City of Aberdeen – a striking city of granite offering a vibrant and cultural experience with a harbour boasting marine wildlife. The Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail – 165 miles of stunning coastline, beautiful beaches and seaside towns. Dunnottar Castle – an ancient fortress perched on a cliff-top. Balmoral Castle – the Royal Family’s summer home. The Cairngorms National Park – a breath-taking landscape including five of Scotland’s highest peaks.
Mountain grandeur, pastoral peace, wide beaches, a country of legend We’ll start our tour of Wales 3,650 feet up – on the summit of Mount Snowdon. It dominates the stunning Snowdonia National Park, which stretches from Llanberis, in the north, to the Dovey estuary, on Cardigan Bay. From here you can see Anglesey, with its 100 miles of coastline and 4,000 years of history. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park has a 170-mile path following the cliffs and beaches. The Brecon Beacons [...]
SCOTLAND – untamed mountains, secret glens, crystal lochs. We’ll tak’ the high road to the Lowlands – the Borders – which, despite its name, has plenty of wild, upland country. The ruins of medieval abbeys at Melrose and Dryburgh echo its turbulent past. On to Edinburgh. Keeping watch over this great city is Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny. Edinburgh Zoo has giant pandas and nearby Leith looks after the Royal Yacht ‘Britannia’. Then Glasgow…and [...]
IRELAND – Let’s start in Dublin – the “Strumpet City – with its Christ Church Cathedral, the Georgian beauty of Fitzwilliam Square and Merrion Square and the tranquility of Trinity College. Cultural tours celebrate the city’s history. Into County Wicklow – the Garden of Ireland – to ancient Glendalough and the Round Tower. The Great Famine and the subsequent emigration are remembered at New Ross with its replica emigrant ship and at Cobh – Cork’s Port. The city is dominated by the [...]
Moors and dales, pastoral and industrial, great history. They call York ‘a living museum’. Inside its three-mile long city walls is a treasure trove of history dominated by York Minster with its fabulous stained glass and Chapter House. There is also the world-renowned York Castle Museum and Jorvik, the Viking City. Yorkshire’s abbeys reflect its religious history. Byland and Rievaulx are worthy foils to Fountains Abbey, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among Yorkshire’s great houses, Castle Howard, an 18th century Baroque masterpiece, [...]
Worcester Cathedral overlooking the magnificent River Severn, Greyfriars and Commandery and Royal Worcester Pottery; Arley Arboretum; Tardebigge Locks – the UK’s longest flight of canal locks; the hippos of West Midland Safari and Leisure Park; the ancient Wyre Forest; medieval and Elizabethan moated Harvington Hall; Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings…and Worcestershire Sauce.
Super history with Stonehenge – a World Heritage Site – Avebury Stone Circles and Silbury Hill. Salisbury Cathedral, England’s tallest spire; the stunning landscapes of Stourhead; Bradford-on-Avon; Corsham and Lacock. Walk the Kennet and Avon Canal, The Ridgeway, Marlborough and Malmesbury and explore stately Longleat and its Safari Park.
Situated between Glasgow and Edinburgh is an area waiting to be explored. See the Pentland Hills, excellent for walkers with over 100km of sign-posted trails and many traditional Scottish towns and villages. Linlithgow is a town steeped in history. Visit the remains of Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of James V and Mary, Queen of Scots. See Livingston, the largest town in West Lothian providing a great shopping experience including Livingston Designer Outlet. Kirknewton is a traditional village in a beautiful region. Attractions [...]
Stratford-upon-Avon – Shakespeare’s birthplace, Holy Trinity Church, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Hall’s Croft, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Mary Arden’s House and Shakespeare Countryside Museum; Warwick Castle, with its Great Hall, State Rooms and Armoury; Charlecote Park – an architectural gem; Kenilworth Castle –England’s largest castle ruin; the world famous Twycross Zoo and Warwick Doll Museum.
The most southerly point of Wales – Glamorgan Heritage Coast – 14 miles of spectacular coastal scenery and wooded valleys. Steeped in history – from Ogmore Castle in the west to Cosmeston Medieval Village in the east. Barry – beautiful seaside resort full of maritime history; Barry Island – golden beaches and family attractions, filming location for the popular TV series ‘Gavin and Stacey’. Cowbridge – historic market town and excellent shopping experience. Penarth – characterful seaside resort across the water from [...]
