The variety in the UK is amazing! It’s incredible that anyone who lives in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland ever travels outside of these countries given their abundance of picturesque landscapes, royal palaces, wild mountain ranges, and some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Here are five places in the UK that residents enjoy visiting.
Cornwall County, UK Coastline
Many Britons choose to spend their summer vacation in this county on the extreme southwest peninsula of the UK, but not just because it is the sunniest and warmest area. Although hikers adore the desolate, windswept Bodmin Moor, most tourists head straight for the picture-perfect fishing towns along the coast, such as Padstow, Mevagissey, Polperro, and Mousehole (pronounced “muzzle”). In reality, Cornwall offers two distinct coastlines: one along the English Channel and the other along the Atlantic Ocean, which dramatically converge at Land’s End.
Lake District, England
There are two types of British visitors to Cumbria, a county in northwest England: those seeking luxury and those seeking the complete opposite. Numerous opulent English country manor houses and hotels, including Armathwaite Hall and Brimstone Hotel, are available for the former. The Lake District National Park, which is home to Scafell Pike, England’s tallest peak, is accessible to other tourists.
Brecon Beacons, Wales
Wales is different from England. The wild areas are wilder, there are fewer people, and the drinks may be better. Wales has the darkest skies in the UK. The Brecon Beacons National Park, which is situated just to the north of the nation’s capital Cardiff, is the International Dark Sky Reserve that is the most accessible. Attractions include Waterfall Country and the remote Llanthony Priory, which also serves as an interesting hotel.
Isle of Skye, Scotland
Visitors from all over the UK come to the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of northwest Scotland to see the Old Man of Storr, which is located on the Trotternish peninsula. However, this untamed area, which is full of lochs, waterfalls, and castles, is a photographer’s and outdoor enthusiasts’ paradise. Skye is a Scottish island that is connected to the mainland by a bridge. It is known for its castles Armadale and Dunvegan, Kilt Rock waterfall, and the dinosaur footprints on An Corran Beach.
Pembrokeshire, Southwest Wales
Although the UK may not be well known for wildlife viewing, Pembrokeshire in southwest Wales has a disproportionate number of seabirds. Between April and July, the massive colony of Atlantic puffins on Skomer Island is the main draw. Dolphins and seals can be spotted elsewhere off the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park from its isolated beaches and coves. If you’d prefer to visit a castle, the little-known Carew, Llawhaden, and Manorbier castles in Pembrokeshire are notably different.
Go to Tenby if all you want to do is unwind by the water. This harbor town, frequented by many Welsh tourists each spring and summer, has four beaches and walls built in the 13th century that house numerous inns, pubs, and shops. Additionally, Beavers Retreat Glamping, which is close to Manorbier, has geodome yurts if you’d prefer something more serene. This is Wales at its most eccentric.