UK

https://10hikes.com/uk/north-york-moors-national-park-hikes/

Holloways Holloway walks

These holloways follow public footpaths, making them easy to access and explore:

Golden Cap, Dorset: The Golden Cap National Trust  estate is famous for its views over the Jurassic Coast, but it’s also  home to peaceful woodlands riddled with ancient holloways.

Newton Hollows, Cheshire: The historic Roman road  that once connected the 1st-Century CE settlement of Deva Victrix to  what is now the town of Warrington still survives as a holloway.

South Downs, Hampshire: The soft chalkland of the  South Downs is perfect for the creation of holloways. Walk one famous  example that winds between the Hampshire villages of Selbourne and  Alton.

SELECCIÓ JARDINS

SUD

[sudoest]

Stourhead House

Petworth House

Petworth (West Sussex)

CENTRE

[Oxford]

Stowe, 2010 (30km Oxford)

Blenheim

Rousham house [ la millor obra de Kent segons Walpole]

Packwood house

[Londres]

Kew

>Chiswick House, neo palladia

[Birmingham]

Packwood House

NORD

[derbyshire]

Chatsworth house

Yorkshire

Studley Royal

Rievaulx terrace

Castle Howard (Brideshead revisited)

ESCÒCIA

Mellerstain House Gardens

ENGLAND

London SouthEast Southwest EastENgland EastMidlands WestMidlands Yorkshire Northeast NorthWest

SCOTLAND

WALES

Geografia

Escòcia i Gales són plens de muntanyes, al centre hi ha el Lake District a l’OEst, i els Penines

ENGLAND

LONDON

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-hardy-tree-london-england Hardy tree al cementiri

SOUTH EAST

The region is known for its countryside, which includes the North Downs and the Chiltern Hills as well as two national parks: the New Forest and the South Downs. The River Thames flows through the region and its basin is known as the Thames Valley. It is also the location of a number of internationally known places of interest, such as HMS Victory in Portsmouth, Cliveden in Buckinghamshire, Thorpe Park and RHS Wisley in Surrey, Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, Windsor Castle in Berkshire, Leeds Castle, the White Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, Brighton Pier and Hammerwood Park in East Sussex, and Wakehurst Place in West Sussex. The region has many universities; the University of Oxford is ranked among the best in the world.

WINDSOR CASTLE (F): Wander through such attractions as St. George’s Chapel, where some British monarchs are entombed; and visit the Jubilee Gardens spread over .8 hectares (2 acres). You’ll need at least 2 hours to explore the castle.

Winchester i John KEats

Winchester Cathedral (Winchester, Hampshire): Construction of the cathedral that dominates this ancient city and capital of old Wessex began in 1079. In time, Winchester Cathedral became England’s longest medieval cathedral, noted for its 12-bay nave. Many famous people are buried here, including Jane Austen.

The South Downs Way: Beginning in the cathedral city of Winchester, in the West Country, the South Downs Way, one of the most scenic hikes in the south of England, goes all the way to the town of Eastbourne. The distance across the bucolic terrain is 159km (99 miles). A bridleway forms the trail across these chalk uplands as you traverse miles of woodland. A highlight is the “Cliffs of the Seven Sisters.” Bookstores in Winchester sell copies of A Guide to South Downs Way, by Miles Jebb (Constable Press), and the even more detailed South Downs Way, by Paul Millmore (Aurum Press).

OXFORD (F) or atmosphere and affordable food, have lunch at the Turf Tavern, following in the footsteps of everybody from Elizabeth Taylor to Bill Clinton. We’d then recommend a 2-hour walking tour that departs at 2pm daily from the Oxford Tourist Information Centre. This is the best orientation for the highlights of this university city. To crown the afternoon, climb Carfax Tower for a panoramic view of the “city of dreaming spires.” If there’s still time in the afternoon, engage in that popular local pastime: “Punting the River Cherwell”.

Blenheim i Hampton Court (F)

DOVER

CANTERBURY

Dockey Wood a Buckinhamshire: a la primavera el terra cobert de lfors: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dockey-bluebell-woods

SOUTH WEST

The region includes the West Country and much of the ancient kingdom of Wessex. The largest city is Bristol. Other major urban centres include Plymouth, Swindon, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Exeter, Bath, Torbay, and the South East Dorset conurbation which includes Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch. There are eight cities: Salisbury, Bath, Wells, Bristol, Gloucester, Exeter, Plymouth and Truro. It includes two entire national parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor (a small part of the New Forest is also within the region); and four World Heritage Sites, including Stonehenge and the Jurassic Coast. The northern part of Gloucestershire, near Chipping Campden, is as close to the Scottish border as it is to the tip of Cornwall.[2] The region has by far the longest coastline in England and many seaside fishing towns.

The region is at the first-level of NUTS for Eurostat purposes. Key data and facts about the region are produced by the South West Observatory. Following the abolition of the South West Regional Assembly and Government Office, local government co-ordination across the region is now undertaken by South West Councils.

The region is known for its rich folklore, including the legend of King Arthur and Glastonbury Tor, as well as its traditions and customs. Cornwall has its own language, Cornish, and some regard it as a Celtic nation. The South West is known for Cheddar cheese, which originated in the Somerset village of Cheddar; Devon cream teas, crabs, Cornish pasties, and cider. It is home to the Eden Project, Aardman Animations, the Glastonbury Festival, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, trip hop music and Cornwall’s surfing beaches. The region has also been home to some of Britain’s most renowned writers, including Daphne du Maurier and Agatha Christie, both of whom set many of their works here, and the South West is also the location of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex, the setting for many of his best-known novels.

SALIESBURY i STONEHENGE (F) for the night and visit Salisbury Cathedral, whose architectural framework may already be familiar to you because of the John Constable paintings. Allow 1 1/2 hours to visit its interior and wander about the cathedral complex.

If you’re ready for a busy afternoon, you can head first for Wilton House, ancestral home of the earls of Pembroke, where General Eisenhower lived as he plotted the D-day landings on the beaches of Normandy in 1944. Allow 1 1/2 hours for a visit, including strolling through its rose and water gardens and taking a riverside walk.

You’ll still have time to descend on ancient Stonehenge, a visit taking 1 1/2 hours. Lying 14km (9 miles) north of Salisbury, this colossal circle of stones is, of course, one of the world’s greatest prehistoric monuments, though still a mystery to archaeologists. It dates from 3000 B.C.

