The British Isles: Featured Destinations
As the purpose of the website is to share with others our experiences while travelling, it features only places we have been to. If a location is not included, it is not because we do not recommend one goes there, but simply because we have either not been there or it hasd not been written up yet. As we do more trips in the future, other destinations will be added.
England
England is the largest of the four “home nations” that make up the
United Kingdom. It is also the most populous of the four with almost 52
million inhabitants (roughly 84% of the total population of the UK). On
the island of Great Britain, Scotland sits to the north of England and
Wales is to the west. Northern Ireland (also part of the UK) and the
Republic of Ireland lie across the Irish Sea to west of England (and
Wales). France and the Channel Islands are across the English Channel
to the south, and to the east is the North Sea.
One of the most visited countries in the world, England offers almost
endless possibilities for things to see and do. This small but
influential country bursts with fascinating history, exciting cities,
and rich cultural traditions. as with all of the British Isles,
historic sites are at every turn, from prehistoric megaliths and
ancient Roman sites to centuries-old castles and town centers dating
back to the Middle Ages.
England: Featured Destinations
Scotland
Scotland is the second-largest of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom. It has a sixty mile (96km) land border with England to the south, and is separated from Northern Ireland by the North Channel of the Irish Sea. The capital is Edinburgh and the largest city is Glasgow. Scotland is surrounded by the bracing waters of the North Sea to the east, and the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and north. There are over 700 islands, mostly in groups to the west (the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides) and north (Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands). Scotland is a beautiful country well known for its dramatic scenery of mountains and valleys, rolling hills, green fields and forests, and rugged coastline. While everyone knows the Highlands for this, Scotland is beautiful in the Lowlands, islands and the flat lands of the North-East as well.
Scotland: Featured Destinations
Wales
Wales is rich in history and natural beauty, with a living Celtic culture distinct from the rest of the UK. Travelers are attracted to Wales because of its beautiful landscape, including the mountains and coast of its stunning national parks, the wealth of history and large number of imposing castles. Lying on a mountainous western peninsula of the island of Great Britain, Wales is bordered to the east by England, the Republic of Ireland sits to the west across the Irish Sea, while the West Country of Devon and Cornwall is directly south across the Bristol Channel/Celtic Sea. Only two hours from London but with less than a third of that city’s population, to enter Wales from its crowded eastern neighbour is most certainly to enter another country, although it does share many similarities – and good looks – with its Celtic neighbours of Devon, Cornwall, Ireland and Brittany.
Wales: Featured Destinations
Ireland
The island of Ireland historically consists of 32 counties, of which six, collectively known as Northern Ireland, have remained as part of the United Kingdom since the rest of Ireland gained self government in 1922. The name “Ireland” applies to the island as a whole, but in English is also the official name of the independent state (ie the 26 counties which are not part of the United Kingdom), since 1921. From Europe’s largest green space to the longest defined coastal touring route in the world, Ireland is a country brimming with fun and fascinating ways to spend your days.
Ireland: Featured Destinations
Design by W3layouts