Pulpit Rock / Preikestolen

Pulpit Rock / Preikestolen

Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen / Prekestolen in Norwegian) is a Norwegian tourist attraction located in Strand, Rogaland. Pulpit Rock is, for all intents and purposes, a very tall, very steep cliff. It may not sound that remarkable, but clocking in at around 604 metres tall, the cliff face is near-vertical. At the top of the cliff…

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss is a tiered waterfall, with a total height of 105 feet (32m). Born from the Hvita River, the crevice is hidden from sight at close range, making it appear as though the river simply vanishes into the earth. There’s a famous story about a girl who walked barefoot from Reykjavic to Gullfoss in order…

Eisriesenwelt Cave

Eisriesenwelt Cave

Tucked away inside the Hochkogel Mountain in Werfen, lies Eisriesenwelt, the largest ice cave in the world. Sprawling an enormous 26 miles (42km) through the Tenneggebirge section of the Alps, Eisriesenwelt aptly translates to “World of the Ice Giants” in English. Only the first 0.62-mile (960m) of the cave is sheathed in ice, though luckily,…

Meteora

Meteora

The Meteora are a collective of natural sandstone rock pillars, which have served as places of worship throughout modern history. With an average elevation of 313m (1027ft), the Meteora rocks stand proudly at the centre of an extraordinarily beautiful Greek landscape, housing 24 monasteries in total, of which 6 remain active. Inscribed on the UNESCO…

Swiss National Park

Swiss National Park

The Swiss National Park is unequalled in terms of the alpine scenery it offers across its 50mi (80km) of hiking paths and nature trails. Founded in 1914, Swiss National Park was one of the first national parks in Europe, and to this day remains Switzerland’s only national park. Understandably, the major activities within the park…

Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain, with an elevation of 4409ft (1344m). As you would expect given this accolade, it’s an extremely popular tourist attraction, with approximately 150,000 ascents made every year. Climbing Ben Nevis The most common and simplest route to the summit is the Pony Path, which is reasonably well maintained,…

The Eiger

The Eiger

The Eiger stands at 13,025ft (3970m), forming part of the Bernese Alps Mountain range in Switzerland. An unusual mountain with an abundance of history; it’s summit can be reached with relative ease along the ridgelines up its flanks, though the real challenge lies in the North face, which is an altogether different prospect. In fact,…

Giant’s Causeway

Giant’s Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway is a vast and impressive expanse of closely packed hexagonal basalt columns approximately 40,000 in number that poke out of the Irish Sea. Formed as a result of intense volcanic activity, it lies on the north coast of the County of Antrim, Northern Ireland. The symmetrical and unique rock formations have mesmerised…

Pen y Fan

Pen y Fan

Situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Pen y Fan stands proudly at 2907ft (886m), offering spectacular, unrivalled views of the beautiful Welsh countryside. The highest peak in South Wales, Pen y Fan is suitably translated from the Welsh language to mean ‘top of this place’. A popular destination for walkers, there are a number…

Penon De Ifach

Penon De Ifach

The enigmatic Penon de Ifach stands proudly at 332m at the head of Calpe, surrounded by the shimmering blue of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a huge calcareous rock, joined to the mainland by a detritic isthmus. With a protected surface area of just 45 hectares, Penon de Ifach is one of the smallest nature…

Cheddar Gorge

Cheddar Gorge

Nature lovers, history enthusiasts, outdoor devotees, admirers of the sublime and cheese connoisseurs rejoice – Cheddar Gorge has it all. Residing in an area of outstanding natural beauty within the heart of Somerset, this strikingly iconic gorge is the largest in Britain and one of the most breath-taking natural sights within the UK. Carved out…

South Downs National Park

South Downs National Park

The South Downs National Park is the newest of the UK’s 15 national parks having only received full protected status in 2011. Its most obvious feature is the South Downs range of chalk hills running from Winchester in the west, across the counties of Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex, terminating where it meets the…

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park

With cascading waterfalls hidden among lush forest greenery, it’s easy to see why Croatia’s very own Garden of Eden regularly features in lists of the world’s most beautiful places. At the heart of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, 16 azure pools spill into each other, connected with rocky outcrops dripping in moss. The tallest waterfall,…

Jokulsarlon

Jokulsarlon

So exactly what colour is an iceberg? Those who have never seen one will probably expect it to be white or transparent like an ice cube. The more experienced travellers will doubtless point out that an iceberg is usually pale blue in colour often with a covering of white snow but only those who have…

Cliffs of Moher

Cliffs of Moher

Ireland is a wonderful country with a history steeped in legend and folklore and the rugged coastline of County Clare has more than its share of intriguing tales. Visitors to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher cannot fail to be impressed by such natural grandeur but may also wonder about the origins of some of the…

Rhine Falls

Rhine Falls

The mighty River Rhine passes through four countries as it flows from the Alps to the North Sea and it generates strong feelings of national pride throughout its length with each country regarding it as their own. It has been a major trade route since at least the times of the Roman Empire and probably…

High Force Waterfall

High Force Waterfall

For many, the river Tees is a symbol of the industrial north-east but the river rises high up in the North Pennines following a course of around 85 miles before reaching the North Sea. In the area known as Upper Teesdale, the river is at its most scenic varying from a fast-flowing mountain watercourse to…

Verdon Gorge

Verdon Gorge

The Verdon Gorge is one of Europe’s most beautiful river canyons. Situated in Provence Southeastern France, its name is derived from the striking turquoise color of the Verdon River that flows along its picturesque 25 kilometre (15.5 mile) length. Reaching a depth of 700 meters (2296ft) at numerous points, the Verdon Gorge (‘Gorges du Verdon‘…

Caminito del Rey

Caminito del Rey

The Gorge Desfiladero de los Gaitanes is about 40 minutes drive North of Malaga city in Southern Spain. The River Guadalhorce cuts through the rock and forms a long and spectacularly deep (700m) Gorge which ends at El Chorro. The gorge is around 3km in length and at points, it is only 10 meters wide….

