it can be a confusing place - Technically it is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at least according to what it says on the passport. The UK consists of the nations of England, Scotland and Wales and the territory of Northern Ireland - the 6 counties, and many smaller Crown Dependencies, Bailiwicks and Overseas Territories some of which are thousands of miles away from the British Isles - vestiges from the British Empire and Imperialist eras.

The three countries of England, Wales and Scotland make up Great Britain which is the main land mass. Northern Ireland is not a country but a territory of Great Britain and consists of the 6 counties which forms the northern part of the Island of Ireland, itself an independent country and Sovereign State, which is commonly called Southern Ireland, Eire or just Ireland. The official name is of course The Republic of Ireland.

Some people mistakenly call Wales a principality, but it hasn’t been that since the Laws of Wales Acts 1535–1542. Wales is a country and forms both a part of Great Britain and the UK. It has become increasingly devolved from the influence of central parliament decisions at Westminster. Wales has its own Parliament since 2015 called the Senedd and the ability to set laws, taxes etc. It is not an independent country and is not recognised as a Sovereign State.

Scotland is in the top half of Great Britain together with a large group of islands. It is a country, but not an independent one, so it is not recognised a a Sovereign State in its own right. It is also forms part of the political union and Sovereign State that is the United Kingdom. Scotland like Wales has its own Parliament at Holyrood (World Heritage site) which was formed in 1999. It has the ability to set laws, taxes etc. Scotland held a referendum to become independent of the United Kingdom in 2014, but the outcome of the vote was to remain as part of the political union.

Northern Ireland has its own assembly called The New Northern Ireland Assembly held at Stormont since 1998. It has the power to set a wide range of laws including housing, employment, education, health, agriculture and the environment. Unlike Scotland and Wales the Northern Ireland Assembly cannot set income tax rates.

The central Government of Great Britain is at Westminster in London - Capital of the United Kingdom.

The abnormality in this group of Parliaments* in Great Britain is England in that it does not have its own Parliament. There is no devolved Parliament of England which was last in place in 1707 when it became the Parliament of Great Britain. Scottish, Welsh and N.Ireland MP’s can and do sit in the United Kingdom Parliament, alongside English MP’s, but English MP’s cannot sit in the parliaments of Wales, Scotland and the N.Ireland Assembly unless they are voted into that countrys parliament as a representative of that country.

*Did you know the invention of Parliament is attributed to the Icelanders - and the first Parliament was held at the Althring in c ad 930.

There are several other mechanisms of government within the UK such as a Crown Dependancy, which is a self-governing possessions of the British Crown,* this includes the Isles of Man, and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. Technically they are not part of the United Kingdom, nor are they an Overseas Territory. Bailiwicks are headed up by a Bailiff and with a Lieutenant Governor representing the Crown, each Bailiwick is different with different laws, emigration policies etc. The Isle of Man's Tynwald claims to be the world's oldest parliament in continuous use, dating back to ad 979.

*The British Crown estates are held by the Monarch of the United Kingdom - at this time Queen Elizabeth the second, (now King Charles the third following the sad passing of QE2) but the monarch cannot dispose of the crown estate; they are just custodians for the duration of their reign.

British Overseas Territories are not geographically attached to Britain but are managed in a similar fashion to the Crown Dependancies and notable British Overseas Territories include the British Antarctic Territory, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, and Bermuda, fourteen in total, some of which are disputed by other countries. They are home to some 300,00 people. People of Great Britain have no automatic rights to live in either the Crown Dependencies or British Overseas Territories.

So hopefully that clears that up - until it all changes again…… Why not have a look below at what the UK can offer the traveller.

