Exploring the UK… Top-10 Picture Perfect Destinations
Looking for artistic inspiration for your next holiday? A picturesque backdrop to test your photography skills, or to brush up on your painting and sketching? Here are ten great suggestions to get your creative juices flowing…
- The Lake District. Generations of romantics have found their muse amid the majestic mountains and sparkling waters of the Lakes. For tranquillity head to Wasdale – its remote and truly beautiful landscape is home to the deepest lake in England.
- Cornwall. Any artist will tell you that there’s something special about Cornish light. St Ives is famous for its local vistas, but the lesser-known and enchantingly sleepy harbour at Mousehole wins our vote.
- The Scottish Highlands. For sheer rugged beauty, the wilderness of the Highlands wins hands down. In the Northern Highlands, you’ll find Loch Maree with deer, eagles, and otters to be found among its breathtaking scenery. Nearby there’s Victoria Falls and Rua Reidh Lighthouse to aim your eye at.
- The North Yorkshire Coast. From the gothic Abbey at Whitby, to the steep cobbled streets and quaint cottages at Robin Hoods Bay, this rough-hewn coast makes a breathtaking backdrop. Get up early to enjoy the magical light of an East Coast sunrise.
- The New Forest. To capture wildlife in your lens, the New Forest is an obvious choice. Under its dappled canopy of mighty oak and beech, you’ll find natural scenes unchanged by the modern world – free roaming deer and ponies, plus an unexpected abundance of frogs, toads and lizards!
- Somerset. For misty panoramas and mysterious ancient sites, Somerset’s a firm favourite. Visit the medieval town of Dunster for sepia-toned images of times gone by. It’s hard not to be inspired at Exmoor, Cheddar Gorge or Glastonbury Tor.
- Northumbria. For seabird photography, the North East Coast takes the biscuit, and no-where is more enchanting than the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. The cliffs around the ancient priory are home to puffins, terns, guillemots, eider ducks, and seals.
- The Pembrokeshire Coast. For panoramic bliss, the expansive coastline of Pembrokeshire offers rolling beaches, wooded estuaries and grassy cliff tops, rich in flowers and wildlife. Barafundle Beach is perfect, while nearby Portmeirion is one of the most photographed villages in the UK.
- Wiltshire. Head to Laycock, near Chippenham for a snapshot of chocolate box England and wonder at the 750 year old abbey. Or visit the nearby medieval village of Castle Combe, with a 15th Century pack-bridge and market cross.
- The Yorkshire Dales. The fine scenery of the Yorkshire Dales is home to some of the UK’s most spectacular waterfall and woodland scenery. Take the Ingleton Waterfall Trail, through wooded gorges and over limestone scars and soak up the magic.
Do you agree? Tell us about your family’s favourite locations by leaving your comments below…
