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.

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.

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.