Scotland - Natures Wonderland

Some Wonders of Ancient Scotland

Ness of Brodgar - Orkney Islands
Dunadd Fort
Hadrians and Antonine Wall (pictured)
Kilmartin - Britains own Valley of the Kings
Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement - Shetland Islands

Ness of Brodgar on the Orkney Islands which may be the largest prehistoric site in Europe and at one time this ritual landscape may have also been the seat of power for the entire UK. It was thriving community, then for no known reasons to us today in 2400BC they slaughtered over 400 cattle -and then collapsed the entire complex. in what was most likely a decommissioning feast. We have some amazing experimental pottery from the site in our collection.

The Dunadd fort is probably one of the most important sites in Scotland - and maybe the reason why Scotland got its name, but it seems little known. Scoti being the Latin name for the Gaels from Ireland who formed the ancient kingdom of Dál Riada out of their power base which stretched from Dunservick in Ireland to the Isles of Skye.

Hadrians and the Antonine Walls were the frontiers of Rome, built to keep out the original inhabitants of Scotland the Picts. They still make for an impressive sight today and it is perhaps the Antonine wall which is lesser know - built in 142 AD it stretches from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde - 63KM (39 Miles).

.The Valley of the Kings - Kilmartin Glen Argyll and Bute is an amazing ritual landscape of burial cairns, cup ring marking rock art and stone circles - over 350 monuments in a 9km linear cemetery dating back to prehistoric times. Our very own Valley of the Kings - A deserved candidate for a UNESCO World Heritage site? We will write more about this later and our findings and observations from the site.

Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement - Sumburg - Mainland Shetland. Covers a huge data range from 2500 BC up to the 17th century AD, and as you wander around the site in the bitter wind and salt tasting air from whipped up seas, you feel every bit of that history seeping into your bones. (along with the bitting cold) Huge slabs of stone make up cots for beds, dressing tables to show your fancy goods and even a pit to keep your lobsters in - not too shabby living really.

Scottish Wonders of the Natural World

Ben Nevis (backdrop picture)
The Cuillin Mountains - Isles of Skye
The Golden Eagle (pictured)
The Sea Eagle
The Otter
Old Man of Hoy - Orkney Islands

Ben Nevis is only 1,345 m (4,413 ft) but many people have underestimated it - including us and we’ve been driven back with white outs and gale force winds. before now. The weather can change in an instant, so pick your day and treat her with the utmost respect and hopefully she will look after you too. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles - you can see her in the background below.

The Cullin Mountains are split into the black Cullins and the red Cullins - they are stunning and we love the fact that due to the rocks compasses don’t read true. Contours, elevation and features on maps help with your way finding - you don’t really need a compass anyway.

The Golden Eagle is s stunning bird unless you’re a red squirrel - we’ve flown these in Mongolia - they are big heavy birds but majestic in flight. Look out for the tomb of the eagles on the Orkneys - well worth a visit, but a bit of a tight squeeze to get in - they have a trolly you can pull yourself along on down the tunnel. Many tombs in the Orkneys have similar tight tunnel entrances.

The Isles of Mull is a great place to see otters and you are almost guaranteed to see one, but please slow down if you are driving - we don’t want to see them as road kill. There is a a Tomb of the Otters in the Orkneys - and the theory is that human corpses were left for them to be deflensed* - judging by the amount of otter scat in the tomb - meters deep, they had quiet a lot of regular work to do. *We have seen similar practices in Tibet - “Sky Burials” where vultures are used and Iran - The Towers of Silence, with a similar practice to Sky Burials.

Lastly the Old Man of Hoy - a sea stack rising 137 meters out of the sea and one of the great climbing challenges - the one that got away for us. But you may be lucky enough to see the magnificent Sea Eagle with their impressive 2.4 meter wingspan. We were lucky enough to see the first Sea Eagles born on the Island of Hoy in over 150 years, unfortunately to the detriment of the local Fulmar population which has been decimated.

