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Welcome to Destinations UK!
FEBRUARY 2010
Every month we will feature selected destinations in detail
throughout Britain. These features will build over time to
provide the visitor with a wonderful gazetteer of Britain!
And of course, with each destination, we include links to heritage
accommodation in that area.
For previously published
destinations,
click here.
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 This month's Destination:
St Davids
Tiny Cathedral
city, one of the most important shrines of medieval
Christendom and place of pilgrimage for centuries.....
Folklore Destinations UK -
an alphabetical listing of some of the more
‘unusual’ destinations that you may wish to
visit within the UK.
Don't forget - every month, more destinations, so bookmark this
page NOW!
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Previous Destinations: Abernethy, near Perth,
Scotland
Ancient Pictish capital and religious centre. The famous 9th
century Round Tower, one of only two such Celtic Towers remaining
in Scotland, stands in the churchyard in the middle of the town
Aberystwyth, Wales
Long before the Normans built the first castle
in Aberystwyth, Iron Age settlers used the
hilltop called Pen Dinas to build a huge
fortification which still dominates the skyline
today...........
The Antonine Wall, Scotland
- The Devils Dyke
Scotland lay on the northwest frontier of the vast Roman Empire.
It is not surprising therefore that all surviving monuments of
that time are military in nature, including the remains of forts,
towers and roads. There is no doubt however, that the most
magnificent Roman military monument left in Scotland today is the
impressive Antonine Wall.....
Arundel,
West Sussex
Magnificent Arundel Castle dominates this picturesque town which
sits on a hill just inland from the Sussex coast, a few miles from
Littlehampton and Bognor Regis.
Historic Assynt and
the Inchnadamph Project
In
1997 Historic Assynt was formed to prevent three of the North
West Highlands’ most significant sites deteriorating into rubble.....
Banbury, Oxfordshire
Famous for it's Cross, Nursery Rhyme and Cakes. This attractive
market town has much to offer the visitor, not least of all it's
superb location at the edge of the Cotswolds.
Bath
Welcome to the city of Bath, World Heritage Site. Famous worldwide
for its imposing architecture and Roman remains, Bath is a vibrant
city.....
Battle, East Sussex
The
town of Battle is located in the south east of England, best known
for being the site of the
Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Battle of Hastings saw the defeat of Saxon King
Harold II by
William the Conqueror. This defeat was a dramatic turning
point in British history....
Blenheim Palace
The
name Blenheim derives from a decisive battle that took place on the
13th August 1704 on the north bank of the river Danube, near a small
village called Blindheim or Blenheim, where the French leader,
Marshall Tallard, had fixed his lines. Here John Churchill, the
first Duke of Marlborough, won a great allied victory over the
forces of Louis XIV, thus saving Europe from French domination. In
recognition, a grateful
Queen Anne granted to Marlborough the Royal Manor of Woodstock and
signified that she would build him, at her own expense, a house to
be called Blenheim.....
Braunston, Northamptonshire Located off the A45
between Rugby and Daventry in rural Northamptonshire, at the junction of
the Oxford and Grand Union Canals, the historic village of Braunston has always been a focal
point on the Midlands canal network. The hill top village thrived for
over 150 years on the canal trade carrying goods from the Midlands
to London.
The Canals of Britain - the motorways of the
Industrial Revolution Around
the year AD50 Roman
engineers in Britain built the Fossdyke connecting Lincoln to the River Trent, for
both drainage and navigation purposes. It was however during the second half of the
18th century that the
great age of canal building started with the construction of the
Bridgewater Canal. This was a time when Britain
was bursting with trade, industry and commerce........
The Cathedral City of Canterbury, Kent
Canterbury
has been a European pilgrimage site of major importance for over 800
years since the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170.....
Castell
Henllys
Situated between Newport and Cardigan, Castell Henllys is an Iron Age inland promontory fort, which has
been excavated for over 20 years. A number of roundhouses and a
granary have been recreated on the exact location of the original
Iron Age structures....
Castleton,
Derbyshire/ The Peak District
Castleton is a popular tourist
village in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District National
Park. The village is renowned as a major Peak District walking
centre and also for the four underground show caves that
surround the village. Blue John Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Treak
Cliff Cavern and Peak Cavern (or “Devil’s Arse” ) are all worth
a visit.......
Chester
Chester has been welcoming visitors since the Romans came here
2000 years ago... The
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds - designated an Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty. Famous for picturesque villages of
mellow honey-coloured stone, gentle hills, peaceful pastures and
winding rivers. However 362 years ago it was a very different scene,
for the Cotswolds were the setting for bloody battles and violent
skirmishes during the English Civil War.......
Dartmouth,
South Devon For nearly 1000 years,
sailors have set out from this ancient harbour to all parts
of the world: Crusaders in the 12th century, pirates
in the 14th century, the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620......
Dorchester, Dorset
Dorchester is a historic market town with it's roots in Roman
times; however it is most famously associated with Thomas Hardy.
