The United Kingdom boasts an impressive array of talents. To the north lies Scotland, renowned for its captivating drama, fierce clan battles, majestic castles, and imposing mountains and glens.
Across the water, Northern Ireland is a compact country featuring the shipbuilding hub of Belfast and the mythical Giant’s Causeway.
On mainland Britain, Wales is encircled by castles and boasts the rugged peaks of Snowdonia and Britain’s sole coastal national park.
Finally, England contributes pastoral charm to the mix, showcasing church spires nestled among rolling hills, meandering rivers, quaint market towns, and serene villages adorned with hollyhocks and roses.
Taken together, these four regions put on a remarkable display of diversity and talent.
1. Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides
Since the opening of the bridge from the mainland in 1995, life on Skye has undergone a dramatic transformation. The island, known for its crofter townships, fishing villages, and Cuillin mountains, is no longer isolated.
The Old Man of Storr has become a popular location for film crews, while new distilleries have emerged on Raasay and at Torabhaig. Remote townships are being repopulated, and Michelin stars have come and gone.
Though some popular destinations like Glenbrittle’s Fairy Pools can be crowded, there are still vast areas of the misty isle where you can enjoy the company of just your friends, the peat, and heather.
2. The North Coast 500, Highlands
In recent years, the North Coast 500 has become a notable success story, featuring a 500-mile loop around the northern Scottish coastline that begins and ends in Inverness.
The western side of the route boasts stunning natural beauty, with destinations like Applecross, famous for its mountain pass, and the fishing and ferry port of Ullapool. The journey culminates at the unexpectedly gorgeous beaches of Durness.
On the eastern side, the landscape is gentler and more fertile, featuring exquisite castles like Dunrobin and classic golf resorts such as the charming town of Dornoch.
3. Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
In the last few decades, Belfast has undergone a significant transformation, having once been a leading city in shipbuilding.
The shipyard responsible for constructing the Titanic has now been converted into the highly acclaimed Titanic Belfast experience, and just nearby is the studio where the massively successful television series Game of Thrones was filmed.
Some of the show’s locations, such as the Dark Hedges, a remarkable avenue of twisted beech trees, can be found in the Northern Irish countryside.
Another striking natural wonder found in the area is the tessellation of basalt that makes up the Giant’s Causeway, named for the legend that suggests it was created by a giant placing paving stones to cross to the UK mainland to battle a rival.
4. Snowdonia, Gwynedd
Snowdonia, with its gaunt, aristocratic terrain crisscrossed by rivers and lakes, is a paradise for adventurers.
The region is also steeped in history, boasting impressive castles such as Harlech, Caernarfon, and Conwy that tower over magnificent river estuaries. The area’s highest mountain, Snowdon, reaching 3,560ft, has become quite crowded at times, possibly due to its relatively easy climb, especially with the help of a plucky little steam-hauled mountain railway to the summit.
Another renowned steam railway runs from the former slate quarries at Blaenau Ffestiniog all the way to the sea at Porthmadog. In Porthmadog, one can visit Portmeirion, a whimsical Alice in Wonderland-inspired village that blends a variety of architectural styles and colors, complemented by ornamental gardens in between.
5. Lake District, Cumbria
The Lake District National Park is a beloved world heritage site, known for its stunning landscape of mountains and water.
It offers a wealth of activities, including adventure, culture, shopping, and dining. While it boasts England’s ten highest mountains, including Scafell Pike, one need not be an expert mountaineer to appreciate the area’s charms.
Some visitors prefer to savor the experience with leisurely lunches at quaint country inns or tranquil boat rides on the 16 serene lakes. For others, the allure may be the thrill of wild swimming in secluded tarns or tracing the footsteps of famous writers like William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.
6. Brecon Beacons, South Wales
Although lacking the aristocratic peaks of Snowdon, the Beacons possess a raw and unrefined charm at their summits, coupled with a diverse array of features such as ruined priories, lakes, and waterfalls nestled within their folds.
At the eastern edge, they soar over the border country of England, offering breathtaking vistas of the winding Wye Valley from Hay Bluff and Gospel Pass. In the south, the River Hepste rushes through a wooded gorge, cascading over four remarkably impressive waterfalls, including one that can be walked behind.
7. Pembrokeshire coast, Pembrokeshire
Located on the southwestern tip of Wales, the UK’s sole coastal national park is a chain of untamed and picturesque headlands connected by footpaths, embracing unspoiled sandy beaches.
Its principal towns include Tenby, a lively and charming seaside resort, and St. Davids, a small spiritual hub with a massive 12th-century cathedral. While Barafundle, Freshwater West, and Whitesands are stunning, there are numerous other beaches to discover.
Additionally, day excursions to offshore islands such as Caldey, near Tenby, renowned for its religious community and spirituality, and Skomer, near St. Ann’s Head, famous for its puffins, are available.
8. Northumberland coast, Northumberland
If the weather were warmer, this stretch of coast from Alnmouth to the Scottish border would be a highly sought-after tourist destination. It boasts stunning, unoccupied beaches, a wealth of castles, and a collection of enigmatic islands.
The castles of Alnwick, Dunstanburgh, and Bamburgh, which is also named the best seaside destination in Britain, are among the highlights.
Accessible via a tidal causeway, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where St. Cuthbert began spreading Christianity in the 7th century AD, has become a spiritual retreat with its serene atmosphere of birdsong and woodsmoke.
9. Peak District, Derbyshire
The Peak District is a true wonder, offering a much-needed respite from the industrial towns that surround it, from Manchester in the west to Sheffield in the east. T
his region provides a breath of fresh air for both the lungs and the soul. The Peak District boasts a wealth of stunning locations to explore, from the rugged Stanage Edge to the gentle beauty of Dovedale, as well as an array of historic manor houses like Chatsworth and Haddon Hall.
The charming spa town of Buxton, with its Georgian architecture, and Bakewell, renowned for its delectable tarts and bustling farmer’s markets, are two of the area’s larger towns that are especially delightful.
10. Norfolk Broads, Norfolk
The Broads is a hidden paradise of serene backwaters that creates lasting memories. From the shore, this vast waterway mosaic spanning over 125 miles and comprising 63 lakes, remains nearly invisible.
The only indication of its presence is the gentle rustling of reeds and the distant sail skimming across the sedges.
This is the ideal place to rent a boat and embark on a journey towards destinations like Wroxham and Horning, where you can glide past windmills and ruined abbeys, stop at charming waterside inns, and spend peaceful nights anchored alongside coots.
11. South West Coast Path, Devon and Cornwall
To traverse this stunning trail is to follow the delicate lace that decorates Britain’s southern coast, offering a thrilling journey through some of the most breathtaking beaches and rugged headlands in the country.
The northern section, from Devon to Land’s End, is particularly untamed and difficult, especially beyond St. Ives. In contrast, the southern shore, with its picturesque creeks in Falmouth and Fowey, as well as the offshore St. Michael’s Mount, offers a gentler, sunnier trek.
Regardless of which part of the trail you choose to explore, you’ll encounter challenges and triumphs, both physical and spiritual.
12. Thames Valley, Oxfordshire
The Thames River’s tendency to flood, coupled with the presence of grand waterside estates, has resulted in modern urban development keeping a safe distance from the winding river.
The path that traces England’s most renowned waterway is at its most picturesque between Wallingford and Pangbourne, as well as from Sonning to Maidenhead.
The Henley section is especially vibrant during the Festival and Royal Regatta season, with landmark properties along its banks often owned by celebrities, such as the Clooneys’ residence in Sonning, or transformed into luxurious hotels, like Cliveden near Maidenhead.