Modern Scottish Marvels

The Kelpies (pictured)
The Falkirk Wheel
The North Coast 500
The Forth Railway Bridge
Up Helly Ah - Fire Festival - Shetlands

The Kelpies These modern outsized sculptures are based on a mythical sea creature - the Kelpie - a bad spirit, said to inhabit lochs in Scotland. This may back link to Nessie and the “Lock Ness Monster” and it is possible prehistoric sea creatures once inhabited the lochs of Scotland giving rise to the myths and legends. The Myth dates back to the time of the Pictish peoples who carved what they saw on stones, and even St Columbia 565AD documented an encounter. The sculptures themselves are 100ft tall and weight over 300 tonnes, and are more equine than sea monster. You can find St Columbias cave and monastery in Kintyre (If you want to fight through the stinging nettles) and the island of Iona respectively.

The Falkirk Wheel A modern marvel of engineering and pretty crazy to boot. A whole section of the bridge pivots down and around with canal boats in it - complete lifting boats 115 ft which links the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.We think its a must see or do!

The North Coast 500 Another modern invention - the reimagining of the road trip. Launched in 2015 - The North Coast 500 is a 516 mile scenic route around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle, taking in many of the Highlands best features.

The Forth Railway Bridge Is actually a lot older than it looks - built in the 1890’s and a World Heritage site - it coined the phrase for a long job - as “like painting the Forth Bridge,” as no sooner have you painted it it time to start again! Well worth a look if you are passing. There is also the associated road bridge.

Up Helly Ah - Fire Festival There are actually lots of Fire Festivals on The Shetlands Islands but the one at Lerwick held on the last Tuesday of January each year is the one to head for. Flaming torches - parading Vikings in full Battle Costumes with Axes and shields and a massive bonfire at the end.as a Viking Ship is burnt (on land) - wear old clothes unless you want holes in them, and remember you have to pre book the drinking halls.

Those in bold we have been to or see

Northern Ireland - The Six Counties

Some Wonders of Ancient N.Ireland

Dunseverick Castle
Dunluce Castle
Celtic Tomb of O’Cahan & Dungiven Priory
Carrickfergus Castle (pictured)
Boa Island - Carved Figures

Dunseverick Castle Once the largest castle in N. Ireland it is also the ancient royal site of the Dál Riada, a Gaelic kingdom from at least the 5th century AD, that stretched from Ireland to Scotland, with Dunadd Fort as its power base over there.

The Gaels or Scoti as they were known likely gave their blood line and name to what we now call Scotland. There is a crowning site at Dunadd Fort (dd Is pronounced TH) where you place your foot in the rock, and all this can be yours! (and yes we did - but you have to do it bare foot - it’s full of icy cold water - but a small price to pay for a Kingdom we feel.) You can find Dunadd Fort on the Argyle & Bute Peninsular in Scotland.

Dunseverick Castle was also once the stronghold of the O’Cahans, the “King Makers” who were the under Kings to the High Kings of Ireland - The O’Neills. They inaugurated the king by tossing a shoe over their shoulder.

The castle itself was allegedly blessed by 5th Century St Patrick, who was kidnapped by the Ó Catháin (O’Cahan) from Wales and bought to Ireland, so it is entirely plausible. It is more a historic site now rather than one to see - as most of it has in fact fallen into the sea, a fact that seemed to amuse the local Irish guide. The last Ó Catháin chieftain died in the Tower of London.

Dunsgiven Priory - Celtic Tomb of O’Cahan Within the chancel of the church, is a 15th-century tomb traditionally believed to be of Cooey-na-Gall O'Cahan, an O'Cahan chief, who died in 1385. Dunsgivens Priory is c 12th century. The Priory itself is associate with Dermot O'Cathain, Chief of the O'Cathain Sept.

Dunluce Castle ruins are not far away from many of the other sites shown here and there is more to see visually. it is spectacular set as it is on the top of a sea cliff. Once home to the MacDonnells these c 16th - 17th century ruins are on top an earlier castle.

