Tourism in UK

So many...

Bath, similarly is full of tourists.

Somerset, the obvious ones Glastonbury for the Abbey and Tor, Wells Cathedral (for the camera minded there are some classic pictures from the dawn of photography). But stay a little later, go to RSPB Ham Wall on the Somerset levels from late October to February and experience the starling murmurations. Weekends get busy.

Westonbirt, the National Arboretum is good at any time of the year. Visitors and prices escalate for the autumn colours and food is pricey.

Something completely different, Purton Hulk Graveyard, near Sharpness, the "wrecks" of no longer needed ships.

St David's in Pembrokeshire, Barafundle Bay is nearby, regularly appears in reviews of the top 10, 20 etc beaches go out of season and have it to yourself.

Llantony Priory in the Brecon Beacons, ruined, isolated, narrow lanes. there was a "pub" in a cellar there when we last visited, but it is not mentioned on the information page now.

Tuckers Maltings in Newton Abbot, one of just four traditional maltings left, tours, children can turn the barley, of course there is beer for sale, though the faint hearted might change their mind when they find the resident cats among the barley on the hot floor!

I've not bothered with links, too many pages and Google (other search engines are available) will give you all the help you need.

Tourism to Bath tends to be a very wide spectrum of people from around the world but I feel that's an exception.

Currently, a lot of the 'mid level' tourist spots seem to be attracting a larger number of European visitors.  I wonder how many are coming at the moment out of concern that is may not be so easy after Brexit, if the isolationist 'hawks' get their preferred 'hard Brexit'?

Huge posted:

Tourism to Bath tends to be a very wide spectrum of people from around the world but I feel that's an exception.

I think thats true of the "heritage" towns and cities.  I used to have relatives in York and that was always heaving with tourists from around the world.  Places like Winchester similarly.

Yes, agreed.  That's the idea I was trying to convey, in contrast to the 'mid level' tourist attractions; but you put it much better - thank you.

The Forest of Bowland Area Of Natural Beauty and Ribble Valley area are underrated and largely unknown to many. Great open countryside and lots of wildlife. Tough but attractive villages and farms. Some excellent pub food and accommodation. It may lack the drama and scale of The Lakes (and the organised tourist attractions) but it is a lovely area to escape the crowds that in my view blight that area much of the year.

Don't all come at once though as I enjoy my long bike rides without traffic thanks very much.

Bruce

Mike- B, The Ridgeway is quite well known. It passes the White Horse at Uffington and the Wayland Smithy. It also passes a few "hill forts" It runs quite a long distance.

Avebury is the centre of two long lines across the U.K., or so I am told.

Did you visit the small museum ? I think one of the exhibits eroneously claims people have lived there for hundreds of thousands of years.

Skye is chock-a-block with tourists, so many no one can move.

Huge posted:

Tourism to Bath tends to be a very wide spectrum of people from around the world but I feel that's an exception.

Currently, a lot of the 'mid level' tourist spots seem to be attracting a larger number of European visitors.  I wonder how many are coming at the moment out of concern that is may not be so easy after Brexit, if the isolationist 'hawks' get their preferred 'hard Brexit'?

More likely because of the exchange rate as the pound plummets towards parity with the Euro!  

Lydford gorge in Dartmoor is a lovely 3 or 4 hour walk. Not too many people.

Eden project (out of season) is fantastic.

Cheddar gorge pretty much any time.

Spot of camping in the new forest.

Any of the west coast of Scotland.

Wales coastal walk from Three Cliffs through to Rhossilli (?)

Puzzlewood in Forest of Dean.

Jurassic coast walk.

Llangronnog (?), very west wales. Nice fish and ships in The Ship.

I'll second Westonbirt arboretum.

s.

Cheddar Gorge may be crowded at weekends (it's a great fun cycle challenge though), but then Burrington Combe which is just a few miles away is equally good but a fair bit quieter. 

At the other end of the U.K., Sutherland is spectacular. Scotland is, perhaps, the world's best kept secret (but now all the Naim forum readers know too).

Shropshire. 

Long Mynd. Gorgeous.

s.

Don Atkinson posted:

Mike- B, The Ridgeway is quite well known. It passes the White Horse at Uffington and the Wayland Smithy. It also passes a few "hill forts" It runs quite a long distance.

