For England the history of the Counties dates back as early as the 7th Century and was expanded on by the Normans 400 years later, with Scotland and Wales following centuries after. Each County reflects not only a history but a local culture and identity. Why not travel the length and breadth of our amazing island and discover our unique and diverse heritage?
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.
Beautiful county in the Scottish Highlands – Eilan Donan Castle – iconic castle and popular filming location. Inverewe Gardens – famous for its exotic plants which thrive in the unique conditions created by the Gulf Stream meeting the Highlands. The Falls of Glomach – one of the tallest waterfalls in Britain. Benn Eigh National Nature Reserve – mountain peaks and ancient pine forests – home to a diverse range of wildlife including Golden Eagles. Attadale Gardens – stunning gardens with …
Stunning countryside, coastline and beaches. Home to some of the finest golf courses in Scotland. Glamis Castle – childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the inspiration behind Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The House of Dun – an exquisite Georgian country house in fine gardens and woodland. Arbroath Abbey and Brechin with its medieval cathedral and steam trains on the Caledonian Railway.
Historic county with unique sea lochs, hills, glens and beaches; home to golden eagles, red deer, otters and puffins. Inverary Castle – on the shores of Loch Fyne with its famous armoury hall and Fyne Ales Brewery welcoming visitors and samplers! Benmore Botanic Garden with its stunning collection of rhododendrons. Iona Abbey – a site of Christian pilgrimage, founded on the Isle of Iona by St. Columba.
On the west coast, linked to Scottish heroes William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Poet Robert Burn’s Birthplace Museum and the cottage where he was born. Culzean Castle and Country Park – a magnificent cliff-top castle with woodland, parkland and beaches. Dumfries House and grounds – another impressive stately home. The Scottish Dark Sky Observatory set in the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park.
Woburn Abbey – one of the first English stately homes to be opened to the public – with its safari park. Whipsnade Wild Animal Park – part of London Zoo – has 2,500 species in 600 acres. John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress in Bedford Prison – visit the Bunyan Museum and the Bunyan Meeting Free Church. The R101 airship disaster memorial is at Cardington and the Shuttleworth Collection of aircraft is at Old Warden Park.
Windsor Castle – the largest occupied castle in the world – with St George’s Chapel and the State Apartments; Windsor Great Park; Ascot racecourse; the civil war battlefields of Newbury; the Kennet and Avon Canal; the fascinating Cole Museum of Zoology; the Museum of English Rural Life; the Royal Mausoleum, Frogmore; Legoland; Magna Carta Island… and the glorious River Thames.
A vibrant, multi-cultural city with a fascinating historical heritage. Isambard Kingdom Brunel famously played a huge part in Bristol’s Victorian engineering infrastructure including the Clifton Suspension Bridge and redesign of the docks. Visit his steamship SS Great Britain in the dry dock where she was built. Enjoy the spectacle of the Bristol International Balloon Festival.
The stunning landscaped gardens of Stowe; the great art collections of Waddesdon Manor; the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery; Bletchley Park – the codebreakers’ home, Station X; Chenies Manor House; the gardens and woodlands of Cliveden; John Milton’s Cottage with rare editions of his work; the beautiful Burnham Beeches…and Olney Pancake Race.
Cambridge has been an important settlement since before Roman times. In the 11th century, religious orders and a breakaway group of Oxford scholars established Cambridge University. Its jewel is King’s College. Founded in 1441 by Henry VI, it features a stunning fan vaulted ceiling and a Rubens altarpiece. A good place to view some of the colleges and the bridges is from the Cam, aboard one of the famous punts. The Fitzwilliam Museum has a world-renowned collection of antiquities and …
Stunning landscapes stretching from Carmarthen Bay north to the Cambrian Mountains. Llandeilo – known as ‘the cool capital of Carmarthenshire’ nestles in the beautiful Twyi Valley. Carreg Cennen Castle – panoramic views from a dramatic cliff-top location. The National Botanic Garden of Wales – with the world’s largest single-span glasshouse. The Heart of Wales Railway – a great way to enjoy the countryside from Swansea to Shrewsbury. Laugharne – home and inspiration to the writer, Dylan Thomas.