Salisbury Cathedral (Salisbury, Wiltshire): The most stylistically unified of England’s cathedrals, this edifice was built in the mid-13th century. Its landmark spire — its most striking feature — was completed in 1325. The cathedral epitomizes the Early English style of architecture.

Wistman’s Wood Dartmoor national Park

Dartmoor National Park: Rich in legend and lore, this national park northeast of Plymouth is home to gorges, fields of purple heather, and the Dartmoor pony. The park is crisscrossed with about 805km (500 miles) of walking and hiking trails, along with bridle paths. To get the scenic most out of this area, join one of the guided walks offered by the Dartmoor National Park Authority, ranging from an easy 1 1/2-hour jaunt to 6 long hours of trekking.

BATH (F)

In a trail blazed before you by the likes of Queen Anne and Jane Austen, Bath is the grandest and most elegant city of the West Country, lying 185km (115 miles) west of London. Northwest of Salisbury, a distance of 67km (41 miles), Bath can be easily reached in a morning’s drive.

After checking into a hotel and having lunch in Bath, you can view some of its grand squares, such as the Circus, dating from 1754, and take in Bath Abbey and the Pump Room and Roman Baths, all in an afternoon. That evening, try to catch a performance at Theatre Royal Bath.

WELS GLASTONBURY (F)  Wells, Glastonbury Abbey & Exeter

A busy day indeed. Leave Bath in the morning and drive 34km (21 miles) southwest to the city of Wells, where you can visit its famous cathedral, dating from the 12th century. The structure is noted for its vast and intricate inverted arches added in 1338. After a visit lasting less than an hour, continue 9.5km (6 miles) to the southwest to visit historic Glastonbury Abbey, the famous abbey ruins and legendary retreat of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. Allow 45 minutes for a visit.

Arrive in Exeter, the capital of Devon, and check into a hotel. Exeter lies 151km (94 miles) southwest of Bath. If time remains, visit its cathedral dating from 1112.

Glastonury Somerset

PLYMOUTH (F)  Plymouth & the Mayflower

In the morning, drive to Powderham Castle, the seats of the earls of Devon and a site used in Merchant Ivory’s The Remains of the Day, starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. The location is 13km (8 miles) to the south.

After a visit, continue southwest following the southern coastline of Devon, heading for a luncheon stopover in the port of Dartmouth, 56km (35 miles) southeast of Exeter. This is the ancient seaport home of the Royal Naval College.

Continue for the night to the historic seaport of Plymouth, a distance of 390km (242 miles) southwest of London. If you arrive in time, you can visit the spot where the Mayflower sailed to the New World and walk along the Barbican, with its maze of narrow streets and old houses. Either in the late afternoon or early in the morning of the next day, visit the National Marine Aquarium, the best in Britain.

PENZANCE (F)  Day 12: Penzance on the Cornish Coast

A good part of the day will be consumed driving along the southern Devon and Cornish coasts, one of the most historic of England, until you arrive in the city of Penzance, a distance of 451km (280 miles) southwest of London. Check into a hotel for the night in Penzance.

Spend 2 hours visiting the Castle on St. Michael’s Mount, and try to catch a performance that evening at the Minack Theatre.

CHELTENHAM (F) Day 13: Cheltenham

In the morning, cut inland and take the A30 northeast toward the Cotswolds, until you reach the scenic village of Painswick, where you can break for lunch. After a visit to the Rococo Garden, continue northeast into Cheltenham, where you can book into a hotel for the night. Try to catch a performance that evening at the Everyman Theatre. But before dinner and the theater, walk through the historic core of Cheltenham, especially along its Promenade, one of the most beautiful thoroughfares in England

DOrset Thomas Hardy

Somerset Coleridge

EAST ENGLAND

Imagine irresistible sandy beaches and simmering sunsets – the East of England has it all and is the perfect country retreat any time of the year.

Inland, the east is full of beautiful countryside. Have some adventure at the Norfolk Broads, the Brecks, Thetford Forest, and Constable Country.

Suffolk is teeming with charming countryside and curious old villages. Visit the medieval town of Lavenham to see its windy streets, colourful, crooked buildings… and a touch of Harry Potter because it was the filming location for Godric’s Hollow.

Norfolk shares Suffolk’s gorgeous coastline and has its own share of quirky villages to explore, too. It’s also regarded as the bird-watching capital of the UK due to its magnificent variety of bird life and beautiful nature reserves.

Take a boat trip to see Norfolk’s remarkable seal colony at Blakeney Point. It has both common and grey seals and is a great day out for the family.

Poblets de Suffolk: Lavenham, Bury St Edmunds

Caiac a Norfolk Borads: http://www.visitthebroads.co.uk/

The Broads are divided into two sections – The Northern Broads consists of 7 rivers and is generally busier with tourists. The Southern Broads consists of 5 rivers and is calmer, more peaceful and less busy.

Short visit tolls are available from the Broads Authority at Yare House, 62-64 Thorpe Road, Norwich NR1 1RY and from a variety of short visit outlets in the Broads.

Costa de Norfolk: Platja de Holkham bay

Ely

CAMBRIDGE

caiac

Punting on the Cam: This is Cantabrigian English for gliding along in a flat-bottom boat with a long pole pushed into the River Cam’s shallow bed. You bypass the weeping willows along the banks, watch the strolling students along the graveled walkways, and take in the picture-postcard vistas of green lawns along the water’s edge.

Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge, East Anglia): Although London dominates this list, some outstanding regional museums exist, including this gem near King’s College. Exhibits range from paintings by Titian and Renoir to Chinese, Egyptian, and Greek antiquities.

The university town of Cambridge is a collage of images: the Bridge of Sighs; spires and turrets; drooping willows; dusty secondhand bookshops; carol singing on Christmas Eve in King’s College Chapel; dancing until sunrise at the May balls; Elizabethan madrigals; narrow lanes upon which Darwin, Newton, and Cromwell once walked; the “Backs” where the college lawns sweep down to the River Cam; tattered black robes of hurrying upperclassmen flying in the wind.

Along with Oxford, Cambridge is one of Britain’s ancient seats of learning. In many ways, their stories are similar, particularly the age-old conflict between town and gown. Cambridge can name-drop with the best of them, citing alumni such as Isaac Newton, John Milton, and Virginia Woolf. Cambridge continues to graduate many famous scientists such as physicist Stephen Hawking, author of A Brief History of Time.

