Take a look at a recent article from Club Doc Online about UK tourism and our involvement through uktourism.co.uk
On the eve of British Tourism Week 2011, which runs from March 12th – 20th , uktourism, one of the leading portals promoting holidays in the UK, has surveyed its database to create a list of seven must see ‘hidden gems’ for British tourists to explore.
The locations are spread across the four corners of Britain and range from unspoilt beaches to the UK’s smallest pub.
Ginna Clark from uktourism explained, “There are plenty of different areas around Britain that spring to mind when think of holidaying in the UK. We know already that Devon, Cornwall and The Lake District will top the list of the UK’s favourite British holiday destinations this year but there are many relatively undiscovered spots that are still almost unheard of to a lot of people. We’re hoping this list will inspire people to not only holiday in Britain, but to explore some great attractions off the beaten track.”
A wide selection of brochures is available on uktourism to coincide with UK Tourism Week and to encourage holidaymakers to “choose the UK”. Everyone who registers on the website will stand a chance of winning a £1000 luxury UK holiday this year.
1. Horsey Beach, Norfolk.
Featuring rolling dunes of golden sand, this windswept beach is almost deserted due to the poor access routes for cars and larger vehicles. However, the adventurous traveller can experience one of the best beaches that Britain’s east coast has to offer. Open between spring and autumn (as it is a breeding ground for seals during the winter) the beach and surrounding broads offer charming tranquillity.
2. Cape Cornwall, Cornwall.
Cape Cornwall is the only cape in England and features some of the most breathtaking views in the country. A little known fact is the definition as to what a ‘cape’ really is – it is a headland where two oceans or channels meet. In this case the English Channel and St Georges Channel. The surrounding countryside, ruins of former mines and waves crashing on the rocks below are symbolic of the Cornish coastal landscape.
3. Pistyll Rhaeadr, near Llanrhaeadr.
In the heart of the Berwyn Mountains, Pistyll Rhaeadr is an enchanting 73 metre tall waterfall which is one of the seven wonders of Wales. Author George Borrow, in his book Wild Wales, remarked of the waterfall: “What shall I liken it to? I scarcely know, unless it is to an immense skein of silk agitated and disturbed by tempestuous blasts, or to the long tail of a grey courser at furious speed. I never saw water falling so gracefully, so much like thin, beautiful threads as here.”
4. Snaefell Mountain Railway, Isle of Man.
Hailed as the only place in Britain where on a clear day, you can view England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the mountain railway operates at the highest point on the island. The 100 year-old railways runs from the town of Laxey to the top of the island’s highest mountain, Snaefell.
5. Benmore Botanic Garden, Argyll and Bute.
Regardless of the weather, an exploration of this magical place is guaranteed to provide an uplifting experience. Though the gardens can only be reached by river crossing, the short trip across the river Eachaig. Featuring hundreds of different species of plants and trees, including 15ft tall Giant Sequoias which occurs naturally only on the borders of the Sierra Nevada mountains, in California. The high rainfall and mild winters suit many of the more unusual species of rhododendrons, magnolias and nothofagus grown.
6. The Roaches, Peak District, Derbyshire.
Deep in the Peak District national park the Roaches are a set of rocks, which in themselves are an unusual geological feature that have never really been explained. At the highest point of the rocks you can turn on the spot and only see a couple of country cottages in the distance. It is also said that a group of Wallabies dwell in the area, having been released in the 19th century.
7. The Nutshell Pub, Suffolk.
With a bar that measures just 15ft by 7ft, The Nutshell proudly holds the title of smallest pub in Britain as confirmed in the Guinness Book of Records. Located in the heart of the historic Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, The Nutshell has been proud to serve customers jostling for a place at the bar since it first started serving beer in 1867.