Wild Places
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Pounded by one of the world's most ferocious seaways, spectacular Cape Wrath is mainland Britain's most northwesterly promontory, topped off with a lighthouse and retaining an end-of-the-world mystique that has been largely lost at John O'Groats. Take a day return trip starting at Keoldale. A foot passenger ferry operates from here and
crosses the spectacular Kyle of Durness estuary.
At the other side of the estuary you board a minibus that takes you the
remaining 11 miles to Cape Wrath.
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The Knoydart peninsula is regarded by many as mainland Britain's most
dramatic and unspoilt wilderness area. Flanked by Loch Nevis in the south, and Loch Hourn to the north,
Knoydart's knobbly green peaks sweep straight out to sea, shrouded for
much of the time in a pall of grey mist. Knoydart supports around 70 people, most of whom live in
the hamlet of Inverie, with mainland
Britain's most remote pub, the Forge, serving real ales and generous bar meals
featuring freshly caught seafood.
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St Abbs Head is a prominent rocky headland with hilly, cliff top grasslands,
rich in flowers and butterflies, and a sheltered freshwater
loch surrounded by trees and bushes. Follow waymarked trails to a coastal footpath leading to the lighthouse for a spectacular walk. Thousands of seabirds nest on the sheer cliffs, making this an excellent destination for birdwatchers.
A Ranger Service operates on the site all
year round, and a Nature Centre, coffee
shop and toilets are located beside the car park.
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Explore The Farne Islands aboard Motor Vessel 'Glad Tidings' from the
lovley seaside town of Seahouses with Billy Shiel M.B.E - whose family
boat business was established in 1918. Many visitors say that a boat
trip to the Farne Islands is the highlight of their holiday, and there
is certainly lots to see if you are a fan of wildlife, inluding seals,
terns, puffins and even the occasional whale!
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On this dramatic and historic stretch of Cornish coast is 'The Lizard,'
the most southerly point of mainland Britain and site of the Marconi
Centre, where ground-breaking wireless experiments took place. With
dramatic cliff-top walks, rare wildflowers and unique geology, The
Lizard is also home to England's rarest breeding bird - the Cornish
Chough. Visit nearby Kynance Bay, with it's white-sand, turquoise water
and multi-coloured islands.
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South Stack lighthouse is located on a small craggy island off the
western tip of Anglesey. It's reached via a descent of 400 steps down
the steep mainland cliffs and then by crossing a swing-bridge which is
often tickled
by waves beneath it. Visitors can tour the former lighthouse engine room and exhibition area before climbing the spiral staircase to the top. South Stack is a wonderful place to watch thousands of breeding seabirds including guillemots, razorbills and puffins.
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Unst is Britain’s most northerly inhabited island and one of the most spectacular, varied and interesting in Europe. Packed into an area just 12 miles long by 5 miles wide are stupendous cliffs, jagged sea stacks, low rocky shores, sheltered inlets, golden beaches, heathery hills, freshwater lochs, peat bogs, fertile farmland - and even a unique, sub-arctic, stony desert. The Unst Heritage Centre provides a link to the past and the Unst Boat Haven is dedicated to the island's unique wooden boats.
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Wicken Fen is one of Britain's oldest nature reserves and contains the last 0.1% of fenland left in Britain. A remnant of the once massive Cambridgeshire Fens, it preserves a true
sense of wetland wilderness. Standing in the middle of the reserve,
nothing is visible other than wild habitats of fen, water and woodland. Wicken Fen is home to wild ponies, otters and rare
butterflies, has wildlife trails and hides, a fascinating visitor
centre and a café serving delicious food prepared on the premises.
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Dunwich Heath consists of coastal lowland heath, sandy cliffs and a beach
on a remote and beautiful stretch of the Suffolk coastline. There
are heathland and shore-side walks, shady woods, sandy cliffs and
from June to September - magnificent flowering heather. This environment
provides a home to rare wildlife, like the Dartford Warbler and
ant-lion. Stunning views, good food and tea and gifts can be found at the old Coastguard Cottages nearby.
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Lundy Island lies in the Bristol Channel, about 11 miles off the coast
of North Devon. Three miles long and half a mile wide, this granite
outcrop rises 400 feet above sea level and is a place of outstanding
natural beauty, with tremendous views of England, Wales and the
Atlantic. Lundy offers a very rare experience. It is large enough to have a
genuine life of its own, which visitors can share and enjoy, but small
and far enough away to be a world apart and unspoilt.
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