The Great British Bucket List

Keith Crockford

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We all have a bucket list of places we want to experience at some point in our life, generally putting them off because travelling to some exotic corner of the globe or climbing one of the biggest mountains in the world brings about a lot of ‘ums’ and ‘ahhs’ as to whether we can afford it and whether we have the time, so generally these just stay a far-fetched dream.

However, there’s really no reason why we cannot take advantage of our own beauty spots, just a short car or train journey away.

Incredible Places To See In The UK

Here are 9 amazing places within the UK that definitely should be visited this year!

Stargazing at the Isle of Man

Currently home to 26 of Britain’s Dark Sky discovery sites, the clarity of the sky and minimal light pollution means even with the naked eye the Isle of Man has some of the most spectacular skies for star gazing in Europe. If conditions are on your side, you might even get the chance to see the magical show of the Northern Lights, so no need to trek over to Norway for a weekend!

Hike the Brecon Beacons

With 42 miles of national park, the mountains and moorland of South Wales offers masses of standing stones and castles, lively waterfalls and breathtaking views to experience. There’s plenty of ground to be covered by foot, including Pen y Fan, the highest peak in Southern Britain. In fact, we run some specialist training weekends in the Brecon Beacons, which are great for those of you who want to learn some trekking skills, or who are preparing for a bigger trip in the future.

The Roman Baths, Bath

Founded upon natural hot springs, the beautiful city of Bath is the home to the Roman Baths. They were constructed around 70 AD as a grand bathing and socialising complex. It is now one of the best-preserved Roman remains in the world – 1,170,000 litres of steaming spring water reaching 46 °C still fill the bathing site every single day. You can also walk on the ancient pavements as the Romans did 2,000 years ago.

Climb Arthur’s Seat

Just a short walk from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in the heart of the city, the 640 acre Royal Park is home to a dormant volcano which accommodates the highest point, called Arthur’s Seat. It sits 251m above sea level, offering outstanding views of the city. Within the park you can also visit:

Large and well-preserved fort
A 15th century medieval chapel, St Anthony’s Chapel
Salisbury Crags, a series of 150 foot cliff faces dominating Edinburgh’s skyline
Duddingston Loch – a freshwater loch rich in wildlife.

Pub Crawl in the Cotswolds

The rolling hills of this idyllic region run through five counties

Gloucestershire
Oxfordshire
Warwickshire
Wiltshire
Worcestershire

Explore the beauty of the charming little villages made of honey-coloured stone, wander peacefully around picturesque market towns, and soak in the atmosphere at some of the area’s charismatic drinking holes.

Snowdonia

Snowdonia National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty and has something for everyone. Soak in the stunning views of the sandy coastline, spectacular cliffs and glorious estuaries. Mount Snowdon is the largest mountain in England and Wales, standing at 3560ft, and is certainly the highlight of the unspoilt scenery. Even if trekking up the large mountain isn’t your thing then you can take a train up to the top so you don’t miss out on the impressive views across the national park.

Ski the Cairn Gorm Mountain

Don’t shell out to Italy or Canada for snowsports this year, take a train up to the CairnGorm Mountain in Scotland for some of the most beautiful – and sometimes challenging – places to ski in the UK. Whether you’re a skier or not, the ride on the train to the top of the mountain is a unique experience with an opportunity to take in fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding area. For skiers, there is a wide range of routes on offer, 7 green runs, 6 blue, 8 red and 1 black piste, with the longest run running 3.3 kms.

Go sailing in the Lake District

The idyllic Lake District has more than sixteen lakes plus a stretch of coastline. It has many attractions to be visited, including Scafell Pike – its highest mountain, Wastwater – its deepest lake and thriving communities like Keswick and Bowness-on-Windermere. So, there’s plenty of opportunity for an adventurous day out, including

Rowing
Sailing
Windsurfing
Kayaking
Fishing
Splashing about on the shores

What more could you want in a day?

Have a cream tea on the beach in Devon

No trip to Devon is complete without a traditional cream tea enjoyed on the glorious coastline. It can be difficult to choose a spot to pitch your chair on – but South Sands, Bigbury on Sea and Mothecombe are particularly unspoilt areas. In addition to beautiful beaches, you’ll also find stunning scenery in National Parks, rustic villages, historic buildings and ruins to explore.