Carrickfergus Castle -Set on the beach it is unusual in that it is not on cliff top - a fact that as you get older you will be thankful for. This Norman castle is situated in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, on the northern shore of Belfast Lough. It is well worth a look.

Boa Island bass relief carved figures - Compared to the Roman double headed god of Janus, it is probably Celtic - and is Phallic in nature. The other which was moved from another nearby island may be of a Norse god from which the island probably gets its name. the locals call them the lusty man and the lusty lady We’ve not actually seen these yet, but they are on our list, and if the internet pictures are anything to go by we will not be disappointed.

Tartans

The Irish have tartans, possibly originating with the “Lein-croich” but unlike the Scotts tartans which are Clan based - the Irish tartans are regional - so there are far less. The saffron Tartan was the traditional Irish Military Tartan.

N. Ireland Wonders of its Natural World

Giants Causeway - UNESCO
Dark Hedges - (pictured)
Downhill Beach
The Mountains of Mourne
The Grobbins

Giants Causeway - A natural basalt causeway of geometric hexagonal shapes formed from volcanic eruption. Now a UNECSO World Heritage site and home to the origins of the Red Hand of Ulster and tales of battling giants. There is also a really nice coastal walk from here as well. You can walk down the causeway and take the bus back up if you want, but the walk is not difficult or long. The cafe and shop is massive and there are locals pubs which are very nice too.

The Red Hand of Ulster is a story connect with the causeway of two giants in a race who would inherit the Kingdom if they got their first. One of the giants realising he was going to loose chopped off his own hand and threw it so getting (at least in part!) there first.

Dark Hedges - If you are a fan of the Game of Thrones you will recognise a few place from these lists. The Dark hedges are actual a bent and weathered beach hedge avenue dating back to the house built c 1775. They do look amazing though and they are very broody. The house itself is unused and a little underwhelming. There is a small cafe, loos and a shop on site. It is more of a photo stop and loo break than anything.

Downhill Beach - another one for GOT fans - apparently a battle scene was filmed here - it’s a lovely stretch of white sands. Rumour has it that the entire local village was paid to clear off for six months whilst they did all the filming.

70,000 euros anyone?

The Mountains of the Mourne - brooding and magnificent, this granite mountain. range includes Northern Islands tallest mountain, Slieve Donard with at 850 m dominates the skyline. Set in County Down they provide a constant backdrop to sheep, cows and farming. We will walk them one day.

The Grobbins - coastal walk is great fun for the whole family in a spectacular and dramatic setting - challenging enough for some, it provides a unique experience on protected walkways to experience the coast. It is a great opportunity to get close to nesting seabirds - Fulmars, Common Guillemot and Kittiwakes. Keep your eyes open for Puffins and Great Northern Gannets and well of Sparrow Hawks which next in the cliffs above.

They provide you with all the safety gear including helmets - which you only really need in a couple of duck down areas. It’s well organised and goes from a little centre with cafe and a nice little shop - got to have a little shop.

You can only do it as a group walk - but I guess this limits the numbers and exposure the nesting birds have to face - so it’s a small price to pay.

Modern N.Ireland Marvels

The Titanic Museum (pictured)
Sampson and Goliath
The Crown Liquor Saloon
Bushmills Whiskey Distillery
Belfast City Hall

The Titanic Museum - Built to represent an iceberg and set in the Harland and Wolf Shipyard - within walking distance of Belfast City Centre it is worth a visit. The under glass floor film from the drone going over the top of the wreck was a memorial was the highlight for us. Fans of Titanic will undoubtably love it, but it was a bit disappointing there weren’t more artefacts. I guess they are at the bottom of the sea. If you really want to see what the Titanic looked like head for the Principal Hotel in Russell Sq London - the seafood dining room is an exact replica, design by Charles Fitzroy Doll*. Or more precisely the Titanic was a replica of the hotel. It is simply stunning. We helped refurbish it a few years ago so got up close and personal. There is also a statue of a dragon “lucky George” on the stairwell. Its counterpart “Unlucky George” is at the bottom of the Ocean on the Titanic.

