Britain, places to visit, attractions, heritage
Find places to visit in Britain by name, location, type of attraction, or other keyword.

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BEACHY HEAD

Beachy Head is a famous chalk headland and landmark, immediately to the west of the town of Eastbourne. There are fine views and walks along the cliffs, approx 500 feet above sea level. There is parking nearby and at Birling Gap further along the coast. Beachy Head has an interesting history and was used as a listening and lookout post during WW2. The cliffs are, however, extremely dangerous and the area has a high death-rate, through a combination of foolish accident and, unfortunately, suicide. Beachy Head lighthouse began operating in 1902.

The post code below is for the nearby pub.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Nr Eastbourne
County
East Sussex
Post Code
BN20 7YA
Main Historic Period
N/A
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Eastbourne, Seven Sisters Country Park
Primary Management
Local Authority
BEDD ARTHUR

Bedd Arthur, Beddarthur, or Arthur’s Grave is one of many sites in Britain associated with the burial of the legendary King Arthur. It is thought to be a small stone circle – actually vaguely elliptical in shape – now comprising 13 upright stones and 2 fallen ones. It is an unimpressive sight unless you are an enthusiast about these things and the stones are not large – about 2 feet (60cms) above ground. They seem to lean inward, leading to speculation that there was once a mound, or burial chamber, inside. It is a dramatic location, alongside an ancient trackway and overlooking the Carn Menyn outcrops, thought by some to be the main source of the Stonehenge bluestones. Some have even suggested that Bedd Arthur is a prototype Stonehenge.

Post code is nearby.  Access by foot only, wearing suitable clothing.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Nr Mynachlog-ddu
County
Pembrokeshire
Post Code
SA66 7RY
Main Historic Period
Prehistory
Tip/Nearby
Foel Trygarn, Carn Menyn
Primary Management
National Park
BRECON BEACONS (The)

The Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales was established in 1957.  It is a mountainous area covering 519 square miles (1344 square kilometres).  In fact, the Brecon Beacons includes four distinct mountain ranges, the Black Mountain range in the west, the Brecon Beacons themselves, often referred to as the Central Beacons, where the highest mountain, Pen-y-Fan, is located (2907 feet/886 metres), the Fforest Fawr upland area and, just to confuse everyone, the Black Mountains in the east - which include a peak called Black Mountain.

Brecon Beacons National Park is famed for its waterfalls (like Henrhyd Waterfall and Ystradfellte), caves and forests; you can lose yourself in its wilder parts.  It is proud to be an International Dark Sky Reserve and, like many of Britain’s National Parks, the Brecon Beacons are used for military training, including by elite special forces.  The area is also packed with ancient sites, castles and industrial heritage.  There is even a narrow-gauge heritage railway, the Brecon Mountain Railway, which runs about 5 miles between Pant and Torpantau.

Principal settlements in the Brecon Beacons National Park are Brecon, Crickhowell, Gilwern and Hay-on-Wye – famous for its bookshops and literary festival.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Plas y Ffynnon
Cambrian Way
Brecon
County
Powys
Post Code
LD3 7HP
Main Historic Period
N/A
Link to featured article
Primary Management
National Park
BROADS (The)

The Broads in East Anglia, usually known as the Norfolk Broads despite part of the area being in Suffolk, cover an area of 117 square miles (303 sq kilometres).

This is a place to mess about in boats, spot wildlife and is only a couple of hours by train from London.  It is low-lying – the highest point is Strumpshaw Hill in Norfolk at just 125 feet (38 metres).  The ‘broads’ are lakes, formed from flooded medieval peat pits dating back to at least the 12th century.  Now they provide a 125 mile network of navigable waterways and rivers with a back-drop of fens, woodland and picturesque villages.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads is an internationally important area of protected wetland and contains more than 25% of Britain’s rarest wildlife.  Birds, like bitterns, grebes, marsh harriers, teals, wigeons and warblers can be spotted.  Clearly, there are plenty of fish and, if you’re lucky, you might see an otter too.  The Broads is also home to hundreds of invertebrates and is the only place where Britain’s largest butterfly, the swallowtail, can be found.

The Broads was established as a national park by Act of Parliament in 1988.

Principal settlements in the Broads include: Stalham, Wroxham, Brundall, Acle, Loddon, Beccles and Oulton Broad.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Broads Authority
Yare House
62-64 Thorpe Road
Norwich
County
Norfolk
Post Code
NR1 1RY
Main Historic Period
N/A
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Primary Management
National Park
CAIRNGORMS (The)

Named for the mountain Cairn Gorm, the Cairngorm National Park in North East Scotland was established in 2003 and is Britain’s largest.  Twice as big as the Lake District, it covers a diverse area of 1748 square miles (4,528 sq kilometres), which includes spectacular landscapes, wild mountains, moorland, forests, rivers and farmland.  There are 43 mountains over 3000 feet (914 metres); the highest point is Ben Macdui at 4294 feet (1309 metres).  So, this is challenging walking and climbing territory – and remote.  The forests are part of the ancient Caledonian Forest that covered much of northern Scotland thousands of years ago.  The Park is also home to some of Britain’s rarest animals, including the golden eagle, red squirrel and Scottish wildcat.

All of Scotland’s traditional wild creatures can be seen at the amazing Highland Wildlife Park and there’s a herd of reindeer that can be visited on the slopes of Cairngorm.  The Cairngorm National Park experiences some of Britain’s coldest weather.  It is one of the few places in Britain to offer the prospect of skiing on real snow – Aviemore being a favourite destination for this.  You can also bungee-jump and play golf (but not at the same time).

There are castles and country estates, like Blair Castle and Balmoral, one of the Royal Family’s favourite homes (parts of the Balmoral Estate are open to the public at specified times, but not during the summer).  The National Park has at least 6 whisky distilleries within its boundaries – and while you’re about it, why not attend one of the several Highland Games held at places like Braemar or Tomintoul.