In the 1990s, Cambridge became known as a high-tech outpost, or “a silicon fen,” if you will. High-tech ventures continue to base themselves here to produce new software — start-up companies produce £2 billion a year in revenues. Even Bill Gates, in 1997, financed an £80-million research center here, claiming that Cambridge was becoming “a world center of advanced technology.”

Things to See in Cambridge

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Oxford University predates Cambridge, but by the early 13th century, scholars began coming here, too. Eventually, Cambridge won partial recognition from Henry III, rising or falling with the approval of subsequent English monarchs. Cambridge consists of 31 colleges for both men and women. Colleges are closed for exams from mid-April until the end of June.

The following listing is only a sample of the colleges. If you’re planning to be in Cambridge a while, you may also want to visit Magdalene College, on Magdalene Street, founded in 1542; Pembroke College, on Trumpington Street, founded in 1347; Christ’s College, on St. Andrew’s Street, founded in 1505; and Corpus Christi College, on Trumpington Street, which dates from 1352.

Caution: Students at Work — Because of disturbances caused by the influx of tourists, Cambridge limits visitors, or excludes them altogether, from various parts of the university. In some cases, a small entry fee is charged. Small groups of up to six people are generally admitted with no problem; you can inquire with the local tourist office about visiting hours. All colleges are closed during exams and graduation, on Easter and all bank holidays, and other times without notice.

King’s College

The adolescent Henry VI founded King’s College on King’s Parade (tel. 01223/331100;www.kings.cam.ac.uk) in 1441. Most of its buildings today date from the 19th century, but the construction of its crowning glory, the Perpendicular King’s College Chapel, began in the Middle Ages. Owing to the whims of royalty, the chapel wasn’t completed until the early 16th century.

Henry James called King’s College Chapel “the most beautiful in England.” Its most striking features are its magnificent fan vaulting, all in stone, and its great windows, most of which were fashioned by Flemish artisans between 1517 and 1531 (the west window dates from the late Victorian period). The chapel also boasts Rubens’s Adoration of the Magi and an ornamental screen from the early 16th century. The chapel is famous for its choir and musical concerts. You can call the college for concert dates and times.

Insider’s tip: For a classic view of the chapel, you can admire the architectural complex from the rear, which is an ideal picnic spot along the river. To acquire the makings of a picnic, head for the vendors who peddle inexpensive food, including fresh fruit, at Market Square (Mon-Sat 9:30am-4:30pm). You can also get the makings of a picnic at a major grocery store, Sainsbury’s, 44 Sidney St. (tel. 01223/366891), open Monday to Saturday 8am to 10pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. E. M. Forster came here to contemplate scenes for his novel Maurice.

The chapel is open during college term, Monday to Friday 9:30am to 3:30pm, Saturday 9:30am to 3:15pm, and Sunday 1:15 to 2:15pm and 5 to 5:30pm. During the term, the public is welcome to attend choral services Monday to Saturday at 5:30pm and on Sunday at 10:30am and 3:30pm. During school vacations, the chapel is open to visitors Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 4:30pm and on Sunday 10am to 5pm; it is closed from December 23 to January 1. It may be closed at other times for recording sessions, broadcasts, and concerts.

An exhibition in the seven northern side chapels shows why and how the chapel was built. Admission to the college and chapel, including the exhibition, is £5 for adults, £3 for students and seniors, and free for children 11 and younger.

Emmanuel College

On St. Andrew’s Street, Emmanuel (tel. 01223/334200;www.emma.cam.ac.uk) was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay, a chancellor of the exchequer to Elizabeth I. John Harvard, of the American university that bears his name in another city called Cambridge, studied here. You can stroll around Emmanuel’s attractive gardens and visit the chapel designed by Sir Christopher Wren, consecrated in 1677. Both the chapel and college are open daily during sunlight hours.

Insider’s tip: Harvard men and women, and those who love them, can look for a memorial window in Wren’s chapel dedicated to John Harvard, an alumnus of Emmanuel who lent his name to that other university.

Peterhouse College

On Trumpington Street, Peterhouse College (tel. 01223/338200;www.pet.cam.ac.uk) attracts visitors because it’s the oldest Cambridge college, founded in 1284 by Hugh de Balsham, the bishop of Ely. Of the original buildings, only the hall remains. It was restored in the 19th century and has stained-glass windows designed by William Morris. The chapel, called Old Court, dates from 1632 and was renovated in 1754. Ask to enter at the porter’s lodge.

Insider’s tip: Almost sadly neglected, the Little Church of St. Mary’s next door was the college chapel until 1632. Pay it the honor of a visit.

Queens’ College

On Silver Street, Queens’ College (tel. 01223/335511;www.quns.cam.ac.uk) is the loveliest of Cambridge’s colleges. Dating back to 1448, it was founded by two English queens, Margaret of Anjou, the wife of Henry VI, and Elizabeth Woodville, the wife of Edward IV. Its second cloister is the most interesting, flanked by the early-16th-century half-timbered President’s Lodge.

Admission is £2 for adults, free for children 11 and younger accompanied by parents. A printed guide is issued. From October 27 to March 14, hours are daily 1:45 to 4:30pm; March 15 to May 18 Monday to Friday 11am to 3pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4:30pm; May 19 to June 21 closed; June 22 to September 28 daily 10am to 4:30pm; September 29 to October 26 Monday to Friday 10:45am to 4:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4:30pm. Entry and exit is by the old porter’s lodge in Queens’ Lane only. The old hall and chapel are usually open to the public when not in use.

Insider’s tip: Queens’ College’s wide lawns lead down to the “Backs” (the backs of the colleges), where you can stroll, sit, or go punting. Take in Mathematical Bridge, best viewed from the Silver Street bridge, dating from 1902.

St. John’s College

On St. John’s Street, this college (tel. 01223/338600;www.joh.cam.ac.uk) was founded in 1511 by Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, who launched Christ’s College a few years earlier. The impressive gateway bears the Tudor coat of arms, and the Second Court is a fine example of late Tudor brickwork. The college’s best-known feature is the Bridge of Sighs crossing the Cam. Built in the 19th century, it was patterned after the covered bridge in Venice. It connects the older part of the college with New Court, a Gothic Revival on the opposite bank, where there is an outstanding view of the famous “backs.” The Bridge of Sighs is closed to visitors but can be seen from neighboring Kitchen Bridge. Wordsworth was an alumnus of this college. Visitors are admitted from March 3 to October 28 daily 10am to 5:30pm; it is also open Saturday and Sunday in November and again in February at the hours given. Admission is £2.80 for adults, £1.70 for seniors and children 12 to 17, free for children 11 and younger. Visitors are welcome to attend choral services in the chapel.