Dunster, North Somerset
Located just off the
A39, three miles from the seaside resort of Minehead and at the edge of
Exmoor, you will find one of the prettiest small towns in England -
Dunster. Dunster has it all - an
historic castle overlooking the town, a working water mill, a picturesque
packhorse bridge and ford, elegant 15th century parish church, unique octangular Yarn Market...........
Durham
Bordered on three sides by the River Wear, the compact city of
Durham is famous for its Cathedral, Castle and University.
Indeed the
panoramic view of the Cathedral and Castle facing each
other has been described as ‘one of the finest
architectural experiences of Europe’ and is now
a World Heritage Site....
Edinburgh
Capital city of
Scotland
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle dominates the
capital city of Scotland as it has done for centuries...
The Edinburgh Vaults
Edinburgh's South Bridge spans a deep valley to
the south of the Royal Mile. Under its 19
enormous arches, in a catacomb of underground
chambers, a community used to thrive. Trades,
first legal and then illicit, flourished.... The
underground vaults were created in the late 18th
century, abandoned by the 1830s - and only
opened again to the public in 1994.
The Eleanor Crosses
The first queen of Edward I
would perhaps have been completely forgotten had it not been for
her husband’s beautiful memorials to her, erected
following her death
in 1290.
These were the ‘Eleanor Crosses’ …the most famous one
giving Charing Cross in London its name....
Ely, Cambridgeshire
The tiny ancient Cathedral city in the Fens......
The Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are a dynamic
overseas territory of the UK and are becoming an increasingly
popular tourist destination......
Folklore Destinations UK
We
have compiled an alphabetical listing of the more ‘interesting’
destinations that you may wish to visit within the UK.
Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire Britain's largest monastic ruin and one of
the most visited
properties of the National Trust
Gibraltar 1704 - 2004
This year
Gibraltar celebrates 300 years of
British rule......
Glastonbury
Steeped in myth and legend, for centuries England’s most sacred
place of pilgrimage.
Guernsey, Channel Islands
Liberation Day
Celebrations 9th May 2005 - Marking 60 years of
Peace and Freedom
Hadrian's Wall
The most prominent and important monument left by the Romans in
Britain, it spans the width of the country.
Hadrian's Wall -
World Heritage Site
Hardknott Roman Fort, Eskdale, Cumbria
(The Lake District) Surely this must have
been one of the most isolated and remote Roman outposts in the UK!
In search
of Harry Potter
You've read the books, you've seen the film - now discover the
superb film locations
Highgate Cemetery, London
Perhaps one of our more
unusual historical destinations, Highgate
Cemetery
is a famous cemetery located in Highgate, London.
There at least 850 notable people buried at Highgate although
perhaps its most famous occupant is Karl Marx...........
Highland Forts
The three forts of Fort George, Fort Augustus
and Fort William, span the Great Glen of Albyn,
which cuts the Scottish Highlands in two from
coast to coast. The forts were built by
the government to pacify the Highlands during
the period of Jacobite unrest and the subsequent
rebellions...........
Ironbridge
"Birthplace of the
Industrial Revolution" and UNESCO World Heritage Site
Isle of Iona, Scotland
Lying off the west coast of the Isle of Mull, the tiny Isle of
Iona, barely three miles long by one mile wide, has had an
influence out of all proportion to its size to the establishment
of Christianity in Scotland, England and throughout mainland
Europe...
The Isle of Man
Much
more than just a Tourist trophy!
The most famous motorcycle races in the world, the Isle of
Man Tourist Trophy (TT) Races, celebrated their 100th
anniversary in 2007.....
Isca
The forgotten Roman fortress at Caerleon, South Wales.
Kenilworth
Castle, Warwickshire
The largest castle ruins in England. In
Kenilworth Castle's heyday it was home to Robert
Dudley, favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, and in
1575 was the venue for the party to end all
parties....
Kilmartin Glen, Argyll, Scotland
The Valley of
Ghosts........
King's
Lynn, Norfolk
Visitors
to King’s Lynn , the major town at the heart of West Norfolk,
will discover a town rich in heritage and maritime history. The town has recently
celebrated a special milestone in its history with the 800th
anniversary of the signing the King John Charter.....
Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
This picturesque spa town lies beside an
enchanting gorge of the River Nidd - but is most famous for the
legend of Old Mother Shipton and of course, the Petrifying Well....
Lancaster, county town of Lancashire Lancaster lies on the River Lune three miles inland from the coastal
resort of Morecambe in the North West of England. Lancaster Castle
houses Lancaster Prison and the oldest working courtroom in Britain.
Here the Pendle witches
were tried in 1612 and more recently, the Birmingham Pub Bombers....
Lavenham,
Suffolk
One of the finest examples of a medieval wool town in England
Leeds
Castle, Near Maidstone, Kent
Queen of Castles, Castle of Queens
Lincoln Lincoln is one of the most
beautiful and historic cities in England, with
around 2 000 years of history.....
Lindisfarne - Holy Island,
Northumberland
Possibly the holiest site of
Anglo-Saxon England, a visit to this windswept little island off
the Northumberland coast will always leave a lasting impression on
the visitor.
Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008....