Matterhorn Mountain

Matterhorn Mountain

Matterhorn Elevation & Location Matterhorn mountain is situated in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. It is one of the most famous and distinctive of all Alpine peaks. The Matterhorn is a pyramidal-shaped colossus, standing at a skyline-dominating elevation of 4478 metres (14,690 feet tall) which makes it the sixth highest…

The Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight

Islands are fascinating places each having its own charms and character. When viewed from afar, an island is a place of mystery, a land waiting to be explored. For those who live on an island, there is a strong sense of belonging and feeling of security with their homeland being protected by a maritime moat….

Lake Bled

Lake Bled

Lake Bled in north-western Slovenia could easily be described as being “Picture Postcard Perfect” with its warm blue waters reflecting the craggy Julian Alps and its tiny island on which stands a church that could have featured in any fairytale. It is by no means a large lake measuring a mere 2,120 m by 1,380…

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Despite its name and northern latitude, Iceland is most certainly not a frozen wasteland. Most visitors, however, expect to experience the raw beauty of this rocky volcanic land. Summer visitors may be surprised by the pleasant weather but ice is always present in central areas and on the peaks of Iceland’s mountains. One such peak…

Krka National Park

Krka National Park

Croatia is noted for its spectacular scenery and wonderful Mediterranean climate. Nowhere is this more so than in the historical region of Dalmatia which borders the Adriatic sea. Just a few kilometres north-east of the city of Sibenik can be found the Krka National Park. The National Park was declared in 1985 and it is…

Andorra

Andorra

Andorra Facts and Basics The principality uses the Euro but it is not part of the EU. It was famous as a tax haven but in order to obtain international whitelisting it has now introduced a low tax regime and tightened its banking rules. Tax rates are very low because the country does not rely…

Fairy Pools

Fairy Pools

Much of the history of Scotland has been handed down as tales passed from one generation to the next. This is a country with a violent and blood-stained past but, in addition to the indisputable historical facts, many of the stories about Scotland in bygone days also include generous helpings of legend, myth and magic….

Sognefjord

Sognefjord

Sognefjord is the largest fjord in Norway and the second largest in the world. The fjords sheer cliffs run for 200km inland until it reaches the Jostedalsbreen glacier and the Jotunheimen National Park & Mountains. The area is excellent of hiking, watersports, cycling, and summer skiing. It is serviced by plenty of towns and villages…

Skocjan caves

Skocjan caves

The Škocjan caves are an extraordinary series of limestone caves in Slovenia, featuring approximately six kilometres of beautiful underground passages, deep chasms, waterfalls, underground lakes, and caves. Situated in the northeast section of Kraski Landscape Park, this enthralling subterranean world is an area of great natural beauty. Impressively, the caves contain Europe’s largest underground gorge…

Samaria Gorge

Samaria Gorge

Samaria Gorge, set in the White Mountains of western Crete, is a majestic must-visit destination for all those who visit the stunning Greek Island. Scenic, well-marked hiking trails guide visitors through pristine forest, dense with cypress and pine trees. Springtime at the Samaria Gorge is particularly picturesque when millions of colourful wildflowers are in bloom….

Cenarth Falls

Cenarth Falls

The cascading Cenarth Falls on the River Teifi are the centrepiece of the village of Cenarth on the border of Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. The perfect location for a relaxing day trip; keep an eye out for the famous leaping salmon along the river. What to do in Cenarth Falls Take a lovely peaceful walk…

The Arctic Circle
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The Arctic Circle

The Arctic is one of the Earth’s great un-spoilt wildernesses and everyone knows that at its centre is the North Pole. It is bounded by an imaginary line known as the Arctic Circle. Rather than simply being defined as a simple line of latitude, the position of the Arctic Circle is dependent on the degree of…

Aurora Borealis

Aurora Borealis

The Aurora Borealis, or as it’s commonly known, the Northern Lights, is an ethereal phenomenon of extraordinary beauty. The celestial display of coloured lights across the night sky is both beguiling and inspiring in equal measure. Once seen, it is never forgotten. Characteristically, auroras emit a greenish-yellowish light, but blues and reddish-violet hues can also…

Dettifoss Waterfall

Dettifoss Waterfall

Dettifoss Waterfall is reputedly the most powerful waterfall in Europe, drops 148 ft (45m) into Iceland’s largest canyon, the Jokulsargljufur Canyon. Situated on the Jokulsa a Fjollum river, which flows from the Vatnajokull glacier, Dettifoss lies within the Vatnajokull National Park. The famous composer, Jon Leifs, wrote his work ‘Dettifoss’ after being inspired by the…