Insider’s tip: The Bridge of Sighs links the old college with an architectural “folly” of the 19th century, the elaborate New Court, which is a crenellated neo-Gothic fantasy. It’s adorned with a “riot” of pinnacles and a main cupola. Students call it “the wedding cake.”

Trinity College

On Trinity Street, Trinity College (not to be confused with Trinity Hall; tel. 01223/338400;www.trin.cam.ac.uk) is the largest college in Cambridge. It was founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, who consolidated a number of smaller colleges that had existed on the site. The courtyard is the most spacious in Cambridge, built when Thomas Neville was master. Sir Christopher Wren designed the library.

Insider’s tip: What’s fun to do here is to contemplate what went on here before you arrived. Pause at Neville’s Court where Isaac Newton first calculated the speed of sound. Take in the delicate fountain of the Great Court, where Lord Byron used to bathe naked with his pet bear. Why a bear? The university forbade students from having dogs, but there was no proviso for bears. Years later, Vladimir Nabokov walked through that same courtyard dreaming of the young lady he would later immortalize as Lolita. For admission to the college, apply at the porter’s lodge. Trinity College is open to visitors March to November Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm. There’s a charge of £2.20 adults, £1.30 seniors and children, and £4.40 for families.

EAST MIDLANDS

Leicester

Nottingham

Chatsworth

THE PEAK DISTRICT – AT A GLANCE

* The Peak District and Derbyshire is an area of contrasting natural beauty, with moors and dales, rivers, springs and caverns.

* At its heart is the Peak District National Park, known and loved by millions for its breath-taking views, relaxation, inspiration and adventure.

* The area is home to market towns, pretty villages, historic houses, famous attractions and hundreds of traditional events.

* The Peak District has some of the best historic houses and stately homes, including Chatsworth, Haddon Hall and Renishaw Hall.

* Did you know? The Peak District is home to Britain’s first national park.

Peak District National Park: A district of moors, dales, green valleys, waterfalls, and steep hills, the Peak District National Park is the scenic highlight of the East Midlands, covering some 1,404 sq. km (542 sq. miles). The Peak District National Park will supply you with details for hiking through this rugged terrain. The most evocative walk is the Monsal Trail, lying between Buxton and Bakewell — two towns that make the best centers for touring the park.

[      ]

WEST MIDLANDS

The West Midlands is one of nine official regions of England at the first level of NUTS for statistical purposes. It covers the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains Birmingham and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley, Solihull, Walsall and West Bromwich. The City of Coventry (once known as the UK’s answer to the USA’s ‘Motor City’ Detroit) is also located within the West Midlands county, but is separated from the conurbation to the west by several miles of green belt.

The region is geographically diverse, from the urban central areas of the conurbation to the rural western counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire which border Wales. The longest river in the UK, the River Severn, traverses the region southeastwards, flowing through the county towns of Shrewsbury and Worcester, and the Ironbridge Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Staffordshire is home to the industrialised Potteries conurbation, including the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and the Staffordshire Moorlands area, which borders the southeastern Peak District National Park near Leek. The region also encompasses five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Wye Valley, Shropshire Hills, Cannock Chase, Malvern Hills, and parts of the Cotswolds. Warwickshire is home to the town of Stratford upon Avon and Rugby, the birthplace of the writer William Shakespeare and Rugby football respectively.

Stratford Upon Avon (F) Shakespeare.

stopping in at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and purchasing a global ticket.

After lunch in Stratford, try to visit at least three of the Shakespeare-related properties in the afternoon, including Shakespeare’s Birthplace; Holy Trinity Church, where he is buried; and Hall’s Croft, where his daughter, Susanna, lived.

That night have dinner and a pint at the Black Swan, nicknamed “the Dirty Duck”.

On the morning of Day 5, continue your exploration of the Shakespeare properties by visiting Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Mary Arden’s House (Glebe Farm)/Palmer’s Farm.

After lunch in Stratford, head in the afternoon to Warwick Castle, England’s greatest medieval castle, lying only 13km (8 miles) northeast of Stratford

(jardins)

COTSWOLDS (F) For your final day in England, arm yourself with a good map and set out to explore the most beautiful villages in the Cotswolds.

From Cheltenham, and by doing some crisscrossing here and there, you can take in the best of the Cotswolds. Scenic highlights of your day will include Upper and Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury, Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Moreton-in-Marsh. Finally, in the north Cotswolds, you arrive in the most scenic town of Broadway, with what is arguably the most beautiful High Street in England. However, it’s overrun with visitors in summer and charges very high prices. Make your way northeast to the even more charming village of Chipping Campden, which you can walk around and explore in 2 hours, spending the night before heading back to London and your final destination in the morning.

Motoring Through the Cotswolds: If driving involves a determined trip from one place to another, motoring is wandering at random. And there’s no better place for it than the Cotswolds, less than 161km (100 miles) west of London, its rolling hills and pasturelands peppered with ivy-covered inns and honey-colored stone cottages.

Painswick: Deep in the heart of the Cotswolds, this old wool town is still remarkably well preserved, its ancient buildings still guarding the narrow streets blanketed by antique cottages of honey-colored stone. Its church is known for the 99 yew trees. According to legend, the Devil won’t let the 100th yew tree grow. To the north of the town, its Rococo Garden is visited by people from all over the world.

The Great Cotswold Ramble: One of the most memorable walks in England is between the two idyllic villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter. And it’s only 1.6km (1 mile). A well-worn footpath, Warden’s Way, meanders beside the edge of the swift-flowing River Eye. You pass quaint cottages, antique houses, stately trees, footbridges, and old millponds. You can also extend the walk another 2.5km (1 1/2 miles) to romantic Bourton-on-the-Water.

The Cotswolds Way: One of the great hiking “rambles” of England is the Great Cotswolds Way, a 167km (104-mile) trail that cuts through some of England’s most beautiful scenery in the bucolic Cotswolds. Laid out as late as 1968, the ramble goes from the town of Chipping Campden, arguably the most beautiful in the Cotswolds, in the north, going all the way to the spa city of Bath. The trail is clearly signposted at every intersection en route. The hike takes from 7 to 8 days, but, of course, you can stop at any point.

