Best countryside holidays and getaways in the UK for 2023

With many of us enjoying a holiday at home in the UK these days, we thought we'd take a look at the best countryside holidays and getaways for rediscovering the peace and beauty of Britain this year.

There's so much to see across the length and breadth of the beautiful British Isles and we're always excited to explore a new countryside location in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Home to stunning landscapes for walkers, charming villages and rolling green hills, the UK is an amazing place for countryside getaways.

While we know city breaks in the likes of London and Edinburgh will always be popular, a countryside holiday in the UK offers all the relaxation and views you won't find in elsewhere.

To celebrate everything rural Britain has to offer, we’ve compiled the best countryside holidays in the UK.

Our incredible ideas invite you to meet wildlife experts and weather presenters. You can also sail on luxurious private-yacht style ships and ride nostalgic steam trains on these amazing country getaways.

Check out the best countryside holidays in the UK, where you can stay at incredible hotels and experience inspirational views around every corner.

See some of Scotland’s most remote and wild corners in style on the magnificent Lord of the Glens, a private yacht-style ship where you can sink into supremely comfortable armchairs from the Orient Express and sip a whisky in the elegant bar.

On Country Living's cruise around Scotland’s countryside in October, you’ll sail past the romantic ruins of Urquhart Castle, visit the nation’s seafood capital of Oban and see Tobermory’s colourful harbour. You’ll be joined for part of the cruise by proud Scotswoman and broadcaster Kirsty Wark who will give a talk about her life and career.

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The Bell in Ticehurst is a truly unique country pub with rooms, with hearty South American-inspired dishes on offer, fairytale décor and oast house lodges out in its garden. You can expect a traditional welcome though, like roaring log fires and big comfy beds, plus stylish copper tubs in some of the rooms’ ensuite bathrooms.

Outside your front door is the cute village of Ticehurst, with a leafy, traditional centre and community atmosphere, and then the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty beyond, where you’ll find endless walks, the blue expanse of Bewl Water at the National Trust’s romantic Scotney Castle.

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Another way to enjoy the delights of the Scottish Highlands this year is by train. The Highlands have many extremely picturesque train lines, and the Fort William to Mallaig Line is frequently voted the world’s greatest railway line. You can ride the iconic passing Jacobite train along this line, enjoying dramatic scenery and passing over the spectacular 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct.

On Country Living’s four-day tour of the Highlands in July 2023 you’ll ride the Jacobite from the foothills of Ben Nevis through rugged mountains and onwards to the shores of the Atlantic at Mallaig. You’ll also take a voyage into the Firth of Clyde on board PS Waverley, the world's last seagoing paddle steamer, as well as a cruise across the tranquil Loch Katrine in the Trossachs.

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Another way to explore the Highlands this year is on Country Living's four-day tour in October, where you'll be joined by weather presenter and proud Scotswoman, Carol Kirkwood. The Scottish countryside is exceptional at this time of year, with wonderful views decked in warm, autumnal foliage. You'll travel through these golden landscapes on the Jacobite, and stay at a lovely 18th-century inn in the tranquil surroundings of the Trossachs.

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The Yorkshire Dales have inspired countless artists and writers, perhaps most famously the Brontë sisters, with Emily Brontë’s iconic novel Wuthering Heights set among the wilderness of the moors. You'll explore all this with Country Living on a five-day walking holiday in August and October, staying in the charming market town of Skipton and chugging through inspirational landscapes on old steam trains.

Transport yourself back in time on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway, which includes a stop at Oakworth, made famous in The Railway Children, and soak up the scenery as you take in the Dales along the Pennine Bridleway. Plus, you'll stay at a family-owned hotel with a bar, restaurant, indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room – so there’ll be plenty of time to relax too!

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Home to the vast Farncombe Estate that encompasses three hotels (Dormy House, The Fish and Foxhill Manor), a set of self-catering cottages and an array of activities and places to eat, Broadway is the village to visit for a Cotswold adventure this year. The Fish is an especially magical place to check into, where there are beautiful treehouses and huts (one even comes with a paddle boat for you to relax on your own private lake), and the vibe is laidback luxury at its finest.

While here, an adventure within the 400 acres of Cotswold countryside is a must. There's axe throwing, falconry and archery on offer, and if you've always wanted to try clay pigeon shooting, this is the place to do it. After taking a stroll to a hill close to the hotel's main building, Head of Adventure Neil Forsyth will show you how to perfect your aim and fire in an action-packed session. Once you've experience the thrill and sheer satisfaction of breaking some clays in the sky, you can head back inside for a boozy afternoon tea, pizza or simply relaxing by The Fish's mesmerising fire.

