I’m a UK map maker – the top 10 British bucket list destinations everyone should visit next year
Only one UK city made the top 10
A MAN has revealed his top ten bucket list destinations across the UK where Brits should aim to visit.
Humphrey Butler is the founder and CEO of Marvellous Maps – a company dedicated to helping people explore Britain’s best bits through their thematic maps.
As the man behind the thematic maps, he knows exactly where Brits should be heading on their UK staycations.
He told Sun Online Travel: “One of the best things as you travel through Wales, Scotland and England is the huge variety and rapid change in landscape, culture, accent, and atmosphere within such small distances.
“Even an hour from home can feel like a completely different world. And with a little planning, most of these places are easy to get to – being a relatively small country, it’s the perfect size and shape for road trips, self-powered or public transport adventures.”
Humphrey shared his top ten bucket list locations, in random order, with a focus on the best scenery and outdoor experiences.
Isles of Scilly
Britain’s most southerly location, a totally tropical-looking group of islands around 30 miles off the Cornish coast.
The five inhabited islands are all different in character, but are all fringed by white sand beaches and clear blue waters.
Get your timing right and at super-low tides it’s possible to walk between some of the islands. And the name’s just great, isn’t it?
Shetland
At the other end of Britain lies Shetland, Britain’s stunning northern extreme, which everyone should visit at least once.
Make your way north to the cliffy, a bird-heavy nature reserve at Hermaness where you can look out to Muckle Flugga lighthouse and Out Stack, Britain’s northernmost point.
Alternatively, go and find the huge, spectacular double-sided sandy beach at St. Ninian’s, which appears in the BBC’s latest Shetland series.
There’s also some amazing wildlife, the huge cliffs of Foula, the remote Fair Isle, Papa Stour’s sea-cave tunnels, and the amazing Up Helly Aa fire festival.
Bannau Brycheiniog
Formerly known as the Brecon Beacons, Bannau Brycheiniog is one of Wales’ three gorgeous national parks.
The Bannau has four distinct areas, from west to east: Black Mountain, Fforest Fawr, Brecon Beacons, and the Black Mountains.
The scenery alone is enough, but what we really love about this national park is its renewed commitment to environmental restoration.
Yorkshire
Yorkshire boasts so much amazing scenery that it surely has to feature on any self-respecting Great British bucket list.
It has not just one but two national parks. In the Yorkshire Dales, hike up Ingleborough, stroll along the River Wharfe, grab a caving guide to explore underground, or enjoy a drink at Britain’s highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn.
Meanwhile, highlights in the North York Moors include hills like Roseberry Topping, the dramatic ‘Dinosaur Coast’, Dalby Forest, and some fine coastline.
There are also more famous film and literary settings than you can shake a magic wand at.
Goathland features in the Harry Potter films, Castle Howard in Bridgerton and other period dramas, and Whitby in Dracula.
North West Highlands
The North West Highlands is mainland Britain at its most spectacular.
Spot golden eagles, climb the mountains of Assynt, or hike to Sandwood Bay.
If you can, get to Cape Wrath, Britain’s most north-westerly point (with an always-open cafe).
The North Coast 500 road route has been incredibly popular in recent years, perhaps overly so at times – we’d suggest slowing down and getting off the main road route.
Northumberland
Northumberland is brilliant, both the national park, bounded by Hadrian’s Wall to the south and stretching up to the Scottish borders, and the amazing coastline.
Its national park is perfect for stargazing, being one of the largest areas of protected night sky in Europe.
There are some great hikes, such as the Cheviot, or one of the long-distance national trails passing through, like St. Cuthbert’s Way or the Pennine Way.
The Northumberland coast combines miles of sandy beaches and old castles like Dunstanburgh, Warkworth, and Bamburgh.
Outer Hebrides
An utterly alluring island chain joined by causeways and ferries, home to some of the world’s finest beaches.
Sample the sands of Luskentyre, Scarista, and Berneray, enjoy the views from Ceapabhal, and stand in admiration at the Calanais stones.
Barra, at the southern end, is also home to the world’s only scheduled flight where the runway is a beach.
London
Our one city, in an otherwise rurally-dominated Top Ten, but this isn’t just any city.
Everyone knows London is a cultural behemoth with history pretty much everywhere you look and world-famous landmarks at every turn.
But London also has a surprising amount of greenery. Did you know it’s the world’s first National Park City?
For a good adventure, hire a bike and cycle around and between the famous parks, paddle on the Thames, or walk some of the 150-mile London LOOP.
Cairngorms
Britain’s largest and wildest national park contains four of its five highest peaks and its biggest native forests.
It’s a year-round adventure landscape of mountains, forests, rivers and lochs.
Hike up Ben Macdui, through the Lairig Ghru or around Royal Deeside, mountain bike pretty much anywhere, ski/snowboard/ski tour at Cairngorm, and be at one with nature at Insh Marshes, Abernethy Forest, or the Highland Wildlife Park.
North Wales
Formerly known as Snowdonia, Eryri has it all.
Not only does it have the highest peak in Britain outside the Scottish Highlands, but it also has a train to get you to the top, making Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) Britain’s most accessible peak.
Elsewhere, there are more iconic mountains (Cader Idris, Tryfan, the Rhinogs, Glyder Fach, and Glyder Fawr), amazing roads, hiking and mountain biking routes, forests, waterfalls, and 23 miles of mostly sandy coastline.
Beyond the famous national park, there’s also the Isle of Anglesey, and the Lleyn peninsula – we’d recommend extending your trip to experience these farther-flung locations, which are both Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