Cotswolds

YORKSHIRE AND HUMBER

Hull

York

York Minster (York, Yorkshire): The largest Gothic cathedral north of the Alps is also among the grandest, with incredible stained-glass windows. Its unusual octagonal Chapter House has a late-15th-century choir screen by William Hyndeley.

NORTH EAST

Berwick upon tweed

Durham: ciutat antiga, cat

Durham Cathedral (Durham, Yorkshire): Built between 1095 and 1133, this cathedral exemplifies Norman architecture on a broad scale. Its nave, a structure of almost majestic power, is its most notable feature.

Leeds: compres

Lincoln

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220804-the-uks-deadliest-garden Alnwick garden Northumbeland (entra Newcastle i Edinburgh) jardí de plantes verinoses

 NORTH WEST

Lake District Wordsworth

* A place of superlatives, the Lake District National Park is the largest in the UK and boasts England’s highest mountain – Scafell Pike – and its largest lake – Lake Windermere.

* The area has long been a magnet for artists and writers. Visit Hill Top cottage to see where Beatrix Potter penned many of her famous works, or retrace the footsteps of William Wordsworth at his home Dove Cottage, now a quaint museum packed full of memorabilia.

* Billed as the ‘Gateway to the Lakes’, Kendal in South Cumbria makes a natural first stop on your Lake District adventure while the market town of Keswick provides a great base for exploring the northern lake and the beauty of nearby Borrowdale.

* Did you know? You can fly 200m across the top of Grizedale forest with Go Ape’s tree top adventure course. Designed to entertain tarzans big and small, expect to traverse the tree canopy on zip wires and aerial walkways.

* Be sure to check out Go Lakes for more info on places to stay and events in the area.

* The Lake District is in Cumbria, North West England. It’s around 3.5 hours away from London by train and 1.5 hours from Manchester International airport.

Cruising on Lake Windermere: Inspired by the lyric poetry of Wordsworth, you can board a boat at Windermere or Bowness and sail England’s most famous lake. You’ll see the Lake District’s scenery, with its tilled valleys lying in the shadow of forbidding peaks, as it was meant to be viewed — from the water. A great jaunt is the round-trip from Bowness to Ambleside, at the head of the lake, and back around to the village of Lakeside, at the southern tip.

HADRIAN WALL: camí de Newcastle, creaur ho tot

Newcastle

NORTHUMBERLAND – AT A GLANCE

* Once the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire, Hadrian’s Wall stretches 73 miles across the north of England, much of it across the top of Northumberland.

* The remote and unspoilt North Pennines is an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, this breathtaking wilderness is home to an array of wildlife, including 80% of the UK’s black grouse population.

* The Farne Islands, in easy reach just off the coast, are declared by broadcaster David Attenborough as his favourite place in the UK to see nature at its best. Around 23 different varieties of birds can be spotted here, including colourful puffins.

* Did you know? Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England. Be sure to check out Bamburgh Castle in its magnificent surrounding settings and Alnwick Castle which stood in for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films and where you can take broomstick flying lessons.

MANCHESTER

MANCHESTER – AT A GLANCE

* Home to two of England’s most popular football teams – Manchester United and Manchester City – don’t miss the chance to get closer to the history and the legend of these iconic clubs with a stadium tour.

* Experience the atmosphere of Canal Street – one of Britain’s most famous gay villages.

* Art lover? Head straight to The Lowry. This unique gallery is home to the world’s largest collection of works by LS Lowry, one of the best loved British artists of the 20th century.

* Spend the day rummaging through the record shops and vintage stores of the bohemian Northern Quarter.

* Did you know? On Curry Mile, you’ll have the pick of more than 70 restaurants serving South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines.

* Don’t forget to check out VisitManchester, where you’ll find local celebrity top tips and much more.

* You can fly from London in 1 hour or travel by train in 2 hours. In fact, you may be able to fly direct from your home country – Manchester has the largest airport outside London, flying to around 225 destinations worldwide.

Manchester (Lancashire): A major inland port since 1894, Manchester long had a reputation as a blackened, foggy, and forbidding city, grim and dowdy, the worst of the Midlands. But it has been cleaned up, and today its center is filled with masterpieces of sturdy, solid Victorian architecture, including homes built for the great industrial barons of the 19th century.

Manchester had its origins in Castlefield, immediately southwest of the city’s historic core, which local authorities have designated an “urban heritage park.” Interlaced with canals that helped transport building supplies during the city’s late-19th-century heyday, Castlefield’s known as a place to escape from more crowded venues downtown. Long ago, it was a densely populated neighborhood that housed as many as 2,000 civilians beginning in A.D. 79, when Manchester was Mamucium, a fortified Roman camp strategically positioned between other Roman outposts, Chester and Carlisle. The roots of modern-day Manchester grew from here, providing the basic goods and services that supplied the soldiers in the nearby fort. After the Romans abandoned their fortress in A.D. 411, the settlement, by then known as Mancestra, stood alone throughout the Dark Ages.

Manchester slumbered for centuries until its heyday came in the 18th and 19th centuries. The development of the Bridgewater Canal, which transferred raw materials and coal to Manchester’s factories from outlying regions, spurred the city’s industrial growth. Warehouses arose around the wharves, their names suggesting their wares (for example, Potato Wharf). Later, Liverpool Road housed the world’s first passenger railway station, today home to the Museum of Science and Industry.

Though the city atrophied for decades after its reign as industrial capital of the world, an interest in urban renewal emerged in the 1970s. Many of the city’s grand canals and warehouses have been restored, and Castlefield is once again a thriving, vibrant district loaded with a curious mixture of antique and ultramodern buildings randomly positioned next to each other. Such neighboring districts as the Northern Quarter seem to specialize in funky bars and shops selling all manner of used clothing and 1960s-era nostalgia.

ART GALLERY: 10 a 17

Blackpool: destinació de mar

Liverpool: LIVERPOOL – AT A GLANCE

* This is the place for all things Fab Four. You can spend an afternoon at The Beatles Story museum, see the houses where John Lennon and Paul McCartney grew up and enjoy a night out at the  Cavern Club, where the band famously performed.

* Or explore some of Liverpool’s 7 free museums. You can ponder modern art at the Tate Liverpool or entertain the kids at the excellent World Museum Liverpool.

* Local Liverpudlians are sports mad. The city is home to two of the Premier League’s biggest football teams – Liverpool FC and Everton FC.

* Did you know? Many of the main attractions are concentrated around the historic Albert Dock. Get yourself oriented on an Introducing Liverpool walking tour, which run daily.

