Enviable Beaches Many regions of the UK’s coast can claim to have scenic views, but one place in Wales boasts the title of being the first to be officially recognised for its beauty. The Gower Peninsula in south-west Wales sits adjacent to the coastal city of Swansea and covers about 70 square miles in total. It was designated as an …
Scotland
The End of the Road – Dunnet Head
The Wild North If you travel as far north as you can on the British mainland, you will end up at a small peninsula known as Dunnet Head. There is a rocky headland here called Easter Head which, contrary to popular opinion, is situated further north than John o’ Groats and is therefore the most northerly point on the mainland. …
Scotland
The Ardnamurchan Peninsula
Headland of the Great Seas Situated on the west coast of Scotland, the Ardnamurchan peninsula is one of the wildest parts of the United Kingdom. It also boasts the title of having the most westerly point on the British mainland – Corrachadh Mòr. But what really makes the Ardnamurchan region so unique is its remoteness. The area is characterised by …
St Abb’s Head – Life On The Edge
A Volcanic Birth 400 million years ago, Scotland was a very different place to how it is today. Rocked by volcanic eruptions and covered in swathes of lava flows, a rocky promontory now known as St Abb’s Head was formed on the coast in the Scottish borders. The evidence of this violent birth still remains in the geology of the …
Going Down A Storm – Lavernock Point
Historic Significance Lavernock Point may not be a destination many people have heard about, however it has a special place in the history of communication. The point was where the very first wireless signals were transmitted and received over the open ocean, thanks to Guglielmo Marconi and George Kemp in 1987. The headland at Lavernock Point is also the site …
Seal Pup Playground – Forvie National Nature Reserve
Shifting Sands It’s not often that a place in Scotland is compared to the Sahara Desert. However, it’s been said that the sand dunes of Forvie National Nature Reserve (NNR) share many similarities with the world’s largest desert. Located north of Aberdeen, on Scotland’s east coast, the reserve at Forvie lies adjacent to the Ythan Estuary. It is best known …
Bird Deception on the Kent Coast – Sandwich Bay
Shingle Beaches The Kent coastline is probably most famous for the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, which rise to over 350 feet high, standing tall above the English Channel. However, the county has far more to offer visitors besides this natural wonder, with ancient castles, excellent beaches and beautiful countryside. On Kent’s eastern shore, situated between the coastal towns of …
Seal of Approval – The Menai Strait
Tidal Races Wales’ north-west corner is a region characterised by rolling hills and beautiful swathes of countryside. The tip of the mainland is separated from the Isle of Anglesey by a thin slice of ocean known as the Menai Strait – a stretch of tidal water that is about 25km long. The tidal effects in the strait are highly unusual …
Scotland
Loch Long – A Scottish Fjord
Ship Lake Loch Long is a 20 mile long sea loch that extends from the Forth of Clyde at its southern end to the villages of Arrochar and Succoth. Perhaps surprisingly, the loch is not named for its length, instead getting its name from the Gaelic translation for ‘Ship Lake’. This is a reference to the longboats used by Viking …
Creatures Of The Night – Stackpole
Wild Coastline The Pembrokeshire coastline is blessed with rugged headlands, fantastic beaches and amazing wildlife, with Stackpole being the epitome of everything it has to offer. Stackpole itself is a small village in southern Pembrokeshire, however the surrounding coastal area encompasses a nature reserve which is rich in habitat. The region is also home to Stackpole Estate – a large …