl sort of place.

They are beautiful, historic, slightly overlooked and full of walking without the same level of chaos you get in the busiest national parks. You get rolling hills, market towns, old tracks, hillforts, churches, valleys and views that feel properly English without becoming too polished.

Church Stretton is a natural base, with walks onto the Long Mynd and Caer Caradoc. Ludlow adds food, history, castle ruins and handsome streets. It is the sort of area where Rambl could eventually build some lovely “slow countryside weekend” guides.

Best for: quieter hill walks, market towns, views and old landscapes.
Good places to start: Church Stretton, Ludlow, Much Wenlock, Long Mynd, Wenlock Edge.

8. The North York Moors

The North York Moors are ideal if you like big moorland, abbeys, old railways, coastal villages and landscapes that feel a little wild without being too remote.

You can walk across heather moorland, visit ruined abbeys, explore villages like Hutton-le-Hole or Goathland, or head towards the coast around Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby. It is full of history and atmosphere, which is useful if Rambl is going to lean into folklore and local stories later.

This is not just a walking destination. It is a mood. Misty moors, old stones, abbey ruins, sea air and villages that look like they know something but are not telling you.

Best for: moorland, abbeys, coastal villages, old railways and atmosphere.
Good places to start: Goathland, Helmsley, Rievaulx Abbey, Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay.

9. The Norfolk Broads

The Norfolk Broads are very different from the hillier places on this list, but that is exactly why they belong here.

This is countryside of rivers, reedbeds, windmills, wildlife, boats, waterside paths and wide skies. It is especially good if you want gentle walking, relaxed days out and scenery that does not require calves made of granite.

The Broads are also useful for Rambl because they broaden the brand beyond hills and wild camping. Not everyone wants a summit. Some people want a peaceful path, a church tower in the distance and a flask of tea by the water. Perfectly respectable behaviour.

Best for: flat walks, wildlife, rivers, big skies and gentle countryside.
Good places to start: Wroxham, Horning, How Hill, Horsey, Ludham.

10. Dorset Countryside

Dorset is often thought of for its coast, but the inland countryside is just as strong for Rambl.

You get chalk hills, ancient tracks, villages, churches, hillforts, river valleys and old landscapes with a deep sense of history. Places like Cerne Abbas, Shaftesbury, Corfe Castle and the Cranborne Chase area offer the sort of countryside that feels made for slow walks and curious detours.

Corfe Castle in particular is a strong Rambl location because it combines village, ruin, landscape and walking in one very neat package. English Heritage also highlights castle walks and historic walking routes around its sites, which is exactly the kind of countryside-meets-history angle Rambl should keep leaning into.

Best for: ancient landscapes, villages, hillforts, chalk hills and castle ruins.
Good places to start: Corfe Castle, Cerne Abbas, Shaftesbury, Cranborne Chase, Abbotsbury.

What to pack for a countryside day out in England

You do not need full expedition gear for most countryside days out, but you do need to be prepared. England has a habit of turning “sunny intervals” into “why is the sky doing that?” within about nine minutes.

For most countryside walks and village days out, pack:

• Comfortable walking shoes or boots
• A waterproof jacket
• A warm layer
• Water
• Snacks or lunch
• Phone with offline map
• Small first aid kit
• Power bank
• Hat or cap
• Cash for parking, cafés or honesty boxes
• A small rucksack

For hillier places like the Lake District, Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland, take navigation more seriously. Weather, daylight and terrain matter.

Related Rambl guides

• Day Hiking Essentials for UK Countryside Walks
• Best Walking Boots for UK Trails
• Best Waterproof Walking Jackets UK
• Best Day Hiking Backpacks
• Best Walking Socks UK

Final thoughts

The best countryside places to visit in England are not always the loudest or most famous.

Sometimes they are the places where a footpath slips behind a churchyard, a ruined castle sits above a village, a lane curls between hedgerows, or a hill gives you just enough view to make the week feel a bit less grim.

For Rambl, that is the real point.

The countryside is not just scenery. It is walking, weather, history, folklore, villages, old routes, practical kit, good pubs, quiet churches, awkward stiles and the deep satisfaction of getting outside for a few hours.

That is the sort of England worth exploring.

FAQ

What is the best countryside area to visit in England?

The Lake District is one of the best countryside areas to visit in England if you want dramatic scenery, lakes and classic walking. For gentler countryside, the Cotswolds, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District and Shropshire Hills are excellent choices.

Where is the prettiest countryside in England?

Some of the prettiest countryside in England can be found in the Lake District, Cotswolds, Yorkshire Dales, Dorset, Northumberland and the South Downs. The best choice depends on whether you prefer hills, villages, coast, woodland or historic landscapes.

Where should beginners go for countryside walks?

Beginners should start with places that offer clear paths, shorter routes and good facilities. The Peak District, Cotswolds, Norfolk Broads, South Downs and parts of the Yorkshire Dales are good options.

What should I wear for a countryside walk in England?

Wear comfortable walking shoes or boots, weather-appropriate layers and a waterproof jacket. Even on gentle countryside walks, British weather can change quickly, because apparently consistency would be too generous.

Are countryside walks in England free?

Most countryside walks in England are free, especially public footpaths, bridleways and open access areas. You may still need to pay for parking, entry to certain estates, castles, gardens or heritage sites.