*The hotel was so fancy - that the phrase “all Dolled up” comes from it. So now you know.

Sampson and Goliath Are the names of the two iconic Harland and Wolf ships cranes which still dominate the shipyards skyline - the dock yard and harbour make for an interesting afternoon promenade, and some surprising wildlife made a show too with black guillemots - with their comical bright red feet - these tough little sea birds are more associated with Arctic than Belfast City centre. .

The Crown Liquor Saloon Or Crown Pub is now a National Trust property and a working bar, complete with working Gas lights, Italianate seating booths and all the period features of a Gin saloon; which is what is was originally. You can still enjoy a pint of the black stuff or whatever takes your fancy - it has an incredible atmosphere. What is even more incredible is that it here at all - sitting across the road from the most bombed hotels in the world during “The Troubles” - The Europa. The bar itself is stunning and takes you right back to period, complete with brass match strikes and tilled surfaces.

Bushmills - Whiskey Distillery - founder in ad 1695 it is still making Northern Irish Whiskey today. we will get there one day.

Belfast City Hall - This big imposing Victoria building in Donegal Sq. is the backdrop to a small park which is one of the places to see and be seen in Belfast for students and visitors alike, with bodies strewn across the grass - chilling out and chatting. It is a great place to promenade before an evening meal. It has a doppelgänger in The Liverpool Building.

Those in bold we have been to or seen

Wales - What’s not to love?

Try pronouncing one of the worlds longest place names Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Some Wonders of Ancient Wales

Caer Caradoc
Carreg Cennen Castle
Prehistoric quarry - Preseli hills
Cardiff Castle
Harlech Castle

Caer Caradoc Another one for the historian rather than to see. It is a late Bronze Age Hill fort. It is actually just over the border in Shropshire. It is associated with local Welsh tribes the Silurians and Ordovices and King Caratacus’s of the Catuvellauni tribe. Caratacus led the defence of Britain against the Romans and fought a ten year gorilla battle from London to here - his last stand. There is a description in Tacticus which we think matches the topographically perfecfly right down to cave Caractacus allergy hid in. This may be the origins of King Aurthur - he is a fitting candidate.

Carreg Cennen Castle This castle is in one of the most spectacular settings with a shear drop from one site. As you come down the road it seems to dominate the skyline. This is a fighting castle no fancy rooms and windows here - a Barbican and Gatehouse and no less that 3 drawbridges - shows its fighting intent. Never features on any lists but one of our favourites.

Prehistoric quarry - Preseli hills - Some folk call them mountains but at 536m they fall between the two You can find them in Pembrokeshire. The main part of the story is that this is the origin of the blue stones from Stone Henge. How they got from here to there over 178 miles is anyones guess - but scientists believe that it was hundreds of years between them being quarried and them being used at Stonehenge. The latest theory is that they were used locally as a stone circle and later - reused at Stone Henge.

Cardiff Castle is really interesting and a good story of period life told by interesting guides. It is steeped in history and has a really interesting little museum of war in the basement - defiantly worth a look.

Harlech Castle The views from the ramparts are worth the price of the admission alone. Built in 1289 it is one of Edward the 1st built to secure the invasion of Wales. Built onto a rocky knoll close to the Irish Sea it is one of our favourites, and if you find yourself whistling along to “Men of Harlech stop your dreaming - can’t you see their spear points gleaming” - don’t be surprised.

Welsh Wonders of The Natural World

Snowdonia
The Brecon Beacons
The Black Mountains
Dan yr Ogof - Show Caves

Snowdonia Dominated by Mount Snowden the tallest mountain in Wales it is also home to the famously named Pen Yr Ole Wen - Cwm Idwal. The whole area boasts some of the finest scrambling climbs in the whole of Britain. Check out Steve Ashtons Scrambling in Snowdonia, why not try some of our favourites climbs and scrambles, which you can find on our contemporary explorers section on this site. If you don’t fancy life without a safety net, you can still get to the top on Mount Snowdon at 1038M on the wonderful narrow gauge railway at Ffestiniog. Cup of tea anyone?

