Brimham Rocks is an area of weird and wonderful rock formations formed from deposits laid down in a river delta some 320 million years ago and then subsequently eroded by ice and water. It is a site of special scientific interest (SSI) and a magnet for geologists, naturalists, climbers and walkers, as well as families
Hardraw Force is England’s highest unbroken waterfall above ground. Allegedly, it featured in the scene in the film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), in which Kevin Costner in the title role bathes naked under a waterfall. Hardraw Force can only be visited in safety via the Green Dragon Inn in Hardraw, where you will
The recognisable Old Harry Rocks are three chalk formations, including a stack and a stump, located at Handfast Point, on the Isle of Purbeck, about 1 mile from Studland. They mark the most easterly point of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you’ve seen them on a screensaver, now you know what
Whitesands Bay is a rock-flanked wide, sandy, blue-flag beach popular with families, surfers, canoeists and body-boarders – particularly the northern end closest to St David’s Head. At very low tides, the remains of an ancient forest have been seen, and bones of deer, aurich and brown bear have been found. Traces of a 6th century
Yordas, or Yorda’s, Cave (confused it shouldn’t be with Joda) is a naturally formed limestone cave in the Yorkshire Dales. It became something of a showcave during the 18th and 19th centuries and is a popular place to visit for walkers and holiday makers now – as well as serious cavers. At times of heavy
Ingleborough is one of the Yorkshire Dale’s Three Peaks (the others being Whernside and Pen-y-Ghent) and the second highest at 2,372 feet (732 metres). There are good paths to the top from most directions, the most popular being from Horton in Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, Ingleton and Clapham. Ingleton and Clapham offer good parking and a selection
Mwnt is a stretch of coastline, a beach in a secluded sandy bay, a hill, a church. A few miles north of Cardigan on the Wales Coast Path, Mwnt is a sheltered cove, popular with families and one of the best places in Ceredigion to spot dolphins, porpoises and seals. There are easy steps to
Established by an Act of Parliament in 1753, the British Museum opened its doors in Montagu House, on its present site in London’s then fashionable Bloomsbury area, on 15 January 1759. It is an astonishing place that, in its own words, tells the story of cultural achievement throughout the world, from the dawn of human
Whernside is the highest of the Yorkshire Dale’s Three Peaks at 2,415 feet (736 metres). There are good paths to the top from most directions, the most popular being from Ribblehead via the famous viaduct, where you can learn a bit about the shanty towns that existed when the railway was being built. The path
The Silver Sands of Morar are a series of spectacular Scottish beaches next to the coastal stretch of the B8008 between Arisaig and Morar, part of the old Road to the Isles. The beaches are easily accessible by road, the water is crystal clear, the sand almost white and there are wonderful views across to
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One of Britain’s largest colonies of common and grey seals is at Blakeney Point, a 4-mile long spit that sticks out into the North Sea in North Norfolk. It is a national nature reserve, and a favourite spot for birds, native and foreign, as well as seals. Various companies run trips in small, open, boats, which last an hour and are well worth it.
Pen-y-Ghent is one of the Yorkshire Dale’s Three Peaks and the lowest at 2,277 feet (694 metres). There are good paths to the top from most directions, the most popular route starting and ending in Horton in Ribblesdale. A diversion to Hull Pot, a collapsed cavern, is highly recommended. Pen-y-Ghent is tackled by many as part of the Three Peaks Yorkshire Challenge.
