Beatrix Potter Country advice (car rental, rental, live)

[LittleDolphin]

Hello Readers,

We're hoping to visit Beatrix Potter country next Fall in early September. We'd also like to visit Royal Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. Or any other area of ancient trees and garden/woodland strolls.

Our goals are to absorb the history that is England in that lovely part of the world, be immersed in nature, have some woodland and village walks, perhaps a bicycle ride here and there and a bit of canoeing. Add some good pub chow and ale, a soft bed and good conversation, and that's our idea of heaven.

We're thinking about a self-catering cottage somewhere midway between the two areas or one place for a week in Lake District and one for a week in Wye Valley. But inns, hostels and castles appeal, too. Any place that's personality-filled. Landscapes dotted with sheep and shiny-coated horses, nickering contentedly in green fields.

It would be great if we could use public transportation and dispense with a car rental altogether. Is that possible?

As we're both writers with accompanying smallish budgets, we're looking for a holiday that's rich in experience but gentle on the purse-strings.

This will be our first visit to Great Britain, and we could sure use your advice and insight on how to go about this wonderful adventure.

It's likely a long-shot, but we'd also be happy to dog, cat or bird sit in exchange for lodging...we're avid animal lovers and sure enjoy walking with dog companions.

Thank so much for your thoughts...do you have recommendations on how to go about this two-week holiday?

Happy Hiker, wanting to hike through green England.

[LINCOLNSHIRE]

I have business ties in Hereford and my brother lives there..If you want to see the Wye valley, and do it from a central base, then Hereford is the place. There are more picturesque places along the river, although not many, and you`ll find them far more expensive,,and indeed in many cases quite Spartan....

[Hobokenkitchen]

I grew up in the Wye Valley in a small village called Brockweir. The area is exactly what you are looking for in terms of sheep and horses and gorgeous countryside.
I would recommend Tintern - the Abbey is interesting inspired a Wordsworth poem. There is a lovely (and very ancient) pub next door which serves great pub food and inexpensive (but basic) lodgings if my memory serves me correctly. The landscape is quite wonderful. You can do a lot of walking in the area. Chepstow is nice too - a small town (Tintern is a village) with pubs and Chepstow Castle.

Clearwell is a lovely village also with pubs and absolutely charming b&bs.

I would really recommend a car if you can, although if you would like to be at a base and then walk a few miles in each direction, then Tintern could work well for you. If you are interested I will try and remember the name of the pub in Tintern.

Enjoy!

[LittleDolphin]

Oh what lovely--and useful--advice I'm getting--thank you both. If the name of the Tintern pub with lodging emerges from the misty memory where it's stored, that would be great.

I'll also try a Google search.

Wish our visit wasn't so far away--but it gives us a year to save up the pennies...and dream...

There's a farm I uncovered in Cumbria that offers trail and seaside rides on "heavy horses"-- Clydesdales and Shires--that sounds quite fascinating, though probably making for some very sore sore legs. I do love horses and ponies.

If anyone else wants to weigh in, that would be great.

Brockweir--such an interesting name--you've migrated a far piece.