* VisitLiverpool has lots of great ideas to inspire your visit.

* The journey from London to Liverpool takes around 2 hours 15 minutes by train.

SCOTLAND

http://www.wildernessscotland.com/blog/top-10-scottish-sea-kayaking-spots/ [marcats els senzills]

Ruta Escòcia

EAST

Edinburgh

Old Town’s Royal Mile, stretching from one of the city’s major sights, Edinburgh Castle, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. You can probably visit only one of these attractions before lunch, saving the other for the afternoon. We suggest you go to Edinburgh Castle in the morning and Holyroodhouse in the afternoon. Then, during the latter visit, you can also check out the new Scottish Parliament building.

As the afternoon wanes, head down into the New Town for a walk and some shopping along the fabled Princes Street. In the early evening, drop into an Edinburgh pub for a pint or a wee dram — and for a sample of some local life. Have dinner in one of the New Town’s wide variety of restaurants.

On Day 2, which could turn into a very busy day, check out the artistic masterpieces in the National Gallery of Scotland and see the artifact-loaded National Museum of Scotland. Both of these treasure-troves can be seen in 1 busy morning. In the afternoon, and for a change of pace, visit Calton Hill in the east of Edinburgh — it looks like Athens — and the Royal Botanic Garden, one of Britain’s greatest botanical gardens. For your final night in Edinburgh, have dinner in one of the ancient restaurants of the Old Town, following in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson.

Edinburgh’s reputation is enormous, and the city essentially lives up to it. The second-most popular destination after London for visitors to Great Britain, the Scottish capital is one of the most picturesque cities in Europe. Built on a set of steep hills, Edinburgh is unarguably dramatic.

Old Town lies at the heart, with Edinburgh Castle at one end of the Royal Mile, which follows the spine of a hill down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. For many visitors, this is Edinburgh, with its mews, closes, and alleyways. But across the valley to the north, now filled by the verdant Princes Street Gardens, is the city’s New Town, which dates to the 1770s. Here are tidy streets and broad avenues, another popular focal point in Edinburgh, with restaurants, bars, shops, squares, and attractions, such as the National Portrait Gallery. New Town reaches out to the village-like setting of Stockbridge – from which one can walk along the city’s narrow meandering river, the Water of Leith – to Dean Village (another district that feels almost rural in nature) and the National Gallery of Modern Art and its sister arts venue, the Dean Gallery.

Between the city center and Haymarket is the West End. It has more outstanding examples of New Town-styled buildings, as well as a cluster of performance spaces such as Usher Hall and the Traverse Theatre.

Edinburgh’s Southside is mostly residential, but offers the sprawling park known as the Meadows, the precincts of Edinburgh University, as well as suburbs such as Marchmont. North of the city center is the now vibrant district around the port of Leith on the Firth of Forth, which empties into the North Sea.

Edinburgh’s world-famous annual cultural celebration – the Edinburgh Festival – brings in tourists and lovers of art of all forms from around the world. But if you prefer a bit more space and smaller crowds, avoid the month of August in Edinburgh.

A Note on Museum Hours –During the Edinburgh Festival, some museums that are normally closed on a Sunday will be open, and hours can be generally longer. Some museums that open only in summer are also open on public holidays throughout the year.

National Gallery Bus — If you plan to visit the various branches of the Scottish National Gallery, from the Dean to the Portrait, a good way to get around is by using the free shuttle bus service that stops at them all.

Siccar point, on James Hutton va estimar l’edat de la terra: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230329-the-benefits-of-deep-time-thinking

Escòcia, el view point de Walter Scott: B6356, TD6, United Kingdom

MELROSE

Day 14: Melrose, Highlight of the Borders

For your final look at the Borders, leave Moffat on Day 14, which promises to be busy. The best place to stop today is Melrose, northeast of Moffat and only 60km (37 miles) southeast of Edinburgh. Check into a hotel at Melrose and use it as a base for exploring nearby attractions. In the town itself, visit Abbotsford House, former home of Sir Walter Scott; Melrose Abbey, which embraces some of the most beautiful ruins in Europe; and Traquair House, Scotland’s oldest and most romantic house.

In the afternoon, drive 19km (12 miles) east of Melrose, to the town of Kelso. Here it is but an 11km (6 3/4-mile) jaunt to Mellerstain, one of the most famous mansions designed by Robert Adam. Allow 2 hours for a visit. Return to Melrose for the night and plan an early-morning departure for Edinburgh and your return home.

JUPITER ARTLAND: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jupiter-artland jardí amb art

SOUTHWEST

GLASGOW

Glasgow Willow tea room

(2 dies) Glasgow, which is only 65km (40 miles) west of Edinburgh. You can arrive in time to check into a hotel and see The Burrell Collection before lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, one of the finest in Britain, and the Glasgow Science Centre, on the banks of the River Clyde. After a visit to a Glaswegian pub, if that’s your style, head to dinner in one of Glasgow’s restaurants.

On the morning of Day 4, visit the Cathedral of St. Kentigern, which dates from the Middle Ages. You’ll still have time to check out the masterpieces at the Hunterian Art Gallery before lunch. For the afternoon, you can explore Glasgow’s fascinating Museum of Transport and visit some minor attractions, such as The Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour, or take in some shopping along Sauchiehall Street or Argyle Street. In the evening, should you wish, you can attend a performance of opera or ballet at Theatre Royal.

Glasgow is a reasonably compact and contiguous city – roughly the size of Amsterdam or San Francisco. As its 19th-century expansion was inspired in part by American cities such as Chicago, Glasgow’s city center is laid out U.S.-style on a grid. Not very European, but at least the heart of the city is user-friendly. Most visits begin here, amid the rich Victorian architecture, whether it be 19th-century banks (many of which have been converted to other uses such as restaurants and bars), office buildings, warehouses, and churches.

Culturally, the options in the heart of Glasgow include architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s School of Art, the city-owned Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), and the Tron Theatre. There is also the Gothic medieval Glasgow Cathedral and the splendid Victorian Theatre Royal. These attractions are all within a fairly short walking distance of each other. Three main boulevards – Argyle, Buchanan, and Sauchiehall streets – form a Z shape and have been made into predominantly car-free pedestrian zones, which offer a wealth of shopping opportunities.

