Beauty Spot

Loch Ness - still waters run deep

Loch Ness may be best known for the mythical monster, but this long and deep freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands is a beautiful location whether or not you get a glimpse of Nessie!

Read full article

Isles of Scilly - England's Atlantic archipelago

The southernmost land mass of the British Isles are the Isles of Scilly, far out into the Atlantic Ocean off the south-western tip of Cornwall. Covered in heathland, and fringed with beautiful sandy beaches, the islands are the remnants of a large body of molten rock forming millions of years ago.

Read full article

The Dark Hedges of County Antrim - a weird woodland world

A beautiful avenue of beech trees, planted by the local landowning family in the eighteenth century, has provided the legacy known as the Dark Hedges of County Antrim - a somewhat eerie landscape to be found near Ballymoney in Northern Ireland.

Read full article

Mourne Mountains - Northern Ireland's dramatic high spot

The Mourne Mountains are the highest and most dramatic mountain range in Northern Ireland, their summits crowned by granite tors. The mountains themselves are criss-crossed by a network of paths and tracks, which have led it to be voted the ‘Best Walking Destination’ in Northern Ireland.

Read full article

Tobermory

Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull, Scotland is a picture-postcard of a place with brightly painted buildings along the edge of the harbour, beneath high woodland-fringed hills surrounding the bay.

Read full article

Chesil Beach - Dorset's unusual natural seafront

Chesil Beach is an unusual coastal feature in Dorset creating an intriguing mix of beach and inland lagoon. The 18-mile long shingle barrier beach stretches from West Bay to the Isle of Portland and forms part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

Read full article

The View from Richmond Hill - its beauty protected by Parliament

The view from Richmond Hill in west London is the only view in England to be protected by an Act of Parliament. Since the late 17th century, artists have been attracted by the panoramic prospect of the meandering River Thames, verdant woods and meadows offered by this elevated position.

Read full article

St Ninian's Isle - Shetland's enchanting beach

Far north in Scotland, an enchanting beach links St Ninian's Isle to the mainland, the largest island in the Shetlands. A peaceful place with a forgotten but ancient history, and buried treasure to boot!

Read full article

Robin Hood's Bay - Yorkshire fishing and smuggling haven

Robin Hood's Bay is the home of a picturesque old fishing village on the Heritage Coast of the North York Moors. It ihas a traditional sandy beach, as well as rock pools to explore and ancient fossils to discover. Wandering through its narrow, twisting cobbled streets and alleyways, you can easily imagine the sailors and fishermen, smugglers and press gangs that walked these streets centuries ago.

Read full article

The Old Man of Storr - the sleeping giant of Skye

A beautiful rock formation on the Isle of Skye on Scotland's west coast, the Old Man of Storr is said to be the graveyard of a giant. This intriguing outcrop, set in a stunning landscape, has featured in a number of paintings, and as a backdrop in many films.

Read full article

The Norfolk & Suffolk Broads - picturesque waterways

The Norfolk & Suffolk Broads are an area of slow-moving rivers, fens, marshes and waterlogged woodland in the eastern parts of the counties. More than 125 miles of navigable lock-free waterways provide famous boating holiday destination, studded with charming towns and villages.

Read full article

The Valley of the Rocks - dramatic and romantic north Devon landscape

The Valley of Rocks is a dry valley that runs just inland parallel to the coast in north Devon, a short walk to the west of the tourist resort of Lynton. It is a popular destination, noted for its herd of feral goats, and for its distinctive landscape and geology.

Read full article

Romantically ruined - Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire

One of the most spectacular Scottish vistas is that of Dunnottar Castle at Stonehaven, just south of Aberdeen on Scotland's east coast. It is the epitome of a romantic ruin, high on a spur of rock jutting out into the North Sea.

Read full article

Lincolnshire Wolds AONB

The Lincolnshire Wolds are a delightful area of tranquil countryside of rolling hills and hidden valleys, gentle streams and nestling villages. The Wolds is the highest land in eastern England between Kent and Yorkshire.

Read full article

Mullion Cove - scenic harbour on the stormy Lizard coast

Mullion Cove is a picturesque harbour with a small fishing fleet on the west coast of the Lizard Peninsula in south Cornwall within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Cove is accessible by road from Mullion village, 1 mile away, and also lies on the popular South West coast path.

Read full article

Whitesands Bay, Pembrokeshire - spectacular scenery and surfing

Overlooked by the imposing craggy hill of Carn Llidi, Whitesands Bay is a wide expanse of fine white sand in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, curving north towards the remote rocky headland of St David's Head.

Read full article

Dungeness - a very odd spot

Dungeness is a headland on the coast of Kent, formed largely of a shingle beach. A combination of factors - the endless shingle, strange plants, boat skeletons, lighthouses, nuclear power station, nature reserve, miniature railway and miniature houses, plus the brooding near presence of the MOD combine to make this an eerie place.

