Grand castles, miniature forests, manicured gardens, and wild natural beauty: The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland offer surprising variety in a relatively small package. With this photo gallery we’ve set out to capture the unique spirit of the British Isles, while offering a few surprises for even the savviest Anglophile. Of course, any list of 10 can’t begin to cover all the wonders, so please share your favorite part with other readers in the comments section at the bottom of each page.
Image Gallery
Faerie Glen
A visit to the Faerie Glen, in the northern corner of the Isle of Skye, proves that Irish leprechauns would be no match for Scottish faeries in a landscape design contest (HGTV, are you listening?). At first glance, all seems perfectly normal for this part of Scotland. It's populated with the requisite hills, forests, lakes, and a stream. And yet it's unlike anything you've ever seen: Everything is in miniature. Perfectly conical hills ringed green with worn sheep paths soar a dozen feet in the air. Dwarf witch hazel trees populate tiny forests shielding little stone circles. Adjust to the scale of this strange little land and soon you'll be seeing the modest pond as a vast lake and the Lilliputian crag as a soaring tower. This singular spot works its strange magic on even the most jaded traveler.
Been enchanted by another quirky spot in the U.K. or Ireland? Tell us about it below!
Faerie Glen
A visit to the Faerie Glen, in the northern corner of the Isle of Skye, proves that Irish leprechauns would be no match for Scottish faeries in a landscape design contest (HGTV, are you listening?). At first glance, all seems perfectly normal for this part of Scotland. It's populated with the requisite hills, forests, lakes, and a stream. And yet it's unlike anything you've ever seen: Everything is in miniature. Perfectly conical hills ringed green with worn sheep paths soar a dozen feet in the air. Dwarf witch hazel trees populate tiny forests shielding little stone circles. Adjust to the scale of this strange little land and soon you'll be seeing the modest pond as a vast lake and the Lilliputian crag as a soaring tower. This singular spot works its strange magic on even the most jaded traveler.
Been enchanted by another quirky spot in the U.K. or Ireland? Tell us about it below!
Isles Of Scilly
Beyond Land's End exists a world of boatmen, sea safaris, and white-sand beaches. One of the U.K.'s secret gems, the Isles of Scilly, just off the coast of Cornwall, offer a world apart from the country's 61 million inhabitants. A place to go on vacation from your vacation, the five inhabited islands and many uninhabited islets offer small towns, rare migrating birds, flower farms, and the highest concentration of protected archeological sites in the U.K. The quiet splendor of the destination isn't mere opinion, either: The Isles of Scilly are an officially designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Hard to argue with that.
Know another hidden gem of the British Isles? Share it with other readers below!
Hadrian's Wall
Walking propels you forward, but in the case of Hadrian's Wall, it's also the perfect way to step back in time. Completed in A.D. 128 as the northern border to the Roman Empire, the remains of the wall snake across Northumberland, mapping the trail for today's 84-mile Hadrian's Wall Path. The walls no longer stand 15 feet tall or 10 feet across, but the most intact sections still hint at the immensity of the bulwark that once held off raiders from the north. Long-distance walkers see the wall wax and wane, at some points even becoming incorporated into the foundations of barns. If a quick visit is more your speed, there are easily accessible sections, plus the ruins of the Roman gatehouses that were home to the guardians of this once-great wall.
Have you taken a country walk in the U.K.? Share your experiences below.
York
Visit York and you'll be in good company: The walled city has been a tourist destination for 2,000 years. The English city spreads the wings of history both skyward and deep into the ground. Climb high to get a view of the surroundings from the 800-year-old city walls. Head underground to explore the Viking life circa A.D. 975. In between, find excavated Roman ruins, twisting medieval passageways, and York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe. History may even hang in the air: In 2002, York was declared "Europe's most haunted city."
What other smaller cities do you think are worth a visit? Weigh in below.
