Ask HN: A quiet place for a short stay (UK) | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: A quiet place for a short stay (UK)

7 pointspardon_me12 comments

Hi! I’m Charlie and I’m looking for a quiet place to stay in the UK countryside for a few days to weeks. I live in the middle of nowhere now and a change of scenery would be great.

If you have space and would like some company, I’m a hacker/developer manufacturing lighting equipment for live shows like TV. I’d love to work on something different or just take it easy for a bit. I’ll cover all costs and help with chores. Please get in touch, email is on my profile!

I’m also grateful for any suggestions on where to go or how to find a retreat alone. We all need it sometimes.

Thank you HN!

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How rural are we talking here? If you're looking for something very rural and very quiet you can't really beat Pembrokeshire imo. Lots of beautiful rural walks and great night skies there if you're into that. The only problem is the logistics if you don't have transportation because you're not going to be able to just hop on a bus or walk to the shops. You really need a bike or a car to make the most of it.

A nice middle ground might be somewhere like Glastonbury, or if you prefer seaside towns, Lyme Regis.

Glastonbury tour is beautiful to climb all year round and you have lots of little quirky English shops and pubs around. You also have Street just around the corner which has a shopping village with it's own selection of pubs, shops and restaurants.

Lyme Regis is just a beautiful quiet seaside town with lots of history. It's a little touristy there, but not like other English seaside towns - it's appeals much more to retirees and people looking for a quiet break than a family holiday.

Would love to host, but my place isn't really appropriate. Happy to answer any questions though.

Excellent suggestions. Thank you for taking the time.

I’m looking to book somewhere in Pembrokeshire for this break on my own. Rural walks and a log fire in the evening will be nice.

I’ve saved Glastonbury for a future trip with friends. Too true about the seaside towns - holidays and grandparents!

All the best.

Surprised no one has mentioned Scotland. Much less populated than England and incredible scenery. You also don’t have to go far from Glasgow to get to suitably remote parts. For example, 2 hours from Glasgow and you’re in Glencoe. Also there are many amazing islands like Mull.

Also on average the Scottish ppl I met were all frankly more fun to get along with than the English.

I’ve never actually been to Scotland just found it hilarious ppl would be kind of rude about them when on my end they always seemed pretty chill if you weren’t insulting them.

(I’ve been considering something similar to OP a while but Covid messed everything up, everything parent said tracks w what I’ve read.)

Scotland’s lovely and as you say, not many miles out of Glasgow it becomes another world - meandering around the Lochs until suddenly mountains.

I’ve been to Mull, Islay and Oban scuba diving. Highly recommended and plenty of excuses for whisky.

I’ll likely go again next year.

Thank you!

If you're good with pets https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/ is great for finding rustic English countryside cottages to stay at.

This is great thank you! I’d never have found this in my search. I will look into it.

Not sure if it's what you're after, but for short stays in nice places in the UK, I'd highly recommend https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/.

They basically restore, manage, and rent out old properties in the UK (cottages, castles, gatehouses, towers, old churches, etc.) for short stays.

I've stayed in a bunch, and they're always super interesting, cosy, and a great change of scene.

Only downside is that wifi/4g/etc. is likely to be poor.

This is great, exact what I’m looking for, thank you!

If you want somewhere remote and quiet in England go to Northumberland.

Another option maybe be one of the retreat centres in the UK I can personally recommend this one: https://www.holyisle.org/

Don't have an offer but I'd suggest Shropshire or Norfolk or mid-wales. All have good rural areas. Can't offer space myself but airbnb?

Airbnb is kind of sketch I’d encourage ppl to get a single room in a hostel rather than a hotel if cost is still an issue into your late 20s/early 30s in a new country if they’re at the age being surrounded by twenty Australian women is more a curse than a blessing ;-)

My first morning in Paris I was awoken to someone asking me to “hand them their thong” and finding out they meant a sandal not underwear when they got a bit peeved I replied “gonna have to at least take me to breakfast I don’t know where you’ve been.”

Once it became clear I wasn’t being stupid on purpose we had a laugh but dear lord… allegedly the same language but so much room for misinterpretation ;-)

Anyways TLDR: look into hostels or small hotels lest you lose your money and sleep outside lol

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