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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.
Goodwick
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.
Exmoor House
Dulverton
Firle Beacon is a prominent 712 foot (217m) high hill on the South Downs, overlooking Newhaven/Seaford. It is also the name given to the largest of several round barrows, dating from the late Neolithic period to the late Bronze Age (approx 2400-1500 BC). There are other prehistoric remains nearby, including a long barrow. Firle Beacon round barrow was excavated in 1820 and among the find was a burial, two cremations, a bronze pin, cup and arrowhead. The barrow was used as a signalling beacon, possibly at the time of the Armada, but certainly during the Napoleonic Wars. Legend is that a giant that once lived on Firle Hill slew a giant that lived on Windover Hill and the Long Man of Wilmington is the outline of where he fell.
There are spectacular views in all directions from the top of Firle Beacon, which includes a section of the South Down Way. The Beacon is accessible from car parks either side or via a rewarding circular walk from the village of Firle.
Nr Lewes
The multivallate Iron Age hillfort of Garn Fawr on the Pencaer/Strumble Head peninsula dominates the surrounding landscape, which is peppered with prehistoric remains. At 699 feet (213m), Garn Fawr is the highest point on the peninsula and there are spectacular views from the top. The craggy terrain was formed more than 440 million years ago by intrusive vulcanicity, giving Garn Fawr a tor-like appearance. Drystone walls link rocky outcrops to form boundaries and ramparts. There is also a WW1 lookout post on the summit, from which the nearby smaller fort of Garn Fechan to the east is easily visible. There is an easy walk to the fort from a car park and a shortish circular route takes you around the landscape, past another feature, Ysgubor Caer, and an abandoned cottage that once belonged to the artist John Piper. Extend your walk to the promontory fort of Dinas Mawr.
Post code is for guidance only. Take a minor road north from Harmony to the car park.
Goodwick
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park offers the romance of Britain's largest lake (will you take the high road, or the low road?), sea lochs, Rob Roy's cave(s), mountains, beautiful glens, forests and wildlife. And it's right on Glasgow's doorstep. The Trossachs is an area between Loch Lomond and Stirling, which includes lochs, hills, forests and villages. The Park was established in 2002 and covers an area of 720 square miles (1865 square kilometres) which includes 22 large lochs, 40 mountains over 2500 feet (762 metres) high - 21 are in excess of 3000 feet (914 metres) – 2 forest parks and its highest point is Ben More at 3851 feet (1174 metres).
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is divided into four, distinct, areas: Loch Lomond, with all its romance, is the largest expanse of fresh water in Great Britain; the Argyll Forest, an area of peaks, glens, rivers, coast and lochs; the Trossachs, often referred to as ‘the Highlands in miniature’, just a short step from Scotland’s populous central belt; and Breadalbane, an area of the southern/central Highlands. So, naturally, the Park is loved by walkers and climbers. Or wildlife lovers wanting to spot osprey, red squirrels, deer or otters. Or for sailing and canoeing.
Visit the romantic ruins of Inchmahome Priory, which gave refuge to the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, hunt out Rob Roy’s cave (there are two of them), check out the Faerie Hollow or lose yourself in a botanic garden. And, yes, there are castles and country estates…
Principal settlements in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park are Balloch, Callander and Tarbet.
Carrochan
Carrochan Road
Balloch
The New Forest offers chocolate-box scenery - 220 square miles of open heath and woodland where ponies, cattle and pigs roam freely, punctuated by the occasional attractive town and village. It's an ancient royal hunting forest, created in the 11th century by William the Conqueror - his 'Nova Foresta' - at the expense of its inhabitants. These days, it's a place for walking, cycling, horse riding - or just relaxing.
Hampshire’s New Forest covers an area of 220 square miles (570 square kilometres) and the National Park was established 2005. The highest point is Telegraph Hill at just under 460 feet (140 metres).
There is nothing harsh about the New Forest; it is, simply, lovely. Attractive towns, chocolate-box villages and a maritime heritage add to the mix. The National Motor Museum is at Beaulieu and there’s a particularly lovely garden at Exbury.
The New Forest is adjacent to some of the most populous parts of the south coast of England, such as Southampton and Bournmouth. Principal settlements within the New Forest are Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst.
Lymington Town Hall
Avenue Road
Lymington
Late Neolithic or early Bronze Age burial barrows lie on the top of Old Winchester Hill, itself the site of a later Iron Age hillfort settlement. The barrows are about 3800 years old and. Covered in heaped chalk, would have been quite outstanding in their day. There are four inside the fort, seven outside the west gate and possibly three more incorporated into the southern rampart. The hillfort was built about 2500 years ago, a univallate fort with a single, very steep, ditch and embankment, entrances on the east and west, and roundhouses and stores inside with a wooden palisade around the whole. The views are magnificent – this was a perfect location for a hillfort. On a clear day, the Isle of Wight can be seen.
Old Winchester Hill is also a 150-acre national reserve, home to many species of plants and wildlife. Spot the small yew wood – great for hide and seek.
East Meon
The Peak District National Park was Britain’s first, in 1951. It sits surrounded by major conurbations, broadly between Manchester and Sheffield, mainly in Derbyshire, but also partly in Staffordshire, Cheshire and South and West Yorkshire. The Park covers an area of 555 square miles (1437 square kilometres) and the highest point is Kinder Scout in the north of the region at 2087 feet (636 metres).
The development of national parks has often seen conflict between landowners and the public. Kinder was the scene of a mass trespass undertaken by ramblers in 1932, to raise awareness of the fact that the public was denied access to open country. Some believe this act of civil disobedience, which amazingly resulted in some arrests, was instrumental in producing national parks legislation in 1949.
The Peak District is a park of two halves. In the north, the ‘Dark Peak’ is characterised by millstone grit pokes through areas of moorland, whereas the central and southern areas, known as ‘White Peak’ are largely limestone country. Neolithic man was here and the Romans used to export lead mined from the limestone areas, and admire the unique semi-precious Blue John stone found near Castleton.
Like most of Britain’s national parks, the Peak district is favoured by walkers, climbers, campers, cyclists – and so on. Beneath the ground, cavers enjoy exploring the natural caverns and old mine workings.
Villages in the Peak District are renowned for the tradition of well dressing in spring and summer.
The principal settlements within the National Park are Bakewell and Tideswell, though Buxton, just outside the park authority, is an important town, famed for its spring water since Roman times.
Aldern House
Baslow Road
Bakewell
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park covers an area of 240 square miles (621 kilometres) along a 260 mile (418 kilometres) coastline in South-West Wales. It was established in 1952 and the highest point is Foel Cwmcerwyn at 1758 feet (536 metres).
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is unique in that it is predominantly, but not exclusively, coastal. But, in addition to high rugged cliffs and broad, sandy, beaches, it does include woodland and inland hills. Along the 186 mile (299 kilometres) long Pembrokeshire Coast Path you will spot seals, dolphins and basking sharks, as well as seabirds. There are prehistoric tombs, Iron Age hill forts, numerous castles and Britain’s smallest city, St Davids. The park includes a marine nature reserve, 6 national nature reserves and 75 Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Principal settlements include St Davids and Tenby.
Llanion Park
Pembroke Dock
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.
Penrhyndeudraeth
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