What is it that you imagine when you think of the countryside, birdsong, leafy lanes, wild flower verges?
The fact is that the countryside of Britain varies with each county.
Consider the countryside of Suffolk. Suffolk is a mostly rural county in East Anglia that is known for its gentle landscapes divided into farms and dotted with ancient villages, many of which have refences in the Domesday Book and contain large numbers of period cottages. It is the pervasive sense of history that adds to Suffolk’s charm. Who would not be attracted to rent a Suffolk holiday cottage?
Contrast the scenery of the mild dry climate of Suffolk with that of Yorkshire further north. The harsher climate of the north encouraged people to build weather resistant homes. Some of the stone-built cottages in Yorkshire have walls that are 2 feet thick to insulate against the elements. Limestone is plentiful in Yorkshire, it is the underlying rock and appears in outcrops in the countryside. It is also used to build the dry-stone walls that edge the fields and give much of rural Yorkshire its distinctive character. People holiday there to go walking in the Yorkshire Dales and on the moots. Several walking trails crisscross the county and cyclists are often seen pedalling down the quiet roads.
People who prefer their scenery rugged might like to holiday in a Yorkshire cottage whilst they explore what makes the county tick.
Travel further north to Scotland and granite becomes a popular building material for homes. It makes the houses as sturdy as rocks. Room sizes tend to be generous in the older detached or semi-detached villas, some of which date back to Victorian times. High ceilings add to a feeling of spaciousness and allow for the hanging of chandeliers. Ornate plasterwork was often a feature in these properties, especially for cornices or as friezes around a room.
Tourism is an important industry in Scotland and many of the newer holiday builds tend to be specially designed leisure buildings in the form of pine lodges or log cabins. These marry well with Scottish rural landscapes.
Holiday homes in Wales tend to represent the local housing market although wooden lodges are also popular. Holidaymakers are pleased with the added leisure facilities that are often included. Most will have a decked area which may contain a hot tub. There may be a sauna. The accommodation has a comfortable feel with wooden floors, walls and sometimes ceilings. A wood burner may add to the cosiness within.
The rural areas of Wales have much to offer visitors, there is the mountainous national park of Snowdonia and the hills of the Brecon Beacons. The Pembrokeshire National park has the attraction of a coastal path and amazing views. This path stretches the full length of Cardigan Bay. Nature has worked wonders on the countryside of Wales; there are so many stunning places to stay.