North eastern county with quayside cities and glorious sandy beaches such as stunning Tynemouth Longsands. This is a blue flag award-winning mile long stretch of golden sands, nationally renowned for surfing. Newcastle is a bustling city with medieval castle, art galleries, theatres and museums and excellent shopping with unique boutiques. Fenwick’s of Newcastle is one of the largest luxury department stores in the country. Jesmond Dene is a beautiful park with native and exotic trees and wildlife, which follows the river [...]
Sutherland occupies much of the far north of Scotland. It has three coasts, which extend from Strathy and Tongue to Durness and Cape Wrath in the north; from Cape Wrath to Lochinver in the west; and from Helmsdale to Dornoch in the east. If it’s wide open spaces, wilderness, and true isolation you’re after, then Sutherland is one of the best places to find it. With a population density of barely two people per kilometre, you can truly get away from it all amongst this beautiful and rugged landscape.
Sussex is home to the highest of England’s chalk ramparts – Beachy Head. Known as Beau Chef by the Normans, it marks the end of the popular South Downs Way…do remember to stop! Sussex was the springboard to conquest by William I, who routed King Harold, at Battle. Then west to the peace of Cuckmere Haven, where the Cuckmere joins the sea via fabulous countryside. Great castles and stunning gardens make Sussex both exciting and relaxing to explore. Ancient Bodiam Castle is [...]
The North Downs – the Surrey Hills and Box Hill; Brooklands – spiritual home of British motor racing and aviation – and Brooklands Museum; Virginia Water and Winkworth Arboretum; RHS Wisley – a 240-acre ‘gardener’s dream’; Pride of the Valley Sculpture Park; Frensham Common and Gatton Park; Chobham Common – 1,400 acres of lowland heath…and the Epsom Derby.
A land of big skies, wide horizons, forest and marsh. Let’s start on the River Stour in the Dedham Vale…Constable Country. Suffolk’s greatest artist, John Constable, was born in East Bergholt. He was inspired by the stunning countryside, which is still much as it was. North to the architectural gem of Lavenham. With its 300 listed timber-framed houses, it has been described as ‘the most perfect of all English small towns’. To the Suffolk coast – always under threat from the sea. [...]
The Potteries – Stoke-on-Trent – with the Gladstone Pottery Museum, Etruria Industrial Museum and Ceramica; the fascinating Tudor manor house, Little Moreton Hall; Moseley Old Hall – Charles II’s hiding place; Lichfield – with its three-spired cathedral and birthplace of lexicographer Samuel Johnson; the Iron Age fort and cave dwellings of Kinver Edge; the architectural gem, Chillington Hall; the impressive Chartley Castle…and Alton Towers theme park.
Land of legend, moor, caves, green hills and valleys. Let’s start with a walk on Exmoor, sharing it with the wild ponies, red deer and buzzards. The medieval village of Dunster lies on its eastern edge, dominated by its Norman castle and wooded slopes. At Oare, relive the classic Exmoor romantic novel ‘Lorna Doone’. Arthurian legend shrouds Glastonbury. King Arthur’s body is said to lie in the ruins of the abbey and Glastonbury Tor is supposed to be the mythical Avalon. [...]
Spectacular countryside, castles and canals…and a great heritage. Up the River Severn into Shropshire and the Ironbridge Gorge – a World Heritage Site. The ten museums and the Iron Bridge preserve the history of the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. On up the river to the county town, Shrewsbury. A red sandstone castle guards the entrance to this medieval gem. Walk Fish Street. Then there’s Ludlow, another architectural treasure house, with its castle dominating the area. Nearby Stokesay Castle is a [...]
Main gateway to Scotland from the south – spectacular landscapes of hills and moorland, valleys and rocky coastline. The River Tweed offers some of the best fishing in Scotland. Home to rugby, the Rugby Sevens Tournament takes place through spring and summer. Famous for its tweeds, tartans and highest quality knitwear, browse the local mills and shops. Visit the market towns of Hawick and Galashiels. Explore Kelso, Melrose, Jedburgh and Dryburgh with their historic abbeys or step back in time to [...]
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a historic county in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire and Midlothian to the north-west, and Berwickshire to the north. Jedburgh Castle Jail & Museum is an attraction that looks like a grand castle – but inside is a different story! Floors Castle is not only a Duke’s family home, but also the heart of the diverse Roxburghe Estates in a beautiful part of the Scottish Borders.
