Countryside

Rutland Water is a reservoir, formed by damming the Gwash valley, which was completed in 1975. It is mainly fed by the rivers Welland and Nene and is the largest manmade lake (by surface water) in England. It not only supplies water, but is also surrounded by lovely countryside and parkland, offering walking, cycling, fishing and a whole variety of water sports. In fact, it has been described as ‘the playground of the East Midlands.’ There is also a nature reserve that, among other things, is home to the Rutland Osprey Project.

In 2021, the fossilised remains of Britain’s largest ichthyosaur, colloquially known as a ‘Sea Dragon’, were discovered at the Rutland Water Nature Reserve. The ichthyosaur is approximately 180 million years old and around 10 metres long, the biggest and most complete skeleton of its kind found so far in the UK.

There are several access points to Rutland Water. The postcode given is for the car park closest to Normanton Church. Check out the website link for more information.

The Scilly Isles, or more properly the Isles of Scilly, are an archipelago of 50+ islands and islets about 28 miles off the south-western tip of Cornwall. There are five inhabited islands - St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, Bryher and St Agnes. St Agnes is the most southerly point in the United Kingdom, about 4 miles further south than Lizard Point, the most southerly point of the British mainland. The capital of the Isles of Scilly is Hugh Town on St Mary’s, which is the largest and most populated island. The islands are famously warm, snow and ice being extremely rare, though they do suffer from Atlantic storms. They have a rich and varied history from prehistoric times, were known to the Phoenicians and Romans and are associated with many legends. The economy relies heavily on tourism and the Scilly Isles are a unique and lovely holiday destination. Access is by ferry, fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter; the ferry from Penzance takes about 3 hours.

The Seven Sisters are famous chalk cliffs on England's south coast. Within Seven Sisters' Country Park are a series of trails, taking in local views and wildlife, and a variety of outdoor activities are undertaken too. A favourite walk is from the country park following the small Cuckmere River to the beach, or up onto the cliffs. To get the famous view, you need to visit Seaford Head, accessed through the town of Seaford.

Snowdonia National Park in North Wales was one of Britain’s first, established in 1951.  It is a place of mountains, covering 840 square miles (2176 square kilometres). Snowdonia is known as Eryri in Welsh, a name that can be translated as “the place of the eagles”.  There are actually nine mountain ranges, caves, lakes, rivers and forests.  Like other National Parks in Britain, this is serious walking and climbing country and needs to be treated with respect.

The area is stacked with historic sites as well as world-famous places like the gardens at Bodnant and Sir Clough Williams-Ellis’ fantasy village, Portmeirion.  Snowdonia National Park also boasts no fewer than seven narrow-gauge railways: the Ffestiniog, Welsh Highland, Llyn Padarn, Talyllyn, Bala Lake, Fairbourne and, finally, the Snowdon Mountain Railway which will take you almost to the summit of Britain’s second highest mountain, Snowdon, at 3560 feet (1085 metres).

The principal settlements in Snowdonia National Park are Aberdyfi, Dolgellau, Trawsfynydd and Beddgelert.

The picture is of Castell-y-Gwynt (Castle of the Winds) a rock formation near the summit of Glyder Fach.

Stanton Moor is a small area of upland in the Derbyshire Peak District, up to around 1,000 feet (300+ metres) above sea level, between Matlock and Bakewell and with wonderful views over the Derwent and Wye valleys.  It was lived on and farmed 3-4000 years ago and traces of these ancient Bronze Age inhabitants are scattered across the landscape.  These remains have survived because the land has not been intensively farmed, thus preserving the type of monuments that have been destroyed in other parts of the country.  Some seventy barrows, four stone circles as well as ancient enclosures and standing stones have been identified, though most are covered with heather and hard to spot.  A notable exception is Nine Ladies stone circle.  Nevertheless, Stanton Moor is of such interest to archaeologists that it is all protected as a scheduled monument.  Many of the remains were excavated in the 20th century by local amateur archaeologists JP and JC Heathcote, who created a private museum of their finds in their home village of Birchover, on the edge of the moor.  Their collection is now in Weston Park Museum, Sheffield. Stanton Moor has also been used for quarrying, including up to the 20th century.

There is no postcode.  There are various points of access to Stanton Moor and the address given is one and for guidance only.  Find a lay-by on the east side of Birchover Road, where there is an information board.