Powis Castle
Crowning a rocky ridge on the Welsh border, the vibrant red 800-year-old Powis Castle unites local history with treasures from faraway lands. Inside, visitors can trace the evolution from 13th-century fortress, besieged by both the English and the Welsh, to stately family home rich in Elizabethan artistry. The castle is also home to an impressive collection of Indian artifacts, including ceremonial staffs, daggers, and an opium pipe. But for many, the real reason for visiting lies in the shadow of the castle: the terraced gardens that adorn the steep slopes and surrounding land. Modeled after 18th-century estate gardens in France and Italy, with more modern additions as well, the world-renowned grounds make this a key stop for any admirer of great gardens.
What's your favorite castle and garden? Share your picks in the comments section below.
Callanish Standing Stones
Imagine you had Stonehenge all to yourself. No tour buses, no throngs of headphone-clad tourists, no congested highway slicing the nearby landscape. Just you, a series of magnificently arranged stones, and nearly 5,000 years of history. If the scenario appeals to you, consider turning your sights north, to the Callanish Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis, one of the Outer Hebrides Islands in Scotland. Sitting on a hill overlooking a loch, more than a dozen large stones and 40 smaller stones are arranged around the remains of a chambered tomb. Here, on this isolated island, surrounded by such a feat of early worship, the mystery and miracle of the stones are palpable. Happily, the sensation is not easily shaken, and that's betterâand lighter to carryâthan any souvenir.
Have another off-the-beaten-path archeological favorite? Leave a message below.
Skellig Michael
There are no shortcuts to Skellig Michael. Reaching the tiny island just off the Atlantic coast of Ireland requires not only a long drive, but also the services of a fishing trawler for the hour-long sea journey. Then there's ascending the 600 ancient steps carved into the rocky precipice. It's only fitting that it should feel like a pilgrimage: At the top of the island, you'll find the unusual remains of a monastic settlement dating back to the sixth century, a cluster of stone beehive-shaped huts. At the right time of year, you'll share this isolation with tens of thousands of sea birds that take up residence on the neighboring island of Small Skellig. Hire the right fishing boat, and you'll get a close-up view of the surprisingly gorgeous "snow-capped" island and its winged inhabitants.
Explored another island? Share your story below.
Arthur's Seat
In most places you have to decide between urban and wild. Edinburgh, however, does things a little differently. Here, you'll find not only a castle, a thriving theater scene, and cool bars and restaurants, but also Arthur's Seat, a way to get away from it all without actually bothering with the getting away part. The main peak in a series of highland hills that's within walking distance of downtown, Arthur's Seat offers an exhilarating hike and magnificent views of the city in which it stands. You can take a few hours off from museum-going to hike to the peak and be back in time for cocktails.
What's your favorite place to enjoy city views? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Brimham Rocks
Brimham Rocks are the circus acrobats of natural stone formations. Perched in seemingly impossible poses, scattered across a moor in northern England's Yorkshire, these stones defy gravity in dozens of entertaining variations. Impressive shapes resembling dogs, camels, turtles, and dancing bears were whittled by millions of years of erosion. And nature wasn't content to simply coax lifelike forms from the local stone; it upped the ante by balancing some of these massive artworks atop smaller rocks and wedging others between sheer rock faces.
What other surprising spots have you come across in your own British wanderings?
Giant's Causeway
In this epoch the British Isles seem pretty tame, with little extreme weather and a notable lack of magma. But one look at Giant's Causeway makes it clear that things used to be a whole lot crazier in this part of the world. The 40,000 interlocking basalt columns were forged by volcanic eruptions 60 million years ago. Arranged like stepping stones into the sea, legend has it that this wonder of Northern Ireland was originally a path for warring giants walking between Ireland and Scotland. These days, it's a popular spot for more modestly sized visitors to scramble along the causeway and stroll the nearby cliffs, admiring the view.
Share your U.K. and Ireland favorites below or add your photos to the Best of U.K. and Ireland contest for a chance to win!
More from SmarterTravel:
- Great Castles (You Can Sleep In)
- Remarkably Charming Cottages in the British Isles
- 7 Irresistible Country Retreats
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