The Brecon Beacons These mountains are a great example of glacial retreat and moraine (one for the geologists) - and Pen-Y-Fan (Pen-a-van) was one of our favourite mountains in the late 1980’s - but it is more like the M1 Motorway these days; so avoid summer if you can. Like all mountains the weather can and does change frequently. It used to be home to the Fan-Dance a gruelling trek for the SAS out out of Herefordshire. At 886 m it’s South Wales highest peak. You may even be lucky enough to see some wild mountain ponies.

The Black Mountains - So good they named them twice so don’t confuse the Black Mountains with the completely different Black Mountain range next door; glad we cleared that one up! Lovely walking with fewer people than the obvious sites and worth it just to say you have climbed Lord Hereford's Knob.

Dan yr Ogof - Show Caves - Fifteen miles from Brecon these caves are a great place to go if you don’t fancy the weather - they tell the history from prehistoric times, with giant cave bears, through to the Roman occupation and more. With a Shire Horse centre and panning for gold it is family fun and with a bit of history thrown in. to boot. Great day out.

And as a footnote if you want to try a crazy sport why not go to Llanwrtyd Wells for a go at Bog Snorkeling.

Wales Modern Marvels

South Wales Boarders Museum
Blaenavon Industrial Landscape and Big Pit Coal Mine UNESO
Cardiff Millennium Stadium
Castle Coch

South Wales Boarders - Brecon - won more Victoria crosses in a single action than any other battle at the defence of Rourkes Drift. Zulu memorabilia and a great example of what can be packed into a small museum. Well worth a visit, and check out the moment to General Thomas Picton of Waterloo whilst you are there. Brecon is also home to a fantastic Jazz festival and you have Pen-Y-fan South Wales tallest mountain on your doorstep, what more do you need?

Blaenavon Industrial Landscape and Big Pit Coal Mine UNESO

This iron works and landscape tells the story of the industrial revolution and Wales big hand in it. The coal mine was working until the 1980’s and you can go down below and experience what life was like for the miners extracting “Black Gold” it is a memorable experience. No visit to Wales is complete without a trip to the coal mine. We would also recommend you visit a slate mine and how Wales once roofed the World, both incredible stories. We have a welsh miner made out of coal and a welsh lamp in the Museum collection.

Cardiff Millennium Stadium - The bench mark for what can be done on a budget - one of the finest stadiums this country has to offer - why not take in a game after the castle? If the atmosphere of TV rugby union matches of Wales playing in the stadium then it must be an unbelievable feeling inside the stadium. One day.

Castle Coch - If every there was fairy tale castle this would be it. With turrets, a draw bridge, and stary ceilings in blue and gold this is a childs (and adults too) fantasy castle. Built over the original Norman castle of 1091 ad this 19th-century Gothic Revivalist castle built above the village of Tongwynlais in South Wales is a treat and we can’t think of a better one on the British Isles.

Those in bold we have been to or seen

England - Henges, Hoos and Pikes

Some Wonders of Ancient England

Avebury
Stone Henge
Sutton Hoo
The Tower of London & Crown Jewels
The North and South Downs Way
Maiden Castle

Avebury One of Britains largest and most important Celtic spiritual sites - and what do we do? Wack a road through the middle of it and stick a pub on top and a small village for good measure.

Whatever happen to indigenous rights and sanctity? Moan over - it is a bit less obvious than stone henge but you really have to walk it to understand it - exceptionally large at just over three quarters of a mile in circumference, it would have been originally up to 29 feet deep . The large outer stone circle contains two smaller inner circles within it. The stones themselves are of a local sarsen stone.