Ludlow, Shropshire
Ludlow is the gastronomic capital of Shropshire
with more Michellin Starred
restaurants than any other town in the country. However good food
isn't the only reason to visit Ludlow. Famously
described by John Betjeman as "the
loveliest town in England", and with
over 500 listed buildings, mainly Georgian or half-timbered, Ludlow is a
feast for the eyes.....
Lyme Regis
Welcome to Lyme Regis,
the 'Pearl of Dorset', situated at the heart of the world famous
Jurassic Coast. Over the centuries, this pretty seaside resort has
seen bloody rebellion, Elizabethan privateers.....
Maiden Castle
The largest Iron Age Hill Fort in Europe.
Malvern, Worcestershire
There's more to
Malvern than bottled spring water - ancient Britains,
an iron age fort, Great Malvern Priory, Elgar.......
Minster Lovell Hall,
Oxfordshire
The romantic ruins of this 15th century manor house stand on the
banks of the River Windrush in Oxfordshire.
An oasis of peace in the midst of the Cotswolds,
hidden away from the tourist trail.
Oxwich, Gower, Wales
A castle, a historic church, a nature reserve, three miles of
golden sand......and an intriguing history of "wrecking"!
Perth - 'Gateway to the Highlands'
Once
Scotland's capital and much favoured by James I, The 'Fair City'
of Perth is the town that inspired Sir Walter Scott to pen 'The
Fair Maid of Perth' which in turn inspired Bizet's opera.
The Ridgeway
'Ridgeway’
was a term that originated in Anglo-Saxon times, to refer to ancient
tracks that run along the high ridges of hills. They are unpaved,
relying simply on the hard ground to provide a suitable surface for
travelling on. The Ridgeway in England stretches 85 miles (137km) from Overton Hill near Avebury,
Wiltshire, to Ivinghoe Beacon near Tring, Buckinghamshire. It has
been used for 5000 years by many different groups of people;
travellers, farmers, and armies.....
The Historic
City of Rochester
One of Rochester's
most famous connections is that with Charles Dickens.....and this
year on December 5th and 6th the town will be celebrating with a
Dickensian Christmas
festival.
Rosslyn Chapel
Selected as one of the locations for the recent film, “The Da Vinci Code”
(based on the bestselling book by Dan Brown), Rosslyn Chapel (near
Edinburgh, Scotland) has all the presence and mystery that
perhaps encouraged its choice for the role.....
Ruthin,
Denbighsire, North Wales
Ruthin is a small historic market town in Denbighshire, North
Wales, in the beautiful Vale of
Clwyd. Ruthin has a long, exciting and interesting history
spanning over 700 years including battle, siege - and a sex scandal
that rocked Parliament and society.....
Rye, East Sussex
Explore the labyrinth of cobbled
streets in this historic Cinque Port. The location of Rye means
that this town has experienced invasions, smuggling, flooding
and shipwrecks....
St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
The Home of Golf ......and some Bloody Martyrs. St. Andrews in
Fife, Scotland, has quite a history for such a small place.....
St
Dogmaels and Cardigan, West Wales
St Dogmaels occupies a
beautiful situation, overlooking the River Teifi opposite the town of
Cardigan.....
St Paul's Cathedral,
London
St Paul's Cathedral is getting a new look!
The Cathedral is being cleaned and repaired as part of the £40
million internal and external restoration scheme to mark the
300th anniversary in 2008 of the laying of the
final stone on the Lantern in the presence of the architect
Sir Christopher Wren....
The Island of Sark
One of the Channel Islands, Sark is located
some 80 miles from the south coast of England and only 24
miles from the north coast of France. Neither part of the United
Kingdom nor the European Union, Sark is reputed to be the
smallest independent feudal state in Europe and to have the
last feudal constitution in the western world.
Settle to
Carlisle Railway
One of the most scenic railways in England, the Settle to
Carlisle line takes you through tunnels and over viaducts
through the glorious countryside of the North West of England...
Skipton,
North Yorkshire
Historic market town with
magnificent medieval castle, ideally located for exploring the
dramatic scenery of the Yorkshire Dales and Moors.
Speakers Corner and the Tyburn Tree, London The place known today as Speakers' Corner began life as a place for
public execution. In particular Speakers' Corner was home of the
notorious Tyburn hanging tree......
Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare's Stratford, famous
worldwide as the birthplace of the Bard. This year the Shakespeare
Birthday Celebrations will be held between April 23rd and 26th.....
HM Palace and Fortress The Tower of London
In honour and
celebration of Raven Hardey's 21 years of loyal
service
at Her Majesty's Palace and
Fortress, The Tower of London..
Warwick
Whilst many
visit Warwick Castle, one of the most popular tourist attractions
in England, few stay on to sample the delights of this historic
market town....
Westminster
Abbey, London
This magnificent and world-famous building is
England's most important church and has been the
site of every coronation since that of William
The Conqueror in 1066. It was here on June 2nd
1953 that Queen Elizabeth II was crowned, fifty
years ago.....
Winchester England's ancient
capital and former seat of King Alfred the Great...
York
This
unique city, dating from Roman, Saxon and Viking times, offers the
visitor a wealth of world famous attractions.
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