For a small island, the UK certainly has more than its fair share of beautiful places. And yet, many of us find this a surprise! You don’t need to travel the world to see the most beautiful places our planet has to offer – many of them are right here on our doorsteps (and much cheaper to visit!). We explore some more of the beautiful places that it’s hard to believe are right here in the UK.
Caribbean sands?
With its miles of white sand and turquoise water, Luskentyre is one of the most beautiful places in the Outer Hebrides. It could easily be confused for the Caribbean. But, take one step into the water and you’ll remember where you are with a jolt! Thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, the water isn’t as cold as it could be, but we still wouldn’t recommend a swim.
In fact, the area lends itself much better to walking. From Luskentyre you can pick up the ominously named “Coffin route”. This circular walk is so-named for the route locals historically used to carry coffins across the island for burial. From Luskentyre you’ll be doing the route backwards as it usually starts from Loch Stocinis, but that doesn’t take away from the beautiful landscapes you’ll experience as you stroll.
Exotic India?
While the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple, it couldn’t be much further removed from India. The beautiful, exotic building is actually in Neasden, North London. You can take free tours of the temple and its grounds throughout the year. Guides are available as audio tours, or, if you know when you’ll be visiting, you can book a personal guide to show you around. If you’re interested in seeing a particular aspect of the building, or watching one of the rituals of worship, then bear in mind the temple’s timings.
Could this be Kyoto?
Not quite! Japan may be famous for its springtime cherry blossoms, but there’s no need to travel across the world to see these beautiful flowers. Just go to Harrogate! The Stray, a 200 acre park surrounding the Yorkshire town, is renowned for its cherry blossoms, and for its crocuses earlier in the spring. If you time your visit right, you can go to one of the annual fairs that take place on The Stray. But, if this isn’t your cup of tea, then you can always grab a cuppa from the famous Betty’s Café Tea Rooms in the town centre.
You’re in Yosemite!
The Californian national park isn’t the only place you can go to admire giant redwood trees. These particular redwoods reside in Benmore Botanic Garden, part of Benmore Estate and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. They were planted in 1863 by the park’s then-owner, James Piers Patrick. Patrick was a wealthy American who also carried out extensive work on the house belonging to the estate. As well as the Redwoods, there are more beautiful places to look at included in your £6.50 admission, too. You can wander the walled gardens, take in the Bhutanese Glade or even take a walk up the hillside to admire the Holy Loch.
A trip to Transylvania?
Could it be Dracula’s famous Transylvanian castle? The Gothic revival Castell Coch is one of the most beautiful places in South Wales! Built in the late 19th century, Castell Coch is the by-product of Victorian imagination and a lot of money. Victorians were fascinated by the Middle Ages. Not only was medieval-inspired architecture incredibly fashionable, but patterns and furniture designs, too. They even set a lot of the stories they wrote and read in Medieval times! The 3rd Marquess of Bute commissioned the castle when he decided he wanted a rural retreat that complemented the grandeur of his main residence at Cardiff Castle.
The Marquess commissioned William Burges to build Castell Coch, and he really didn’t hold back. If you think the outside is a sight to behold, the inside is another matter entirely. You’ll spend a good chunk of your visit looking up – the ceilings at Castell Coch are dazzling. Don’t try to imagine anyone living here full time, though; the Marquess never used the castle as more than a holiday home. How the other half lived, eh?
Looking for more beautiful places? Take a look at the first five we couldn’t believe were in the UK!