Stone Henge The prehistoric masterpiece and what is the culmination of thousands of years of practice. We were lucky enough to visit it before all the security and more recently in the inner circle with an experienced archeoligist. Spiritual and ritual is the phrase that is often trotted when you ask what it for, but the henge is just part of a massive ritual landscape that incorporate many other features.. There is more to be learned here both from the original hunting grounds, and totem poles which probably marked the spot, and the timeline of the end of Ness of Brodgar and the rise of Stone Henge. Interestingly the DNA of the Orkney priest class appears to be Iberian.

Sutton Hoo Is the burial centre of the Saxon Kings of Britain, and the Sutton Hoo Great Ship Burial. The real life “Game of Thrones” Anglo-Saxon treasure from the battlefield. There are golden warrior objects from swords, war-saddles, a royal helmet and a great war cross, but it is the Sutton Hoo helmet from AD 625 which is the stand out item. There is only a replica on site and the original is the the British Museum.

*Hoo is a Saxon word meaning peninsular.

The Tower of London & Crown Jewels The Tower of London is built on Roman Ruins, and Roman structures were often as not build on Celtic sites of importance. One of the more recent interesting discoveries was a jousting field in the middle of the castle, probably dating from Henry the 8ths time. Another building worth seeing is the Jewel Tower - where the Jewels used to kept - this is not the same site. Founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest, the White Tower is the main. building that gives the site its name. Built by William the Conquer in 1078 as a symbol of power and oppression, and castles have been used for hundreds of years to do the same, with Edward the 1st later conquests of Wales.

The North and South Downs Way These were the superhighways of the ancient world, when forests made travel difficult and were dangerous places, with Wolves and Bears. They may just look like lanes but they are probably thousands of years old. We wonder if the M25 will last that long?

Maiden Castle Not a castle, although there is a later one in the middle of it, but one of Britains largest Iron Age ring forts. It features a complex entrance to keep out invaders, and the impressive haul of sling shot, gives you an idea of the defence capabilities. Sadly no match for the Romans who conquered them all. It covers an area of about 47 acres. ‘Maiden’ derives from the Celtic ‘Mai Dun’ which means ‘great hill’. An earlier c 3000BC Bronze Age fort was there before. The current fort has some impressive earthworks, which are immense, with some ramparts rising to a height of 6 metres (20 feet), and they would have been deeper ditches and a rampart on top making them look formidable.

English Wonders of The Natural World

The Lake District
The Norfolk Broads
The Peak District
Scarfel Pike
Kew Botanical Gardens

The Lake District The Lake District is an area of outstanding natural beauty and Englands Highest Mountain Scarfel Pike. It is also home to Castlerigg another Stone Circle that litter the landscape of Britain. It features an impressive 38 stones and 30m diameter.. Within the ring is a rectangle of a further 10 standing stones. It is also sits looking out onto a saddle between two mountains. The lakes themselves were home to various water speed records including Donald Campbells 50’s and 60’s record attempts in “Blue Bird” where sadly he was to loose his life in 67 on Coniston Water. Donald was an adventure of the highest level, and we will add him to our wall of fame soon.

The Norfolk Broads Are a gentler version of the lakes, and no mountains! It is flatland, brackish water, but a great place for messing about on boats. There is some great wildlife to spot here from King Fishers to the elusive “booming” Bitten. The Broads is a network of navigable rivers and lakes in the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. It is associated with agriculture and quaint villages and towns. It certainly doesn’t rain as much as the lakes!

The Peak District - Our boggy friend of peat and home to Kinder Scout, one of our earliest hikes of any note. Kinder Scout is actually a moorland plateau, part of the national nature reserve in Derbyshires Peak District. At 636m it is one the highest spots. The peaks are split between the Dark Peak dominated by moorland and gritstone and The White Peak with its limestone valleys and gorges.