Adjacent to the commercial center is Merchant City, where loft conversions over the past 25 years have created a hip, happening quarter with many lively bars and restaurants. The affluent and urbane West End has the city’s top university, its most desirable homes, and plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops. This area is trendy and lively, with some of the city’s best nightlife. Leafy and attractive, with the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum fabulously refurbished and now one of the most visited attractions in Britain, the West End is many visitors’ favorite place to explore.

A river runs through Glasgow, and the modern city has yet to capitalize fully on the real potential of the Clyde. The shipbuilding industry that made the river famous is long gone. There isn’t even an active, attractive marina for leisure boats today. At least, not yet. But bits of the waterfront have been improved and there is a certain urban charm to the riverbank, which has a national cycle path.

On the opposite side of the Clyde from the city center and West End, the Southside spreads out with well-established suburban neighborhoods. Some say this is the “real” Glasgow. While mostly residential, it is home to at least one major, arguably world-class, attraction – the Burrell Collection — that merits an excursion south of the River Clyde.

City Center & Merchant City

The proverbial heart of Glasgow is George Square, at the doorstep of the seat of local government, the City Chambers, which Queen Victoria opened in 1888. The building’s interiors have been used for movie sets (sometimes to represent the Kremlin), and the lavishly decorated Banqueting Hall is occasionally open to the public. Of the several statues in George Square, the most imposing is the 25-m (80-ft.) Doric column with Sir Walter Scott at the top. It was the first such monument built in the author’s honor, about 5 years after his death.

You’re Steamin’

A common euphemism for having too much to drink is “steamin’,” as in the line: “I can’t remember what happened last night, I was steamin’.” Apparently this expression came from the experience of taking the steamships down the Clyde from Glasgow on a Sunday. These excursion trips were exempt from any restrictions on alcohol sales, a situation of which passengers took full advantage. One paddle steamer, the Waverley.

MUSEU de la vida religiiosa

escola d’art de Mcintosh

Kelvingrove art gallery

LOCH LOMOND

From Glasgow, on Day 5, you can head northwest for 32km (20 miles) to Balloch, a good center for exploring the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. The best way to spend a day touring the lake is to take one of Sweeney’s Cruisers. If you return in time, you can also explore Balloch Castle Country Park. Overnight in Balloch, which lies at the southern end of the Loch.

AYR

eave Oban on the morning of Day 11, continuing along the coastline to the town of Ayr. You’ll bypass Glasgow to your east as you arrive in the town of Ayr, which has many associations with Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet.

Ayr itself lies at a point 56km (35 miles) southeast of Glasgow. Check into a hotel at Ayr and use it as a base for exploring nearby Alloway, the birthplace of Burns, which is 3km (1 3/4 miles) south. Once here, visit the Burns Cottage and Museum and the Burns Monument and Gardens. Allow at least 2 hours.

You can also make it to Culzean Castle, 19km (12 miles) southwest of Ayr, that afternoon. Designed by Scottish architect Robert Adam, this is one of the grandest castles in the west of Scotland. General Eisenhower was a former guest. For the night, return to Ayr.

KIRCUDBRIGHT

Day 12: Kirkcudbright, an Artists’ Colony

On Day 12, leave Ayr in the morning and drive into the Borders country, scheduling a stop at the old sheep-market town of Castle Douglas, 79km (49 miles) southeast of Ayr. Visit the 14th-century ruins of Threave Castle, and have lunch later in town.

Instead of overnighting here, we recommend that you continue for 16km (10 miles) to the southwest until you reach the old town of Kirkcudbright, which is the center of a flourishing artists’ colony. In the afternoon, you can stroll around for an hour or two, taking in such attractions as Broughton House and the Tolbooth Art Centre. Stay at the famous Selkirk Arms, where Burns composed his fabled “Selkirk Grace.”

DUMFRIES MOFFAT

Day 13: Dumfries & Moffat

On Day 13, after a night in Kirkcudbright, head north until you reach A75, continuing northeast into the town of Dumfries. At this point, you’ll be 129km (80 miles) southwest of Edinburgh and about the same distance from Glasgow.

Like Ayr, Dumfries also has associations with Robert Burns, and you can visit Burns House before taking in Drumlanrig Castle and the Dumfries Museum. You might also want to view the ruins of Sweetheart Abbey before heading for the town of Moffat, a drive of only 35km (22 miles) to the northeast. Check into a hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Devil’s Beef Tub, the Grey Mare’s Tail, and Annan Water Valley Road before returning to Moffat for the night.

entrades a la venda l’u de febrer

NORTHEAST

Aberdeen

HIGHLANDS ISLANDS

Day 6: Fort William, Gateway to the Highlands

From Glasgow (or Balloch, if you spent the night there), you can strike out for Fort William, 167km (104 miles) north of Glasgow. Located on the shores of Loch Linnhe, Fort William is the best stopover for those traveling between Glasgow and Inverness, in the north. You can arrive in time for lunch, taking in views of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland. In the afternoon, visit the ruins of Old Inverlochy Castle and Neptune’s Staircase. Overnight in Fort William.

Day 7: Inverness, Capital of the Highlands

Fort William to Inverness is a drive of 109km (68 miles). Before reaching Inverness, drive along the western bank of Loch Ness, keeping your eye out for the elusive monster. At Drumnadrochit, there is the official Loch Ness Monster Exhibition, and you can also explore the ruins of Urquhart Castle.

Have lunch in Inverness, and then set out to see the Culloden Battlefield, with its Graves of the Clans, and also visit the Fort George/Queen’s Own Highlanders Regimental Museum. Spend the rest of the afternoon walking around and exploring the center of Inverness, which lies on both sides of the Ness River, with scenic walks in all directions. Overnight in Inverness.

Dingwall caiac

Plockton caiac

caiac a Bow fiddle rock, Moray

GREATGLENCANOETRAIL

95km a fer en 5 dies de Fort William a Inverness (vents a favor)

Viaducte Glenfinnars

Illa Syke

On Day 8, from your last stopover in Inverness , drive west along A832 to the Kyle of Lochalsh, the gateway to the Isle of Skye; it’s 132km (82 miles) southwest of Inverness. You can now drive from Kyle to Skye, over a bridge, which will allow more time for sightseeing.

Once on Skye, check into a hotel for 2 nights. Although it’s the largest of the Hebridean Islands, Skye is relatively small, only 77km (48 miles) long, so you can stay almost anywhere and use the town as your headquarters for exploring the entire island. Some of the best places for lodgings include Kyleakin, Sligachan, and Portree. Portree is the capital of the island.

