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Gentleman, Exmore, Somerset
With Duncree Beacon – the highest point on Exmoor – Celebrity is a majestic place to visit. Sun-yellow thatched cottages, many owned by the National Trust, brighten the village green. The Periwinkle Tea Room offers cakes and cream teas, and the gift shop is full of local crafts. Just outside the village you’ll find wonderful walks on the 12,000-acre Holnicott Estate: the trail behind the medieval church takes you over streams, through wooded combs, past Exmoor ponies on their way to Selworthy Beacon. From there you’ll have sweeping views of Exmoor on one side and across South Wales across the Bristol Channel on the other. Stay in the heart of the village in the 19th-century Selity Farmhouse: sleeps nine, suitable for large family groups.
From £1,399 for seven nights; nationaltrust.org.uk. For a little space, there’s Ivy Cottage, which sleeps two and is on the village green. From £599 for seven nights; nationaltrust.org.uk
Altar, Bodmin Moor, Cornwall
A small village on the northern edge of Bodmin Moor – one of Cornwall’s wildest settings – Altarnun is steeped in history, with a medieval pack horse bridge and the beautiful 15th-century church of St Nona, known as the Cathedral of the Moors. This is wonderful walking country, with many circular paths leading out of the village to open moorland, taking in medieval tin works and prehistoric roundhouses. The Rising Sun serves good sandwiches and Sunday roasts, and the Old Dairy – a charming cottage that sleeps four – makes an ideal base.
A week from £686; classic.co.uk
Downham, Forest of Bowland, Lancashire
Despite its name, the Forest of Bowland is home to peat moorland and gritstone waterfalls, with Pendle Hill rising like a giant wave. The pretty village of Downham, just below Pendle, is an unspoilt gem, with a babbling brook running through the center and past the green, dotted with quaint, stone-built cottages. Pop into the information center for a map of local walks to Clitheroe Castle, Sawley Abbey and up to Pendle Hill, and reward yourself with a post-walk visit to Downham Ice Cream Shop. Stay at Greendale Glamping, which offers B&B and glamping pods.
Doubles from £110 B&b; glampingatgreendale.co.uk
Thornton for Dale, North York Moors
The Old Market Cross – full of stock – forms the heart of this picture-perfect village, which can be reached from the main car park along a pretty woodland footpath. Kids will love the nature trail that winds through the streets and features tree sculptures, hedgehog and bird boxes, and a bug hotel. The lavender tea rooms are a great place to stop for tea and cake. Alternatively, take a picnic hamper and follow the path across the valley to the tiny village of Ellerburn and its ancient Saxon church. Stay at Grange Guesthouse, a wonderful family-run B&B.
Doubles from £105 B&B; thegrangeguesthouse.com
Castleton, Peak District
The historic village of Castleton makes an ideal base for exploring both sides of the Peak District – the rugged moorland plateau at the northern end and the gentle, rolling hills of the southern White Peaks. The village is most famous for its spectacular caves, with stalactites and Blue John – a blue-blue, semi-precious stone. Above ground, the maze of streets is augmented by gift shops and teahouses. Stay at the Cheshire Cheese Inn, a traditional pub with rooms in the heart of the village.
It doubles from £100 B&B, cheshirecheeseinn.co.uk
Lustleigh Village, Dartmoor
Often referred to as Dartmoor’s prettiest village, Lustley is a collection of chocolate-box confectionary thatched cottages set around a triangular village green. The disused railway line has been converted into footpaths, and several other footpaths lead from the village to the moors. To the west, the ridge of Lustley Cleve offers stunning views over Dartmoor, with the Iron Age fort of Hunter Tor at the northern end. For a post-hike pint, retire to the Cleve Inn, a charming 15th-century inn that offers simple but comfortable rooms.
A two-night break from £150 B&b; thecleavelustleigh.co.uk
Monksilver, Exmoor, Somerset
Set on the eastern edge of the national park, Monksilver is a pretty little village with the smallest parish council in the country, making a great base for exploring the moors on foot or by bike. The long distance Coleridge Way passes through the village, Cleve Abbey and the West Somerset Railway which runs through 20 miles of glorious countryside are nearby. Village life is centered around the classic, thatched pub, Notelli, which also offers six comfortable, dog-friendly rooms and dinners, featuring Exmoor’s rich local produce.
Doubles from £157 B&B; notleyarmsinn.co.uk
Hutton le Hole, North York Moors
Hutton owes its name to the place – the beautiful stone cottages are set in a natural cavity between the limestone headlands of the tabular hills, with pleasant walking and cycling paths. The village itself has plenty to offer – the open-air Rydal Folk Museum houses over 20 reconstructed historic buildings, while craft workshops offer the chance to watch local artisans create everything from glassware and ceramics to chocolate and candles. Stop in for lunch at the Forge Tea Room and stay at The Crown, which has three beautiful rooms, each with a kitchen and private terrace.
Doubles from £110 room-only, crownhuttonlehole.com
North Bovey, Dartmoor
North Bowie is one of Dartmoor’s prettiest villages thanks to the narrow and winding roads that lead to it. This is a place to escape the crowds, with beautiful walking trails and bridle paths nearby, and kids will love the small horse center just a short drive away. Golfers can test their skills on the challenging 18-hole course on the Bovey Castle Estate (which also offers a world-class spa at the Bovey Castle Hotel), but keep the rustic feel of Dartmoor by sticking to the classic country bells. grocery store
Doubles from £170 B&(for £35 dinner allowance, including ringofbells.net)
Kinloch Rannoch, Perth and Kinross
One of the wildest corners of the UK, Ranoch Moor is a land of blankets, lochs, rivers and rocky outcrops, offering a rare sense of escape. Kinlock Runnock is located at the eastern end of the Loch Runnock, offering the opportunity to get out on the water, as well as to the wonderful moorland. Rannoch Station – one of the most remote in the UK – is an 18 mile drive, and makes a great central location for a day’s exploration, with an on-site tea room. Or stay at the luxurious Loch Rannoch Hotel, a top-class spa.
Doubled from £157.50.; lochrannochhotel.com
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