Avebury is the centre of two long lines across the U.K., or so I am told.

Did you visit the small museum ? I think one of the exhibits eroneously claims people have lived there for hundreds of thousands of years.

Hi Don,  my question was intended to ask  'who in Denmark knows the Ridgeway' ? .  I've walked it from end to end,  not all in one go & some sections more than once.   

There are three ley lines that intersect Avebury.  Two are pretty well known,  the third is a theoretic line rather than an ancient travelway.      

Yes to the small museum,  its set up for school visit & same level information, including sand pits with artifacts & skellibones for kids to 'discover'.  I did not see anything in the museum on 'hundreds of thousand years',  thats not saying it wasn't there.  My studies/knowledge of the area is that the earliest evidence of human activity in Avebury itself started around 4000BC, although the new discoveries published this year show activity around 4300BC.   Huntergatherer tools have been found in the area that have been dated to 7000BC & not forgetting the so called 'totem pole' post holes at Stonehenge that have been dated as old as 8500BC,  thats 5000 years before the first known development of Stonehenge as we know it now.     But I'm not aware of anything that dates pre-ice age.  

Torridon. Loch Tay. Glen Lyon. Jura.

May I piggyback on this thread? I hope this is acceptable.

at the end of September I aim to do a 10 day (ish) tour around mainland Scotland. I could do with a few suggestions of places to visit. I know a good few places from past trips but would welcome any suggestions. I've already picked up a few from the above replies. Thank you.

Im taking a foxy Brazilian lady who loves nature, scenery, tranquility and the ilk (not elk but ilk). Here's my pencilled list so far (in no particular order)

Edinburgh

loch lomond

Arrochar

Oban

Glen Coe

Nevis

Glenfinnen

Nessie

Skye

Ullapool area

Loch Tay

Torridon.

Mainly tenting with a few reasonable hotels here and there.

Any suggestions of places / hotels /campsites would be fantastic.

s.

Contentious I know but personally I'd miss Skye unless you are really keen to do some serious walking/climbing. It is lovely but Torridon/Ullapool cover much of the same type of scenery and are far less busy. I'd also pick Stirling over Edinburgh unless you are going to spend several days there. Stirling can be 'done' in a day and is a lovely town.

Oban is OK but a bit of a detour. Ideal if you are taking a boat to the isles but I'd just go Glen Coe, Fort William and up if it was me.

My knowledge of Scotland is really all NW coast and I'd recommend Plockton/Sheildaig/Gairloch/Torridon/Ullapool and above. The further north you go the better it gets in my view. Take your time too, it looks great from the car but you really need to stop a few days to get the feel of a place. Your itinerary looks frantic!

Fingers crossed for decent weather. Plan for all seasons, September often gives you them all in one day but it can be a great time to visit. The dreaded midges should be much reduced. Fun camping if not. Take some repellent!

Hotels and campsites are actually quite thin on the ground the further up you go so choice can be limited anyway. there are however some fine restaurants tucked away in some isolated places that can be worth hunting out.

Bruce

I disagree in that I think Edinburgh is essential.

I agree that there is nothing special about Oban. Mull and Islay/Jura are nice. St Andrews and Crail/Anstruther are pretty too.

I meant that Edinburgh for just a flying trip is not really doing it justice-you need several days in my view

Bruce

Bruce Woodhouse posted:

Contentious I know but personally I'd miss Skye unless you are really keen to do some serious walking/climbing. It is lovely but Torridon/Ullapool cover much of the same type of scenery and are far less busy. I'd also pick Stirling over Edinburgh unless you are going to spend several days there. Stirling can be 'done' in a day and is a lovely town.

Oban is OK but a bit of a detour. Ideal if you are taking a boat to the isles but I'd just go Glen Coe, Fort William and up if it was me.

My knowledge of Scotland is really all NW coast and I'd recommend Plockton/Sheildaig/Gairloch/Torridon/Ullapool and above. The further north you go the better it gets in my view. Take your time too, it looks great from the car but you really need to stop a few days to get the feel of a place. Your itinerary looks frantic!

Fingers crossed for decent weather. Plan for all seasons, September often gives you them all in one day but it can be a great time to visit. The dreaded midges should be much reduced. Fun camping if not. Take some repellent!