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Refresh and revitalise yourself next year with a steamy spa break in the leafy Leicestershire countryside, home to one of Britain’s best-loved spa hotels, Ragdale Hall. Matching state-of-the-art facilities, like its fabulous rooftop infinity pool, and indulgent treatments with traditional Victorian architecture, it’s won a string of awards for its first-class service.

With Country Living, you can save up to 35 per cent on a two-night break, where you’ll enjoy full use of the spa and all facilities, two 40-minute treatments, three deliciously healthy meals each day and a free Clarins gift to remember your blissful stay.

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When it comes to remote countryside, the Isles of Scilly are the perfect destination, scattered in the English Channel off the tip of Cornwall. Due to their southern location, they enjoy loads of sunshine and warmth, meaning that you can choose between gorgeous sandy beaches, lush gardens full of exotic plants, and rugged grassy plains.

In spring 2024, you can see the best of the Isles of Scilly alongside wildlife and nature expert Julian Branscombe, of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, who really knows the islands. Julian will tell you all about the rare birds and plants that thrive here. As well we plenty of time to relax and enjoy the scenery, you’ll try some of the excellent local cuisine – including ultra-fresh seafood – and enjoy a stay at gorgeous island retreat The Atlantic.

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Alternatively, join Country Living for a tour of the Isles of Scilly in September. Countryfile presenter John Craven OBE will spend a day exploring the Isles with you, and will attend dinner one evening to talk about his career and hold a Q&A session.

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Northumberland is known and loved for its outstanding coastland, pristine beaches and magnificent open moorland, which covers about 70 per cent of the Northumberland National Park. But Northumberland's most breathtaking spectacle is in the skies overhead. England's northernmost county has very low levels of light pollution, meaning it boasts some of the most pristine dark skies in England, and is one of the best places in the country to go stargazing.

You can see this starry spectacle for yourself on our trip in March 2024. There will be visits to two observatories where you'll be joined by expert local astronomer Richard Darn. Richard will teach you all about the awe-inspiring sights you'll see in the Northumberland skies.

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Some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes in Wales can be found in the northwestern region of Snowdonia, famed for its spectacular mountain views, quaint villages and thundering waterfalls.

On Country Living's five-day trip to Wales in June or August you'll explore the best of Snowdonia by travelling on some of the region's historic railways. You'll ride the Snowdon Mountain Railway to soak in panoramic views over Snowdonia National Park, and the Llanberis Lake Railway, which follows the shore of stunning glacial Lake Padarn. Also included is a trip on the world's oldest narrow-gauge railway, the Ffestiniog, and a visit the quirky Italianate village of Portmeirion.

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The idyllic countryside of the Cotswolds is some of the loveliest in the UK, with its honey-coloured houses, rolling hills and cosy pubs. The Cotswolds are also known and loved for their quintessential English gardens, like Painswick Rococo Garden, Sudeley Castle Gardens, and Batsford Arboretum, home to trees and shrubs from all over the world.

Join Country Living in September 2023 for a five-day tour of some of the best gardens in the region. A highlight of the trip will be a visit to the Cotswold Farm Park, where you'll be welcomed by the farm's owner, Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, who will join you for a private lunch and give a talk about his conservation work and sustainable farming.

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Kent's countryside is a perfectly peaceful destination loved for its ancient bluebell woodlands, chalk grassland, and pretty ragstone villages. Despite its tranquillity and diverse natural landscapes, it's incredibly easy to reach from London, with many train lines taking you to parts of the county in just 30 minutes.

Join Country Living for an extra-special train journey through the Kent countryside on the luxurious Belmond British Pullman to see the county known as the Garden of England in style. You'll board at London Victoria, settle into your plush armchair seat, sip a chilled glass of champagne, and tuck into a seasonal five-course lunch, expertly paired with sommelier-selected wine, as the urban landscape evolves into verdant green hills.

There are several trips to choose from. Perhaps you'll choose to experience this luxury train in August, with a stop in Dover, where you can expect a surprise performance and some local refreshments.

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Or how about joining in September for an immersive murder mystery on board the train as you speed through the countryside? In between sleuthing and enjoying your delicious seasonal food, there'll be time to marvel at the ever-changing scenery outside the window.

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You can also spend the night before the trip at Eccleston Square Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel just minutes from Victoria Station. With state-of-the-art facilities in your Queen Room, you're sure to have a comfortable night, leaving you feeling rested and sharp for playing detective the following day.