Cardiganshire – Considered one of the least spoilt places in Britain with its superb combination of coast and countryside. Dolphin-watching boat trips on Cardigan Bay. The picturesque seaside town of Aberaeron, with its Regency-style buildings. The university town of Aberystwyth. Take a steam train from there, on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, to Devils Bridge with its unique waterfall set in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains.
The dramatic wooded slopes of Alderley Edge; the Chester Rows of the county town with its city walls and Roman amphitheatre; Quarry Bank Mill brings the Industrial Revolution to life; the estate and gardens of Tatton Park; The Museum of the Railway Age; ancient Maiden Castle; the wildlife treasure house of Delamere Forest; the wooded Dunge Valley Gardens high in the Pennines…and Cuckooland – fairground organs and cuckoo clocks.
Conwy Town- steeped in history, this world heritage site, boasts a thirteenth century castle and walls, picturesque harbour and suspension bridge as well as the smallest house in Great Britain! Llandudno – Victorian seaside resort with outstanding traditional pier, the longest in Wales – take the cable-car or tramway to the top of the Great Orme, a massive span of limestone headland rising dramatically out of the sea – look out for the wild Kashmir goats.
With its granite-fanged coast breaking the North Atlantic rollers, pointing the way to an ancient land of mystery and legend, wild terrain and exotic gardens. See Land’s End – England’s most westerly point – and the most southerly point, the awesome Lizard Peninsula. On the way, Penzance and the iconic St Michael’s Mount – England’s answer to Brittany’s Mont-St-Michel. To Cornwall’s great gardens. The Lost Gardens of Heligan – ‘the garden restoration of the century’ and Trebah, Trelissik, Trengwainton …
The ecclesiastical and academic wonderland of Durham with its magnificent cathedral and Norman fortress; Barnard Castle and its amazing French-style chateau housing the Bowes Museum; Newcastle upon Tyne – its bridges, including the Tyne and Gateshead Millennium, The Sage Gateshead, The Baltic, St Nicholas Cathedral and The Castle; step back into the 17th and 18th centuries at Beamish Open Air Museum; the first permanent working railway – the Stockton and Darlington; the Pennine Way with the River Tees dropping spectacularly …
The Lake District – England’s highest peaks, deepest valleys and longest lakes and Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter; Elizabethan Levens Hall and its topiary; the architectural puzzle of Dalemain; Eden Valley and Ravenglass and Eskdale railways; the Sea to Sea Cycle Route; St Bees Head Nature Reserve; Solway Aviation Museum…and the World’s Biggest Liar Competition.
Beautiful county in north-east Wales – rolling hills and moorland and ancient historical sites – medieval ruins of Castell Dinas Bran. The magnificent Pontcysyllte aqueduct in Wrexham – the largest aqueduct in Britain standing 126 ft tall and 1000 ft long. Bustling towns – Llangollen, a popular tourist destination – take a picturesque 7 mile trip on the Llangollen Steam Railway up the River Dee to the village of Carrog. Prestatyn, originally a Roman settlement, is great for walking with …
Dales, peaks, moors, caves and stately homes. Derbyshire is home to Britain’s first national park – The Peak District. To the north is Dark Peak – heatherclad moorland. To the south is White Peak – gently rolling hills. Edale is the scenic start of the 250-mile Pennine Way, which takes in Kinder Scout – the highest point in the park. The stunning, natural beauty of Dovedale is a foil to nearby Cromford, where the Industrial Revolution met the countryside. To the …
Lush pastures in a latticework of flower-decked lanes; stunning beaches set in a rugged coastline. All kept guard over by the lowering Dartmoor – bleak and isolated at its heart, with its ten tors standing defiantly against the elements, Devon’s national park is surrounded by thatched villages nestling in valleys alongside streams and waterfalls. Visit the Museum of Dartmoor Life, at Okehampton. Exeter is Devon’s vibrant county town, dominated by the twin towers of its gloriously ornate cathedral. Then southwest …
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.
