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UK

The UK consists of England, bordering Scotland to the north, Wales to the west and Northern Ireland to the west across the Irish Sea. The North Sea fringes the east coast, the English Channel the south and France lies just 29km (18mi) across the Channel at its narrowest part.

The landscape is diverse and for a comparatively small area the rapid changes of scenery can seem surprising. There are two main types of terrain, divided simply into lowland and highland. The highland being the mountainous regions of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the northern areas of England and Wales and the lowland area the limestone hills, long valleys, farmland and basins found in the south. There is a mix of rugged coastline: spectacular cliffs, sandy stretches and rock and shale beaches. The best beaches are found on the West Country and Welsh coasts.

Across England are the mountain ranges of the Pennines to the North East and the Cumbrian Mountains and the beautiful Lake District to the west. The Lake District draws a lot of visitors with is stunning lakes and scenery and quaint surrounding villages. It is one of England’s major national parks which also include Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors, the New Forest, the Broads and Northumberland, giving plenty of opportunities to escape the busy cities and get outdoors.

Any visit to the UK would be incomplete without a visit to the historic capital with its many spectacular buildings, vibrant nightlife, vast parks, interesting markets and traditional pubs but only a short distance away from London you can get away to beautiful countryside and villages of the New Forest, historic southern towns and the popular holiday destinations on the south coast.

In Scotland you will find rolling hills, dramatic mountains, lochs and many offshore islands. Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis is amongst the Scottish highlands and there are sparsely populated towns and islands such as Skye and Mull within this wilderness of peaks, moorlands, lakes and rivers. In the Southern lowlands of Scotland are the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow with Scotland’s top tourist destination, Edinburgh castle in the capital. Despite Scotland’s spectacular beauty, the country has only one National Park, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, opened in 2002.

Wales is also a country of great geographical variation and beauty with its mountainous regions, long stretches of sandy and rugged coastline, rolling hills and narrow river valleys. Wales is fairly mountainous with the glaciated mountain areas of the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons in the south and Snowdonia dominating the northwest. Many small villages are nestled within the welsh countryside but the most populated areas are in the south, where the vibrant capital Cardiff is situated.

Northern Ireland contains some beautiful scenery, from the rugged coastline in the north and northeast to the gentle fruit-growing regions of Armagh. Belfast is in the southeast and provides visitors with shopping, entertainment, restaurants and all the attractions of a capital city.

Nature

Woodland in England has decreased but you will still see common trees such as oak, elm, chestnut, lime ash and beech. Wildflowers can be found in countryside hedges in spring including snowdrops, daffodils, bluebells, primroses, buttercups and cowslips. Scotland’s national flower is the Scottish bluebell whilst Wales’ is the daffodil. Scotland is scattered with pockets of forest land, home to a mix of Scots pine, oak, silver birch, willow, alder, rowan and heather.

Wildlife

Red deer are found in large numbers throughout England and Scotland. There are many foxes in the English countryside and you may see a badger or hedgehog. Squirrels and rabbits are a common site and there are many smaller rodents that are more elusive including the shrew, harvest mouse and water vole. Wild boars have been reintroduced in Scotland and rare wildcats and wild goats are only just surviving extinction. The waters are home to seals and Scottish salmon and the famous game birds, grouse can be seen grazing in large numbers.

Birdwatching is popular in the UK, especially the large number of coastal birds. Wales’ vast coastline is home to shearwaters, Grassholm and gannet colonies. You may also spot seals on the west coast. Away from the coast the small number of British red kites can be found.

Weather

The UK is subject to very changeable weather due to the fact it is an island. The climate is generally mild and damp but extremes can occur and snow, hail and torrential rain are not unusual during the winter, especially in the north and Scotland. The temperatures are moderated by the winds that blow off the warm surrounding seas and temperatures do not usually fall much below freezing in winter and above 30°C in summer. The warmest months are July and August and it is warmer in the south than the north. Rainfall is higher in the mountainous areas, particularly in Wales. Cloudy, drizzly weather can be expected any time of year in any area.