Read full article

Llanberis Pass - rugged road and climbing challenge

Extending for just over 5 miles from Llanberis to Pen-y-Pass, the Llanberis Pass in Snowdonia has been the star of many a car advert due to the impressive backcloth of a drive along this dramatic open road.

Read full article

Lulworth Cove - much-loved feature of the Jurassic Coast

Lulworth Cove on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset is a spectacular curved bay created where the waves from the sea have cut through weaknesses in the coastal limestone and then eroded the softer clays beyond. It is a World Heritage Site and tourist location with approximately 500,000 visitors every year.

Read full article

Stow on the Wold - a Cotswold gem

Stow-on the-Wold is a small market town in the Cotswolds region of England. Its high position, overlooking beautiful countryside, and its attractive old architecture make it a tourist hotspot.

Read full article

Sychnant pass - a hidden treasure near Conwy, North Wales

Between Conwy Mountain on the north Wales coast and Tal y Fan is a hidden mountain pass. Taking its name from a nearby hamlet, Sychnant Pass may take a bit of finding, but then provides a fabulous scenic surprise.

Read full article

The Cotswolds - honey-coloured villages in gorgeous scenery

The Cotswolds is a particularly scenic and 'typically English' area in a central southern part of the country between Oxford and Gloucester around the Cotswold Hills. It is renowned for its rolling hills and pretty villages made of mellow local stone, winding country roads and picturesque farmland.

Read full article

Night sky delights in darkest Galloway

Light pollution has meant that the beauty of the night sky has been lost in many built up areas of Britain. But in 12 Dark Sky Places - Parks and Reserves - it's possible to experience truly dark skies - and see far-off stars and galaxies, just as our ancestors did.

Read full article

Clovelly: cascading village on Devon's coast

Clovelly is a very picturesque seaside village in North Devon, which belongs to a private individual. Due to its steep cobbled main street, which descends down to a small harbour, donkeys were traditionally used to transport goods from top to bottom. Clovelly's location, traditional architecture, and views over the Bristol Channel attract numerous visitors.

Read full article

Wastwater, the deepest lake in England

Wastwater is perhaps the most awe-inspiring of all the lakes in the Lake District. It is England's deepest lake and is surrounded by mountains, Red Pike, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Scafell Pike – England’s highest mountain.

Read full article

The Chee Dale stepping stones in the Peak District National Park

A walk through Chee Dale is one of the best hikes in the southern part of Derbyshire’s Peak District National Park, not least because of the fun of navigating some large stepping stones along the side of a river en route.

Read full article

Cheddar Gorge - Britain’s largest gorge

At 400ft deep and 3 miles long, Cheddar Gorge in Somerset is Britain’s largest gorge. As well as spectacular scenery, walks and climbs, the gorge has several deep caves to explore.

Read full article

The Gower Peninsula - the first designated area of outstanding natural beauty

The Gower Peninsula in south west Wales is a particularly scenic coastal area which projects towards the Bristol Channel. It is close to Swansea in the most westerly part of the former historic county of Glamorgan.

Read full article

The Island, Newquay - an unusual house on a seaside crag

The ultimate beach house sits perched on a 70-foot high rocky outcropping on the beach at Newquay, Cornwall. Cut off by water when the tide is in, the house is joined to the mainland by a tiny private suspension bridge.

Read full article

Watersmeet - a pretty spot for a cuppa on Exmoor

Watersmeet is the meeting place of the East Lyn river and Hoar Oak Water on Exmoor, Devon. Several walking routes converge here. And when you arrive, there is an attractive tea room to greet you!

Read full article

Skomer Island - a beautiful haven for birds and flowers off the Welsh coast

Skomer Island, just off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales, is known both as a wonderful refuge for marine birds and for its archaeological interest, with stone circles, standing stones and the remains of prehistoric houses.

Read full article

Staithes - where Captain Cook fell in love with the sea

Clinging to a hillside, Staithes has winding cobbled streets and pretty cottages. This North Yorkshire seaside resort, 10 miles from Whitby, is the quintessential charming fishing village.

Read full article

Ullswater - inspiring gem of the Lake District

Ullswater is the second largest lake in the English Lake District, being about 9 miles long and 0.75 miles wide. It is known as the 'Dark Lake' with links to Arthurian legend, and has been the inspiration of poets and artists, and a much-loved visitor destination.

Read full article

The Peak District National Park - Britain's first and now 70 years old

This year sees the 70th anniversary of the designation of the Peak District as the UK's first National Park. Officially established on 17 April 1951, it was the first of what are now Britain’s 15 national parks.

