I’ve received a request from a lady that I met at last week’s Chesterton Conference for some ideas of good places to visit in England during her forthcoming trip to my native land. Here’s my sketchy guide to seeing England off the beaten track:

Following your planned itinerary, here are a few brief suggestions. I’m not going to go into any real detail so you will need to spend a little time googling to fill out the sketchy outline:

If you’re going to Walsingham, which is going to be very out of your way in relation to the other parts of the country you plan to visit, I suggest strongly that you add Oxburgh Hall (an absolute “must” with the best priest hole I’ve ever seen) and Ely Cathedral (simply beautiful). You really should also go to Castle Acre, the most beautiful village you can image. There’s a Norman Castle at one end of the village and the really splendid ruins of a Cluniac Priory at the other end (only about 800 yards apart). In between the castle and the priory there is a mediaeval arch (I used to live in the third cottage in the row of cottages adjoined to it), a splendid Norman parish church, a fine country pub and a tearoom. What more could anyone want!

If you’re passing through the Peak District and have the time and inclination to go hiking, I suggest that you hike to the top of Kinder Scout and experience the high moors. Castleton, a few miles from Kinder Scout, has a ruined castle, some geologically interesting cave systems and a couple of good pubs, and some good b&b’s if you want to spend the night.

If you’re heading north and have the time, you should see York (of course!) and, while you’re there, you need to make a point of visiting the shrine to St. Margaret Clitherow on The Shambles. If you’re literary, a visit to Haworth will set your romantic pulse racing, especially if you walk from Haworth Parsonage to the ruined farmhouse (Top Withens), across the bleak moors, which is allegedly the inspiration for the original Wuthering Heights.

If you’re heading to Scotland up the east coast, and if you have time, you should visit Holy Island (Lindisfarne), which is awash with Catholic history. If you’re heading to Scotland up the west coast it would be criminal not to visit the Lake District. Unfortunately the most romantic spot in the Lake District is the village of Wasdale Head in Wastwater. The Wasdale Head Hotel is one of my favourite places to stay in the whole world! It’s very difficult to get to (which is why it’s so romantic!). It would take two days, i.e. an overnight stay, but would be worth it!

Enough! I love my country and I hope you enjoy it.

image: Little Walsingham Abbey / Supercharged via Flickr