Principal settlements in the Cairngorm National Park include: Aviemore, Ballater, Braemar, Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie, Newtonmore, and Tomintoul.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Cairngorms National Park Authority
14 The Square
Grantown-on-Spey
County
Moray
Post Code
PH26 3HG
Main Historic Period
N/A
Link to featured article
Primary Management
National Park
CEIBWR BAY

Ceibwr Bay is a relatively remote and tiny cove of rocks and sand hemmed in by tall cliffs. It is not a beach to swim from, but the scenery is wonderful and it is possible to spot dolphins offshore.  The coastline either side is wild and spectacular and it is well worth walking in either direction.  About a mile to the south of Ceibwr Bay is the popular Witches’ Cauldron sea cave.

North east of Molygrove.  There is limited roadside parking on the narrow road near Ceibwr Bay.  Post code approximate.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Ceibwr Lane
Moylgrove
Cardigan
County
Pembrokeshire
Post Code
SA43 3BU
Main Historic Period
N/A
Primary Management
National Trust
CORK STONE

The Cork Stone is one of a number of natural stone pillars on Derbyshire’s Stanton Moor. It is a well-known landmark, a piece of weathered sandstone that has stood for thousands of years, eroded into a mushroom shape resembling an enormous cork.  It is covered in graffiti dating from at least the 19th century and has step holes cut out of one side to facilitate climbing to the top.  Metal rods were added later, possibly in Victorian times according to a nearby information board.  There is a hollow bowl on top of the stone.

There is no postcode.  The address is for guidance only.  The Cork Stone will be found a short distance from a lay-by and information board on the east side of Birchover Road.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Birchover Road
between Birchover and Stanton in Peak,
W of the A6
County
Derbyshire
Post Code
DE4 2BN
Main Historic Period
N/A
Primary Management
National Park
DARTMOOR

Dartmoor is a place for walkers, geologists, history enthusiasts, campers – or anyone who likes being outside.  It is a sometimes mysterious, sometimes beautiful, sometimes harsh landscape, an upland area of granite heather-covered moorland.  Its most famous natural features are its tors - classic examples of exposed intrusive vulcanicity.  It also boasts wild ponies and an extraordinary number of prehistoric remains – standing stones, stone circles, rows and settlements – such as those at Grimspound and Hound Tor.  Remote Wistman’s Wood is a frankly weird oakwood, with stunted trees growing on a moss-covered landscape.  There are pretty villages too, such as Lustleigh, Widecombe in the Moor and Postbridge (with its 13th century clapper bridge).  Parts of Dartmoor are used by the armed forces for training, but there’s plenty of room for everyone else.

Dartmoor National Park in Devon was established in 1951 and covers an area of 368 square miles (953 sq kilometres).  It is an upland area of granite heather-covered moorland, completely land-locked, famous for its tors - classic examples of exposed intrusive vulcanicity.

Principal settlements in Dartmoor National Park include: Ashburton, Bovey Tracey, Buckfastleigh, Chagford and Moretonhampstead.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Dartmoor National Park Authority
Parke
Bovey Tracey
Newton Abbot
County
Devon
Post Code
TQ13 9JQ
Main Historic Period
N/A
Link to featured article
Primary Management
National Park
DINAS MAWR promontory fort

Dinas Mawr promontory fort is reckoned to date from the Iron Age and was probably the stronghold of a clan leader.  It is situated on the west of the Pencaer Peninsula, generally known as Strumble Head, jutting out into the Irish Sea.  The location is stunning, but not for those of a nervous disposition, especially in bad weather.  Dinas Mawr is accessible along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path or via a footpath off a minor road.  However, laymen will need to look for evidence of the fort.  A ditch is clearly visible on the headland between what were stone ramparts and traces of at least one hut circle can be made out just inside the ramparts.  Most of Dinas Mawr comprises a towering lump of rock, however, with severely restricted space for settlement to the east and the south of the crag; the top, surely, would have been too inhospitable.  Immediately beyond Dinas Mawr is the islet of Ynys y Ddinas.  Though a good defensive position, there is no fresh water and it is speculated whether the fort had some ceremonial or ritual purpose, for it cannot have been of much long-term use, or in the event of a prolonged siege.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Trefasser
Goodwick
County
Pembrokeshire
Post Code
SA64 0LR
Main Historic Period
Prehistory
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Garn Fawr fort, other prehistoric remains and Strumble Head lighthouse.
Primary Management
National Park
EXMOOR

Exmoor National Park is in the north of Somerset and Devon and covers an area of 268 square miles (694 sq kilometres).  The Park was established in 1954 and the highest point is Dunkery Beacon at 1702 feet (519 metres).  It is a varied area of moorland, farmland, deep valleys, ancient woodland and high sea cliffs, tumbling into the Bristol Channel.  Kites and kestrels wheel overhead, otters can be found in the gushing streams, while red deer and ponies roam wild.  Man has left traces from prehistoric times and in the middle ages it was a royal hunting forest.  Today, picturesque villages and hamlets nestle comfortably in its folds.

It is also famous for the fictional Lorna Doone, and the Beast of Exmoor – an elusive creature which, if it exists, may be some form of large wild cat, like a cougar, released or escaped from captivity.

Principal settlements in Exmoor include Lynton and Lynmouth, Dunster, Porlock and Dulverton.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Exmoor National Park Authority
Exmoor House
Dulverton
County
Somerset
Post Code
TA22 9HL
Main Historic Period
N/A
Link to featured article
Primary Management
National Park

If your favourite attraction is not listed yet, and you have a good quality digital photograph of it that you are able to freely send, please get in touch. 

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