Britain’s landscapes are as dramatic as they are diverse. From mountains to meadows, cliffs to caves, waterfalls to lochs, wild moors to wetland, you won’t have to travel far to find them.
Escape into the countryside this spring and enjoy our natural landmarks in peace. If it’s a challenging hill hike, a sedate amble, or even a train ride – come armed with plenty of curiosity, and we’ll supply the rest.
The Jurassic Coast, which runs from East Devon to Dorset, on England’s south coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s so named because its 95 miles (153 km) of coast are a geological walk through time, covering the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. It’s a fossil-collector’s paradise with claim to being an incredibly beautiful stretch of coast. One of the highlights is the spectacular Durdle Door, the much-photographed limestone arch near the pretty cove Lulworth. And what better way to get up close than a spot of coasteering? Jump, swim and rock climb your way along the coast for a fully immersive and unforgettable experience.
Stunning Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park, in Wales, is, deservedly, one of the most famous of Britain’s 15 national parks. And Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) – England and Wales’ highest mountain – is one of its most popular to climb. While you’ll certainly get your steps in climbing the 1,085 metre mountain, there’s another, slower option, which is just as good for your mental health. Enjoy a guided mindful walk, with stops for meditation, or an outdoor yoga session in some of Snowdonia’s (Eryri’s) most tranquil spots.
The Isle of Skye, in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, is a nature-lover’s dream, with its Fairy Glen and Fairy Pools, mountains, beautiful beaches and wonderful wildlife. You can expect to see whales, dolphins, puffins, eagles, otters, seals and red deer. One of its most famous landmarks is the Old Man of Storr – a large pinnacle of rock that stands tall like a natural statue. See it on a Skye Wilderness Safari, which takes in all of the island’s top spots, or save your legs and scale the heights with a rented Skye EBike. It’s not cheating, honest…
They are one of the most photographed rock formations in Britain – the Needles, on the Isle of Wight, are three chalk stacks that jut out from the coast of the popular holiday island, with a lighthouse perched on the end.
While they can be snapped from the Victorian fort, the Needles Old Battery, you can also view them from above, on the Needles Chairlift, which takes you from the Alum Bay cliffs to the beach, where you also can hop on a boat tour to make sure you’ve seen the geological wonders from every angle.
Britain’s largest gorge was formed by meltwater floods in Somerset, around one million years ago. This spectacular ravine in the Mendip Hills is both a National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It’s a lure for rock climbers and cavers, who come to explore its underground caves with their soaring cathedral-like interiors and stalactite displays. After enjoying the views from up high, head deep underground on a caving adventure, where you descend 40ft (12 metres) below into the heart of the cave system, across the Bottomless Pit and slide through the Letterbox.
While the White Cliffs of Dover are immortalised in song, the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs, along the coast in East Sussex, are some of Britain’s most dramatic. Part of the South Downs National Park, the Seven Sisters are between Brighton and Eastbourne and make for a beautiful walk between the two resorts, as part of the South Downs Way National Trail.
Next to the Seven Sisters cliffs is the Seven Sisters Country Park, perfect for cycling. Cycle tracks run right down to the beach, from where you can gaze up at the majestic cliffs.
High Force waterfall, in the North Pennines National Landscape, is one of the country’s most impressive waterfalls. Immortalised by artist J.M.W. Turner, the 21 metre fall of the River Tees is an exhilarating sight. You can take the pretty woodland walk to the falls, or for something memorable, a Stargazing Supper, walking to the waterfall at night and checking out the constellations above in the area’s renowned Dark Skies.
From the clifftops of Seven Sisters, to the caves of Cheddar Gorge, Britain is packed with natural marvels – and great new ways to see them. View the Isle of Wight’s Needles from up high on a chair lift, experience the splendour of Snowdonia (Eryri) with a mindfulness tour or get right up close to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site with a spot of coasteering. Whether you fancy a hearty hike up some of Scotland’s most spectacular heights, or a gentle bike ride along England’s south coast, you can tailor your next outdoor adventure to your taste. It might be a small island, but it’s a green one, jam-packed with 15 National Parks and more than three million hectares of woodland.
A favourite local destination for hiking, Ilkley Moor is a joy to explore year-round – don’t miss springtime’s abundant wildflowers. It’s so picture-perfect that it’s been featured in blockbuster TV shows, including Peaky Blinders and The Witcher.
It’s hard to believe that this narrow valley in the Peak District was once a coral reef – 350 million years ago! It proved a fittingly dramatic setting for a scene in the House of the Dragon series one finale.
Arthur’s Seat was formed by a volcano: climb to the top to be rewarded with spectacular 360-degree views of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Spot it in Netflix romance One Day.
This sandy beach is not only a surfer’s paradise, it was also the location of Bill and Fleur’s dreamy cottage in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! The last stop on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, spend some time to enjoy this picture-perfect bay.
James Bond stood on the shores of this vast, open sea loch in The Spy Who Loved Me. It’s a great place for watersports, while nearby Garelochhead’s forests offer hiking aplenty.
Be dazzled by the miles of brilliant white chalk cliffs of the Sussex Heritage Coast and spot unique wildlife. You’ll recognise these landscapes from Wicked, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Atonement.
Like the look of Durdle Door on the Jurassic Coast? You’ll love the Green Bridge of Wales limestone arch on the Pembrokeshire coast. While some of Britain’s natural wonders can get all the headlines, there are many more spectacular sights around the nation. Scroll down for our pick of the best double-takes to add to your bucket list…
The photogenic Durdle Door, a spectacular limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, England, gets all the attention. But Wales has its own wonder – the Green Bridge of Wales. This limestone arch, in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, is just as impressive.
If you like the look of the chalk stacks the Needles on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, wait till you see the Duncansby Stacks at the very other end of Britain, on Scotland’s north coast.
Legend has it a giant’s footsteps created the rock formation of black basalt columns known as the Giant’s Causeway on the coast of Northern Ireland. Malham Cove in England’s North Yorkshire also has a mysterious limestone pavement on top of a cliff.
Driving, walking or cycling through the deep limestone valley of Winnats Pass, in the Peak District, is like travelling through a fairy tale. The same thing applies to the beautiful valley and towering mountains of Glencoe in the Lochaber Geopark in the Scottish Highlands.
The mysterious sea cave Fingal’s Cave on the island of Staffa in the Scottish Inner Hebrides has been enchanting visitors for centuries, because of its melodious echoes. If you like the sound of that, you’ll love the clamour of Gaping Gill – as Fell Beck thunders into a cave system below the Yorkshire Dales.
The Old Man of Storr makes a dramatic sight, as the rock pinnacle stands proud over Scotland’s Isle of Skye. For more fascinating rock formations, head to Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire and see if you can spot the Dancing Bear, Gorilla, Eagle and Turtle.
High Force waterfall is one of England’s most popular waterfalls. The thundering River Tees plunging into a rock pool in a pretty woodland is only matched by the majesty that is Devil’s Bridge Falls, Ceredigion, Wales. Follow the Nature Trail walk to discover the three bridges, ancient woodlands and unique perspectives of the 300ft Mynach waterfalls.