Hotels and campsites are actually quite thin on the ground the further up you go so choice can be limited anyway. there are however some fine restaurants tucked away in some isolated places that can be worth hunting out.

Bruce

I second the north west of Scotland - the further up the better. A few years now since I've been, but I spent several holidays up there and loved every minute. My descriptions below relate to 25 years or so ago, when I was last there - but I doubt much has changed. Stunning scenery all round if you like natural wild landscapes, and wonderful places to walk, also fishing if yhat appeals. Not a hipuge number of roads, but all the side roads are worth exploring. Weather wise it does have a tendency to be damp, with the prevailing westerlies off the Atlantic, though perhaps surprisingly it daes get a fair bit of sunshine and occasionally can get hot (!). The westernmost strip often can be dry, even when wet further inland where the clouds have risen higher to go over the hills - something to bear in mind on a wet day.

Many single track roads with passing spaces - but those are sufficiently frequent and the white diamond sign marking each mostly clearly visible that it is rarely a problem, and on the more open sections where you can see well ahead despite the twists and bends it is possible to drive fast if that is your desire, if you know how to do so on the frequent humps, and look out for sheep (if there is a lamb on one side of the road - which could mean year old and fully grown - and its mother the other side, the lamb will dash across right in front of you. If both the same side they rarely budge.

Going past Ullapool, the road reaches a sea loch crossing at a tiny place called Unapool - 30 years ago you had to take a car ferry to go further, so most people didn't. Then replaced with a bridge, but still not many tourists beyond. Just to the left before Unapool is a tiny road marked 'unsuitable for caravans' that is a nice challenge to drive - Including what seemed like a right angled bend at the crest of a 1in 3 hill up then down.

A few miles past Scourie there's a turning on the left to a place called Tarbet. Lovely seafood restaurant there (food was superb 25 years ago - but I can't answer for now). A small ferry from there takes you to Handa Island, a nature reserve, my abiding memories of which are abundant puffins and getting sunburnt. Further north, at Rhiconich a left turn takes you to Kinlochbervie, a fishing port, following the road beyond leading you to some nice beaches at OldShoreMore, and when you've gone as far as you can by road you can walk up the west coast to a beautiful mile-long beach called Sandwood Bay, lovely golden sand, and completely deserted. You can carry on walking beyond that as far as Cape Wrath, the most northwesterley point of the British mainland - and a wild, rugged place it is, 900ft high and topped by a lighthouse.  Just east of Cape Wrath are the highest sea cliffs in Britain (N.B. check for info on the military 'danger area' if you consider heading east from Cape Wrath)

Further north on the "main" road from Rhiconich you reach the north coast at Durness. A picturesque little village incorporating a craft village inhabited by potters, wood turners, weavers etc. From Durness you can get a minibus west to Cape Wrath, so you can see it without having to walk far. The road has limited access because that section of the cliffs is the backdrop to a small island used as a firing range by the navy, with a 'danger zone' accordingly marked on OS maps. Once I was in Durness when the navy was active, and we could watch (through binoculars) planes fly over the island and see flashes, then half a minute later hear the bangs - in fact although six miles or so away, the shock wave is enough to rock a stationary car side-on to it. It is only active for short periods at a time, and infrequently.

Just west of Durness is a hilltop campsite called Sango Sands Oasis - where I once had to abandon trying to put up a tent in the howling gale  and took shelter at a nearby B&B instead (well, it was my honeymoon!). Further west at Tongue you have the option of turning south or carrying on towards the east side, including John o'Groats and before it Dunnet Head, the true most northerly point of the mainland.

As well as a sprinkling of campsites, there are plenty of places around where you can just pitch a tent if you are comfortable managing without the services at a proper site.

Scribbling that has brought back some very fond memories - I will have plan a trip to revisit there myself some time!

You guys are fantastic. Thank you.

Edinburgh is the start as I'm picking up my partner from there after she finishes work.

I agree with Oban. I'll save that until we do a whisky holiday on Islay.

I got up to just above Ullapool a couple of years ago but had to drive back to Cardiff the very next day due to family illness. Gorgeous area up these, hell of a long drive back in a day.

I'll check out the places mentioned. Once again thank you.

s.