Read full article

The Seven Sisters - Sussex stars of a thousand postcards

Situated in the South Downs National Park, where the South Downs meet the English Channel, the Seven Sisters are a very pleasing rolling chalk cliff formation where the seven hillcrests have earned their affectionate nickname.

Read full article

Samphire Hoe - man-made natural delight by the White Cliffs of Dover

Samphire Hoe is an unusual man-made natural environment on the Kent coast, created with 4.9 million cubic metres of chalk excavated during the construction of the Channel Tunnel in the 1980's. It lies at the foot of a section of the White Cliffs of Dover near Folkestone, and it has developed a unique and intriguing ecology .

Read full article

Malvern Hills - romantic retreat and spring water source

The Malvern Hills in Worcestershire and Herefordshire (and a small area of Gloucestershire) are a range of pleasing low hills known for their soft beauty and as a source of spring water.

Read full article

Devil's Bridge, Wales

The village of Devil's Bridge, 10 miles inland from Aberystwyth in Wales, is named after a distinctive structure which spans the River Mynach here. Three bridges, stacked one above the other, straddle the ravine, and there are no other bridges built like this in the world.

Read full article

Cape Wrath - a dramatic point, miles from anywhere

The most north-westerly point in mainland Britain, Cape Wrath in Sutherland, Scotland, is one of the most remote places in the country. Visitors who reach this point will be rewarded with wild and beautiful scenery... and (thankfully) a cafe.

Read full article

Gold Hill, Dorset - the perfect English street

Gold Hill is a steep cobbled street in the town of Shaftesbury, Dorset, lined by ancient cottages of different shapes and sizes including thatched and tiled. The view has been described as 'one of the most romantic sights in Britain' and became famous in 1973, when bakers Hovis used the location for its 'Boy on Bike' TV advertisement.

Read full article

The Long Mynd - breathtaking views from the Shropshire Hills

The Long Mynd is a heath and moorland upland plateau that provides dramatic views in the Shropshire Hills, near the town of Church Stretton. It is approximately 7 miles long by 3 miles wide, and is broadly defined by steep valleys on its eastern side, and a long slope to the western side that rises in a steep escarpment.

Read full article

Holkham Sand Dunes - delicate delight on the Norfolk coast

Holkham National Nature Reserve on the Norfolk coast is England's largest national nature reserve. It has a wide range of habitats, but the amazing sand dunes are the most prominent feature.

Read full article

Box Hill, an inspiring viewpoint

Box Hill is a high point on the North Downs in Surrey near Dorking, about 19 miiles south-west of London. It has been a famed beauty spot for centuries and was used as a setting for an important scene in Jane Austen's novel "Emma", when almost all the major characters enjoy a rather fractious picnic there.

Read full article

Aysgarth Falls - a delight in the Yorkshire Dales

Aysgarth Falls are a well-known scenic attraction in Lower Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales. They are a triple flight of waterfalls carved out by the River Ure. This spot has been admired for its beauty for centuries. The broad limestone steps across which the water cascades are particularly pleasing to the eye.

Read full article

Pen-y-Fan, Brecon Beacons - a view worth the climb!

Pen y Fan is the highest peak in south Wales, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park. At 886 metres (2,907 ft) above sea-level, it is also the highest peak in southern Britain (ie south of Cadair Idris in Snowdonia).

Read full article

Tintagel - the breathtaking home of the legendary King Arthur

Tintagel Castle is a now-ruined medieval-era creation located on the small peninsula of Tintagel Island, in north Cornwall. Its location is famed as the legendary birthplace of King Arthur, and the 13th-century castle that stood here was built several centuries after his supposed reign, in honour of the mythic British hero king.

Read full article

Kynance Cove - a striking beach with small tidal islands

This is a tidal beach in Cornwall, on the Lizard peninsula, famous for its white sand, turquoise sea and serpentine rock stacks.

Read full article

Westonbirt Arboretum - treasure trove of trees

Autumn is arguably the perfect time to visit the world famous Westonbirt National Arboretum in Gloucestershire. The diversity and vibrancy of leaf colours to be found here are claimed to be unsurpassed in Britain, with fruits, hips and berries in profusion.

Read full article

The Wrekin - a Shropshire landmark

The Wrekin is a hill within the northern panhandle of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It rises above the Shropshire Plain to a height of 407 metres, and is located five miles west of Telford new town, it is a prominent landmark that signals the entrance to Shropshire for travellers.

Read full article

Glenfinnan Viaduct - drama on the West Highland Line

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is a renowned feat of Victorian engineering and the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland. It takes the West Highland Railway over the River Finnan 100ft below, on its journey between Fort William and Mallaig – and is one of the most picturesque train rides in the world.

Read full article

Beauty Spots of Britain

Featured article

Symonds Yat