Assuming you base yourself in the center of the island, at the lochside village of Sligachan, you can order lunch and then spend the afternoon driving A856 to the north of Skye, taking in the scenic beauty along the way. You ultimately reach the village of Uig, where you should visit the Skye Museum of Island Life. After leaving Uig, traverse the entire northeastern part of Skye by following A855 in a half-moon crescent, finally heading back to Sligachan for the night.

On the morning of Day 9, set out from Sligachan (or whichever village you’ve lodged in) to explore the Sleat Peninsula, in the south, following A850 (which becomes A851). Once at Sleat, visit Knock Castle, the former stronghold of the MacDonalds, now some of the most evocative ruins in the Hebrides. You can also explore Armadale Castle Gardens & Museum of the Isles. Allow an hour or so for a visit here.

Sleat is known as the garden of Skye, and you can wander at leisure, taking in its woodland glens, cliffs, and waterfalls, especially enjoying the dramatic beauty of the jagged Cuillin Hills. For your afternoon adventure, take a 3-hour cruise at Elgol, and you’ll see some of the island’s grandest natural beauty. Finally, return to your hotel for a well-deserved dinner.

Applecross

caiac

* The lush greenery and unspoilt beaches of this region certainly live up to its name, which means ‘the sanctuary’.

* Take in the mountain views and look over the sea to the nearby Isle of Skye as you explore this gorgeous part of the Scottish coast.

* Miles away from the demands of modern life, you can hop in a kayak and explore at your leisure.

* Or visit local craft shops and a walled garden café.

* Situated in the far north west of Scotland, your best bet is to hire a car and enjoy the spectacular scenery on the way as a road trip. By public transport, you can get there in about 7 hours from Edinburgh, by flying to Inverness and then getting a bus on to Applecross.

OBAN

n Day 10, take the bridge from Skye back to the mainland and head south to the coastal resort of Oban. On the way to Oban, you’ll pass through the previously visited Fort William . Oban lies another 81km (50 miles) southwest of Fort William. Check into a hotel here, and, after lunch, visit such attractions as McCaig’s Tower, enjoying the panoramic view across the Firth of Lorn to the Sound of Mull. You should also have time to visit Dunstaffnage Castle and to walk along the harborfront before dinner.

WALES

Cardiff

catstle, st davids shopping centre, wales milleniumc entre

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20221109-a39-englands-remote-atlantic-highway ruta atàntic

ruta de London a Wales

Betws-y-Coed: Deep in the heart of the national park of Snowdonia, this oddly named village lies in a tree-lined valley of the River Conwy. With an antique church, it also comes complete with tumbling rivers and waterfalls set against a backdrop of mountain scenery. The town, which is also known for its eight bridges, makes an ideal center for exploring the attractions of North Wales.

Snowdonia, Beddgelert

* Beddgelert is surrounded by mountains and in summer it’s festooned in flowers.

* Best reached by the narrow-gauge Welsh Highland Railway, it makes a great base for walking or mountain biking in the hills.

* If you’ve set yourself the challenge of climbing Wales’ highest peak, Snowdon, this is the place to stay.

* Just south of the village you’ll find one of Wales’ most famous natural beauties, the Aberglaslyn Pass.

* You can get to Beddgelert in just under 4 hours by hire car or coach from Cardiff.

Frommers: North Wales: The Peaks of Snowdonia

North Wales is a rewarding target for those willing to seek it out. Distinctly different from England, it is linguistically and culturally different from most of Britain and is known for its beauty spots, a land of mountains and lakes interspersed with castles. The most powerful of the Welsh princes held sway here, and the residents remain staunchly nationalistic. British families flock to the coastal resorts on holidays, especially in July and August, whereas others prefer to seek out the footpaths of Snowdonia National Park.

Mountain peaks and steep wooded slopes, spectacular estuaries and rugged cliffs brooding over secluded coves, lakes, little rivers, and valleys with tiny towns looking as if they were carved out of granite — all these join to make up Snowdonia National Park. The park, with slate mines, moors, heavy forests, mountain lakes, grain fields, pastures, swift-moving rivers, and sandy beaches, takes its name from Snowdon, at 1,085m (3,560 ft.) the highest peak in Wales and England. Most of the Snowdonia area is in the County of Gwynedd, once the ancient Welsh kingdom of that name. Its prince, Owen ap Gwynedd, never agreed to let himself be reduced to the status of baron under the English kings. Because his terrain was mountainous and wild, it helped him stave off an invasion by forces accustomed to fighting on flat land.

The rocky, majestic crags of Snowdonia National Park are rivaled by the mighty walls and soaring towers of Caernarfon Castle, the best example of castle building in medieval Wales. Caernarfon (formerly spelled Caernarvon) and its neighbors, Anglesey and the Lleyn Peninsula, reaching out from its northwest and west, are all part of the County of Gwynedd. Legends of holy islands and druidic mysteries flourished among the Celtic peoples who lived in this area in long-ago centuries.

Many of the native-born people of this region are of blood stock little changed over the centuries. Most are bilingual, with English as their second tongue, and signs are usually in both languages.

Portmeirion: poblet a la italiana

Pembrokeshire

This county boasts Britain’s smallest national park, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. It’s unique in that it extends over cliff and beaches, whereas most parks encompass mountains or hill country. The coastline takes in 290km (180 miles) of sheer rugged beauty, with towering cliffs and turbulent waters. Tenby is the chief resort for exploring the park, but Pembroke and St. Davids also make worthy stopovers.

HAY-ON-WYE – AT A GLANCE

* Hay-on-Wye has almost 40 bookshops full to the rafters with thousands of titles – so you’re guaranteed to find what you’re looking for.

* If you visit in May you’ll catch the annual Hay Festival of Literature, which attracts some of the greatest names in the literary world.

* Explore the atmospheric ruins of nearby Llanthony Priory, an early 13th-century Augustinian church. The site is open all year and entrance is free.

* The towns’ location just inside the Brecon Beacons National Park offers visitors stunning scenery and a wealth of outdoor activities including the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal making Hay-on-Wye the ideal base for exploring.

Laugharne, Dylan Thomas

The County of Clwyd, in northeastern Wales, has miles of sandy beaches along its north coast; highland ranges, peat bogs, and deep valleys lush with greenery in the center; coal country to the southeast; and industry, agriculture, and sheep farming in the section nearest the estuary of the River Dee and the English border. What is now Clwyd (by order of Parliament, since 1973) used to be Denbighshire, and before that, Flintshire.