A county of beauty, inspiration and super-history. Wallow in Thomas Hardy Country. Around Dorchester – Dorset’s county town – are the rolling hills of the Wessex countryside, that inspired Hardy’s powerful and vibrant novels and poetry. Much of Dorset’s coastline is known as the Jurassic Coast – England’s only natural World Heritage Site. It has given up many important fossil finds and has unique landforms including the stunning Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. A fascinating area overlooked by the ruins …
Stunning coastline and ancient woodlands. The Galloway Forest Park – the largest in Britain and an International Dark Sky Park. Learn of the life and times of Scottish hero, Robert the Bruce. Caerlaverock Castle – a medieval fortress. Moat Brae – the inspiration for J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and recently opened as the National Centre for Children’s Literature and Storytelling. Explore Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright, Wigtown and Moffat.
Ancient forest, historic rivers and a great heritage Let’s start in Colchester – the oldest recorded town in Britain. Its fascinating story is told in the town’s award-winning Castle Museum, housed in the Norman keep. There is also the world-renowned Colchester Zoo. Epping Forest was a favourite royal hunting ground – Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge still stands in the 6,000 acres. Hatfield Forest was another royal hunting haunt, now a wildlife reserve. When Audley End was built in 1614, it …
Beautiful countryside and stunning coastland on the east coast of Scotland- quaint fishing villages- Anstruther, Crail, Elie and St Monans to name a few – St. Andrews- historic seaside destination with excellent shopping and eateries- fabulous world-renowned golf course – ‘The Home of Golf’- cathedral and castle ruins – explore the underground mine passages and bottle dungeon. Enjoy the diversity of the heartlands of Fife – from the Lomond Hills, the highest point in Fife down to the coast …
Flint Castle – built in the 13th century by King Edward I. The ancient town of Holywell (named after the Holy Well of St.Winefride’s) and the nearby ruins of Basingwerk Abbey. Hawarden – with its two castles, one of them home to former prime minister, William Gladstone. It houses St. Deiniol’s Library with Gladstone’s collection of 32,000 books. The market town of Mold – a base for mountain walking in the Clwydian Range.
The Cotswolds and Bourton-on-the-Water, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Water, Chipping Campden and the ‘capital of the Cotswolds’, Cirencester. The magnificent Gloucester Cathedral; Severnside Tewkesbury; Slimbridge’s Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust; Westonbirt Arboretum; the ancient Forest of Dean and its wild boar and deer; Berkeley Castle…and view the River Wye and the falcons from Symonds Yat Rock.
Gwent is the largest and most densely populated county in the UK. Usk is located on the River Usk, which is spanned by an arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. Usk Castle, above the town overlooks, the ancient crossing point. Tredegar House is one of the most significant Restoration houses in Britain. Raglan was once a market town, held a regular court and three coaching inns. And it’s dominated by one of the largest castles in …
County in north west Wales incorporating the spectacular Lleyn Peninsula and Cambrian coast as well as further inland the dramatic landscapes of Snowdonia National Park – Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales. Bangor – lively city and university town – Penrhyn – a 19th century castle in stunning surroundings. Caernarfon – historic town boasting a magnificent castle overlooking the Menai Strait towards Anglesey. Blaenau Ffestiniog – historic mining town, now popular among outdoor enthusiasts – Bounce Below is an …
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – rolling chalk hills, ancient forest and great maritime history. Hampshire is dominated by the South Downs and Winchester, the county town and former capital of England. The magnificent Winchester Cathedral houses novelist Jane Austen’s grave. Her home, at Chawton, is nearby. Drop down to the valley of the River Test, to Broadlands, Hampshire’s Georgian architectural gem. Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, lived here. For many, Hampshire means the New Forest. Despite …
Mappa Mundi (the Map of the World) – drawn in 1290 and Hereford Cathedral’s greatest treasure; the city’s Old House, furnished in 17th century period-style; magnificent views of the Wye Valley from Ross-on-Wye cliff top gardens; Ledbury’s famous timbered houses; Elgar’s inspiration – the Malvern Hills; Hergest Croft Gardens – four separate gardens and fine trees; 14th century Brockford House and Estate; Burford House Gardens; Croft Castle…and Hereford’s Cider Museum.
