The UK can be an amazing country to explore, whether you’re a first-timer or seasoned visitor, with a compelling mixture of urban and rural, spiritual and hedonistic, adventurous and world-famous experiences and destinations.
Beyond some of the more obvious attractions, here’s my top 20, including tips on avoiding the crowds.
Hike up Ben Nevis Some purists scoff at the Mountain Track (also known as the Tourist Route or Pony Track), but it’s a very walker-friendly gradual ascent up from the east side of the UK’s highest peak. It is doable in snow; indeed, a winter’s day is arguably the best time to tackle this walk as the tourist numbers will be low.
That said, it should not be underestimated. Good navigation skills are essential, with mobile coverage unreliable and intermittent – so download any maps for use offline.
The view from the top takes in the Torridon Hills, Ben Lomond and Morven at Caithness, and, on a clear day, you can see Northern Ireland.
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How to do it
The train to Fort William (served by the Caledonian Sleeper) is the easiest way to arrive. A 30-40-minute walk takes you to the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre at the foot of the peak. More routes up and guided walks are available here.
Be a pilgrim Embark on a pilgrimage to the UNESCO-listed Canterbury Cathedral. iStock Pilgrimages are all the rage, despite – or because of – the increasingly secular character of 21st-century Britain. There are lots of route options, and a range of distances to meet all needs, but a classic biggie for the south of England is the 214-kilometre Pilgrims’ Way from Winchester to Canterbury – linking an ancient regional capital with the Church of England’s mother-seat and home of the shrine of the martyred archbishop, St Thomas Becket.
Cicerone publishes a guide for the route, which also includes the Chaucerian hike from London. From Farnham, the Pilgrims’ Way is mainly coincident with much of the North Downs Way National Trail, following the crest of the southern escarpment of the North Downs. There are views of the South Downs and several steepish ascents. Topography includes woods, chalk grassland, some minor roads
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