Scarfell Pike Is Englands largest mountain at 978m, not high by world standards, all UK mountains can be tricky due to the proximity of the sea and the changing weather conditions. We last summited this solo in winter - it is tough and not to be underestimated. With high winds and driving snow - it can make for an unpleasant day. Plan ahead.

Kew Botanical Gardens These are great for a day out - a mini adventure, and adventures big or small are just tha. It doesn’t have to Everest or something grandiose, although there is nothing shy or retiring about The Palm House, The world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, home to 10,000 species of plant. Kew is much more than a day out and it is an important centre for research and the world seed bank. It is an around the world adventure and you can go on a journey through temperate zones and countries. It is the sort of place that you can keep coming back to - highly recommended.

Modern English Marvels

The British Museum
Leeds Royal Armoury
The Shard
Jodwell Bank

The British Museum Has one of the finest collections of art and artefacts of any museum anywhere in the World. We could probably leave it at that. Some of our favourites are the Lewis Chessmen, The Mask from Sutton Hoo, and the Rosetta Stone - used to decipher the Egyptian hieroglyphs. We couldn’t leave without mentioning the Tenochtitlan codex which tells the 440 years history of the Mexica or Azteca people, beginning with its origins to the foundation of Mexico-Tenochtitlán, today Mexico City. The Mexican Flag features a shortened version, eagle eats serpent sitting on a cactus on a lake Texcoco (now gone). The god Huitzilopochtli. says its a sign - Aztec leader builds the city in the lake.

Leeds Royal Armoury Probably one of the finest armoury collections in Britain - if not the world, and if you are not impressed with the super rare full elephant armour from the 17th century then I don’t know what will? Maybe the weird the wonderful Horned Helmet (1512) complete with spectacles, presented to King Henry VIII by the Emperor Maximilian I would be more to your liking. This has to be one of the finest collections of armour anywhere in the world. It also has an impressive samurai collection.

We have several samurai artefacts in the Travel Museum collection including mid- late Edo Period body armour (dō,) and shoulder armour (Sode), as well as a high ranking (lord of senior follower) helmet, (Kabuto) with crest* (Mon), and a 16th century short sword (tantō), along with a small collection of sword ornaments and handle decorations, such as pommels (Kashira), hilt collars (Fuchi), sword guard (Tsuba) and spiritual or lucky ornaments covering handle pins (Menuki). The sword components are elaborately carved and decorated in real gold.

*Some of Japans most famous car brands have their origins in Samurai culture and the Mon is still used today, for example Mitsubishi combines the Mon of the Tosa Clan and the three stacked rhombuses of the Iwasaki family crest.

The Shard - Did you know there is 11,000 glass panels that make up the shard, and it was once home to “Romeo” the fox who lived on the 72nd floor, how’s that for some high adventure! It’s new - it’s modern - it’s pointy, yep another tall building, this is Britains tallest at 310 m but it shrinks in competition to the Burj Khailfa at 828 m. Still tall as it is you don’t get spectacular views over London from the Burj, but you do from the Shard - I can see my Nans house from here! It is currently the 96th tallest building in the world and 4th highest in Europe.

Spaghetti Junction - build in the late 60’s, this modern masterpiece of engineering was outstanding in its day. The Gravelly Hill Interchange, popularly known as Spaghetti Junction, is a road junction in Birmingham, not much by todays standards, but when it was built in 1972 it was unbelievable - we even went on a family road trip just to see it! 37 years later and an estimated 1¼ billion vehicles had travelled through the junction.

Jodwell Bank - Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire. We haven’t been yet, it is on our list. Established in 1945 and open to the public it is still a working telescope, or more preciously several telescopes, studying Astrophysics. The largest is the Lovell Telescope which when construction was finished in 1957, was the largest steerable dish radio telescope in the world at 76.2 m (250 ft) in diameter. It is still the 3rd largest.

Those in bold we have been to.