The medieval splendour of St Albans Abbey and Cathedral; Verulamium (Roman St Albans) with its museum and Roman theatre; the Jacobean gem, Hatfield House, and the Tudor Hatfield Palace; Knebworth House, another Jacobean masterpiece; Shaw’s Corner, the home of George Bernard Shaw; the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre and the Tring Natural History Museum.
Scotland’s largest county covering much of the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides. Inverness – cosmopolitan city on the River Ness – Inverness Castle – St. Andrew’s Cathedral – Loch Ness – contains the largest volume of freshwater in the British Isles – watch out for Nessie! Nairn – seaside resort on the Moray Firth – two championship golf courses. Culloden Battlefield – site of the final Jacobite Rising – Clava Cairns – well-preserved Bronze Age cemetery.
Located off the mainland’s north west coast accessed by the Menai Suspension Bridge or the Britannia Bridge – 125 miles of stunning coastline – designated Area of outstanding Natural Beauty. Picturesque towns and villages – Holyhead – UK/Irish ferry port – Holyhead Breakwater Country Park – situated on the site of an old quarry- an abundance of birds and wildlife. Llangefni – the cultural centre of Anglesey – visit the unique landscapes of the ancient copper mine at Parys Mountain or …
The Garden of England – a title supposedly given by King Henry VIII after enjoying a bowl of finest Kentish cherries. Kent is much loved for its castles and gardens and rolling countryside, dominated by the North Downs, marching on to the White Cliffs of Dover. Along them, Pilgrims’ Way leads to the stunningly beautiful Canterbury Cathedral, the spiritual home of the Church of England. Below them is the gloriously fertile Weald with its rich agricultural heritage, reflected in its …
Mighty Morecambe Bay – take the railway from Ulverston to Arnside; birds of prey and antiques at Leighton Hall; Lancaster Castle and Maritime Museum; the Ribble Valley with Ribchester’s Roman Museum and Whalley Abbey; Manchester – the Town Hall, Urbis, Salford Quays and The Lowry; Crosby’s beach-bound sculptures; Liverpool – Royal Liver Building, Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool, The Walker gallery and The Beatles; Speke Hall; Port Sunlight Village…and Blackpool, still going strong.
Belvoir Castle with art collections, Regency nursery and spring and rose gardens; the renowned National Space Centre; Leicester Botanic Gardens; the ospreys of Rutland Water; the world’s largest primate collection at Twycross Zoo; the medieval Wing Maze; Leicester Castle and Bosworth Field battle ground; Foxton Locks – the largest canal ‘staircase’ in England…and Melton Mowbray pork pies.
Across the flat, fertile Fens to the rolling chalk uplands of the Lincolnshire Wolds, with its wooded valleys and sleepy villages. One of them, Somersby, is the birthplace of the poet, Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The triple towers of Lincoln Cathedral are visible for miles. The cathedral is a fascinating mix of Norman and Gothic styles. Look for the Lincoln imp gargoyle, turned to stone by an angel, then explore Lincoln Castle. Enjoy an Elizabethan extravaganza at Burghley House, home of …
Liverpool – the Liver Building, Pier Head, Albert Dock, The Walker Gallery and the Beatles; Crosby’s beach-bound sculptures, Another Place; Speke Hall Garden and Estate; the Southport Flower Show; Knowsley Safari Park; Port Sunlight Village and Heritage Centre and Freshfields Nature Reserve and its red squirrels.
