10 of Britain’s prettiest moorland villages

Selworthy, Exmoor, Somerset

With sweeping views to Dunkery Beacon – the best level on Exmoor – Selworthy is an excellent place to go to. Sunshine-yellow thatched cottages, many owned by the Nationwide Belief, gentle up the village inexperienced. The Periwinkle tearoom serves cake and cream teas, and the reward store is filled with native crafts. Exterior the village you’ll discover epic walks by means of the 12,000-acre Holnicote Property: woodland behind the medieval church takes you over streams, by means of wooded combes, previous Exmoor ponies to Selworthy Beacon. From there you’ll have commanding views of Exmoor on one aspect and on the opposite the slopes of south Wales throughout the Bristol Channel. Keep within the coronary heart of the village on the Nineteenth-century Selworthy Farmhouse: it sleeps 9, excellent for big household teams.
From £1,399 for seven nights; nationaltrust.org.uk. For someplace smaller, there’s Ivy’s Cottage, which sleeps two and is true on the village inexperienced. From £599 for seven nights; nationaltrust.org.uk

Altarnun, Bodmin Moor, Cornwall

Altarnun, Bodmin Moor, Cornwall
Photograph: Shutterstock

A small village on the northern fringe of Bodmin Moor – one in all Cornwall’s wildest landscapes – Altarnun is steeped in historical past, with a medieval packhorse bridge and the gorgeous, Fifteenth-century church of St Nonna, often called the Cathedral of the Moors. That is fantastic strolling nation, with a number of round routes from the village out on to open moorland, taking within the relics of medieval tin workings and prehistoric roundhouses. The Rising Solar gives hearty sandwiches and Sunday roasts, and the Previous Dairy – a captivating self-catering cottage sleeping 4 – makes a great base.
One week from £686; traditional.co.uk

Downham, Forest of Bowland, Lancashire

Downham, Forest of Bowland, Lancashire
Photograph: DMC Photogallery/Shutterstock

Regardless of its title, the Forest of Bowland is an space of peat moorland and gritstone fells, with Pendle Hill rising up like a large wave. Tucked beneath Pendle, the beautiful village of Downham is an unspoilt gem, with a effervescent brook operating by means of the centre and previous the inexperienced, flanked by picturesque, stone-built cottages. Pop into the data centre for maps of native strolling trails to Clitheroe Citadel, Sawley Abbey and up on to Pendle Hill itself, and reward your self post-walk with a go to to the Downham Ice Cream Store. Keep at Greendale Glamping, which gives B&B and glamping pods.
Doubles from £110 B&B; glampingatgreendale.co.uk

Thornton le Dale, North York Moors

Thornton le Dale, North York Moors
Photograph: Mike Kipling Pictures/Alamy

The outdated market cross – full with shares – types the guts of this picture-perfect village, which is greatest accessed alongside a beautiful woodland footpath from the principle automobile park. Youngsters will love the character path that runs by means of the streets, and options tree carvings, hedgehog and fowl containers and a bug resort. The Lavender Tea Rooms are an important place to cease for tea and cake. Alternatively, choose up a picnic hamper and comply with the route throughout the valley to the tiny hamlet of Ellerburn and its historic Saxon church. Keep on the Grange Guesthouse, a captivating family-run B&B.
Doubles from £105 B&B; thegrangeguesthouse.com

Castleton, Peak District

Castleton, Peak District
Photograph: Chris Warham/Alamy

The historic village of Castleton makes a great base for exploring each side of the Peak District – the rugged moorland plateaux of the northern Darkish Peak and the softer, rolling hills of the southern White Peak. The village is most well-known for its present caves, which glitter with stalactites and Blue John – a teal-blue, semi-precious stone. Above floor, the lattice of streets is dotted with reward retailers and tearooms, with the imposing ruins of Peveril Citadel looming down from the hillside above. Keep on the Cheshire Cheese Inn, a conventional pub with rooms within the coronary heart of the village.
Doubles from £100 B&B, cheshirecheeseinn.co.uk

Lustleigh village, Dartmoor

Lustleigh Village, Dartmoor
Photograph: John Husband/Alamy

Typically known as Dartmoor’s prettiest village, Lustleigh is a chocolate-box confection of thatched- roof cottages set round a triangular village inexperienced. The disused railway line has been transformed into strolling trails, with a number of different footpaths main straight from the village up on to the moors. To the west, the ridge of Lustleigh Cleave gives spectacular views over Dartmoor, with the iron age fort of Hunter’s Tor on the northern finish. For a post-walk pint, retire to the Cleave Inn, a captivating Fifteenth-century inn providing easy however comfy rooms.
Two-night breaks from £150 B&B; thecleavelustleigh.co.uk

Monksilver, Exmoor, Somerset

Monksilver, Exmoor, Somerset (replacement for Porlock, note to pic desk)
Photograph: Craig Joiner /Alamy

Set on the japanese fringe of the nationwide park, Monksilver is a captivating small village – residence to the smallest parish council within the nation – that makes a superb base for locating the moors on foot or bike. The long-distance Coleridge Approach runs by means of the village, whereas Cleeve Abbey and the West Somerset Railway, which runs by means of 20 miles of wonderful countryside, are shut by. Village life centres on the traditional, thatched-roof pub, the Notley, which additionally gives six comfy, dog-friendly rooms and dinners that profit from Exmoor’s wealthy native produce.
Doubles from £157 B&B; notleyarmsinn.co.uk

Hutton le Gap, North York Moors

Hutton le Hole, North York Moors
Photograph: Steve Geer/Getty Photos

Hutton owes its title to its location – the picturesque clutch of stone cottages is ready in a pure hole between the limestone headlands of the Tabular Hills, surrounded by pleasant strolling and biking trails. The village itself has lots to supply – the open- air Ryedale Folks Museum homes greater than 20 reconstructed historic buildings, whereas the craft workshops provide the possibility to look at native artisans creating the whole lot from glassware and ceramics to chocolate and candles. Drop in for lunch on the Forge Tea Room, and keep at The Crown, which has three stylish rooms, every with a kitchen and personal terrace.
Doubles from £110 room-only, crownhuttonlehole.com

North Bovey, Dartmoor

North Bovey, Dartmoor
Photograph: Adam Burton

Regardless of being one in all Dartmoor’s most picturesque villages, North Bovey stays comparatively quiet, due to the slim, twisty roads that result in it. It is a place to flee the crowds, with pretty strolling trails and bridle paths close by, whereas youngsters will love the miniature pony centre, only a brief drive away. Golfers can take a look at their abilities on the difficult 18-hole course on the Bovey Citadel property (which additionally gives a world-class spa on the Bovey Citadel resort), however preserve the country Dartmoor really feel by staying on the Ring of Bells, a traditional nation pub.
Doubles from £170 B&B together with £35 dinner allowance, ringofbells.internet)

Kinloch Rannoch, Perth and Kinross

Kinloch Rannoch, ScotlandPerth and Kinross
Photograph: Joe Dailly/Alamy

One of many wildest corners of the UK, Rannoch Moor is a brooding swathe of blanket bathroom, lochans, rivers and rocky outcrops, land that provides a rare feeling of escape. Kinloch Rannoch lies on the japanese finish of Loch Rannoch, offering the possibility to get out on the water, in addition to on to the dramatic moorland. Rannoch station – some of the distant within the UK – is eighteen miles’ drive, and makes a superb central spot for a day’s exploring, with a tea room on website. Or keep on the luxurious Loch Rannoch resort, with a top-notch spa.
Doubles from £157.50; lochrannochhotel.com

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