The English Riviera England’s southern coast is well known for its warm summer days and beautiful rolling downs, characteristics which have given it the title of the English Riviera. The county of Devon epitomises this in many ways, offering some fantastic scenery. The south-east region of the county has some great coastline, with one of the most interesting headlands being …
Long Walks on the Beach – Annstead Dunes
Diverse Dune Systems The furthest north of the English counties, Northumberland has over 40 miles of coastline to its name and is home to some of the finest beaches in the country. Well known for its rugged cliffs, remote headlands and coastal views, the area is recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Much of the Northumberland coast is …
England
A Treasure Made of Chalk
Stunning Countryside When thinking about rare ecosystems, the first that often spring to mind are the rainforests or coral reefs that can be found in tropical climates. But the UK is home to its fair share of rare biomes, with one of the most unique being the chalk downs of southern England. This landscape is characterised by rolling, grassy valleys …
England, Scotland, Wales
How does the National Trust Tackle Litter Pollution? – Beach Clean-Up Events and Other Initiatives
Many of the coastal areas owned by the National Trust include beaches that are popular with visitors, particularly during the summer months and other holiday periods such as around Eastertime. Although the majority of visitors ensure that they leave no litter behind, a small but unfortunately significant proportion of people are not very aware of the environment, and leave waste …
England
Bempton Cliffs – Where Yorkshire Meets The Ocean
Seabird City On the east coast of Yorkshire, near the small village of Bempton, the land meets the sea in dramatic fashion, rising above a hundred metres high and falling away to the ocean. The cliffs here are some of the highest in the whole of England, and are formed of very hard chalk that resists erosion and stands firm …
Wales
Cardigan Bay – A Dolphin’s Playground
Welsh Atlantis Cardigan Bay is a prominent feature on Wales’ landscape, forming a curved arc that stretches for many miles along the country’s western coast. It connects Gwynedd in the north with Pembrokeshire in the south and is characterised by numerous beaches, estuaries and cliffs. The bay is also the location of the legendary Cantre’r Gwaelod – an ancient sunken …
Stackpole – South Pembrokeshire
Stackpole is an area within the Pembrokeshire National Park and is known for its beautiful beaches. Stackpole is a small village located close to the Stackpole Estate. Here we will explore the Stackpole area as a whole. What makes Stackpole so special is its diversity; there is heathland, woodland, farmland, plus a mixture of rugged and gentle coastline. There are …
England
At Land’s End, Almost – Gwennap Head
Sensational Seascapes The Cornish coastline forms the south-western tip of the United Kingdom, and is an area known for its rugged headlands and fantastic beaches. The county juts out into the Atlantic Ocean and is exposed to the full force of the prevailing winds that sweep in from the sea. It’s therefore one of the most popular places in the …
Birdwatching on the Beauly Firth – Merkinch Nature Reserve
A Stone’s Throw From Inverness The outskirts of one of the largest towns in northern Scotland might not be the first place that springs to mind when thinking of places to see wildlife. However, Merkinch Nature Reserve is positioned right on the edge of the Beauly Firth – the outlet of both the River Beauly and River Ness. As such, …
Scotland
A Wildlife Resurgence – Black Devon Wetlands
New Kid on the Block Black Devon Wetlands is one of Scotland’s newest nature reserves, having only been up and running for a few years. Despite this, there is no need to worry about the reserve needing time to attract wildlife, as the area was already made up of diverse regions of habitat before receiving its reserve status. Situated just …