Located to the south of Edinburgh, Midlothian is a beautifully rural area with rolling green hills and huge expanses of thriving woodland. Midlothian is easier to discover than ever before thanks to the Borders Railway. The railway line travels through beautiful countryside, connecting Edinburgh to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders with stops at the Midlothian towns of Eskbank, Newtongrange and Gorebridge. Visit the mysterious, late-Gothic Rosslyn Chapel, which featured prominently in the blockbuster film and book, The Da Vinci Code.
Stretching from the Brecon Beacons National Park in the west to the wooded valley of the River Wye. Abergavenny – a historic market town, surrounded by seven mountains. Blaenavon World Heritage Site – a monument to Wales’ immense contribution to the Industrial Revolution. The annual autumn Abergavenny Food Festival. Bustling Monmouth – set in the beautiful Wye Valley with a 13th century gate-house bridge. Caldicot Castle – a restored medieval fortress.
Descend by ladder into those times past at Grimes Graves – hundreds of flint mines dating back 4,000 years. Then, on to Norwich, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Britain. It is dominated by the magnificent cathedral and its 315 ft spire – the second tallest in England, after Salisbury. The Norfolk Broads is still a place of mystery and enchantment. Joined by six rivers, the broads are flooded medieval peat diggings. Great boating and a wildlife treasure house. …
Althorp House – childhood home and island resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales; Northampton Central Museum with the world’s largest collection of footwear; Lamport Hall and Gardens; Coton Manor Garden; Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum; Rushton Triangular Lodge and Lyveden New Bield; Irchester Country Park; Boughton House – ‘England’s Versailles’; Delapre Abbey and Elton Hall…and Wicksteed Park – the oldest leisure park in England.
The rugged coastline with holy Lindisfarne, the Farne Islands, Bamburgh Castle, fine beaches and the spirit of lifeboat heroine Grace Darling; the Cheviot Hills; Northumberland National Park; the stunning grounds of Alnwick Castle; the fairytale setting of Warkworth Castle; Chesters Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall; the three bridges of Berwick-upon-Tweed and the tiny but teeming Coquet Island nature reserve.
Nottingham Castle, overlooking the city of Nottingham; the 13th century Nottingham Caves with Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem pub and Brewhouse Yard Museum; Holme Pierrepont Hall; D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum; the Georgian elegance of Southwell and Sherwood Forest Country Park – part of the legendary home of Robin Hood.
Explore Oxford, the ‘city of dreaming spires’ – Radcliffe Camera, Christ Church, Ashmolean Museum, Sheldonian Theatre and 36 colleges. Marvel at the Long Library and gardens of Blenheim Palace; travel the Vale of the White Horse and the Cotswolds; stroll through Burford and Great Tew and along the Isis and the Oxford Canal…and enjoy ‘jolly boating weather’ at Henley-on-Thames.
Diverse scenery – from towering cliff-tops and sandy beaches to rolling hills and moorlands. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park – Britain’s only coastal national park. The Preseli Mountains in North Pembrokeshire – rugged moorland, heath and grassland- home to a vast range of plants and invertebrates. Surrounded by the sea on three sides – many vibrant coastal communities – Newport, a small market town on the River Nyfer, once a herring port. Tenby – a charming seaside town – take a …
County of forests, moors, rivers and waterfalls stretching from Strathmore in the East, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor in the west and Aberfoyle in the south. Perth – historic city situated on the banks of the River Tay – boasting ancient monuments, historic theatres, art galleries and museums – as well as an excellent shopping experience. Gleneagles – world renowned championship golf courses. Pitlochry Festival Theatre- ‘theatre in the hills’ providing an outstanding all-year programme. …
Two thousand square miles of stunning scenery – including waterfalls and mountains. The Cambrian Mountains – internationally recognised for trilobite fossils in the area between the spa towns of Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells and home to rare species such as golden plover, black grouse and red kite. Brecon Beacons National Park and International Dark Sky Reserve – Pen y Fan, highest peak in south Wales. 13th century Powis Castle – displaying one of the world’s greatest collections of art and …
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.
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 …
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 …
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 …
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.
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 …
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.
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 …
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 …
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 …
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.
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. …
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.
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.
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 …