Exploration
The UK’s top 10 natural wonders
Millions of years in the making, these are bona fide blockbuster landmarks. But how many have you ticked off the bucket list?
The UK isn’t short of a breathtaking piece of scenery or two. In these fragile times it can be a blessed relief to take solace in the fact that there are countless sites across the UK that are testament to Mother Nature and the relentless passage of time. Sometimes not everything in life is about human endeavour.
From awe-inspiring lochs in the Scottish Highlands to incredible illustrations of geological history in Dorset, via magical mountains in the north of England and cascading waterfalls in Wales, the UK is littered with innumerable examples of natural wonders. They not only provide perspective but a chance for the intrepid among us to really get stuck into our rich and mind-bogglingly extensive natural history.
So, with that in mind, here are 10 cases of nature being simply astonishing. Some are more accessible than others, but all will provide magical memories that will last a lifetime…
Word of caution: Local restrictions may apply in some of the below locations – and some facilities may be closed – so check before you go.
1. Gaping Gill, Yorkshire Dales, England
Yorkshire's Gaping Gill forms part of the UK's largest cave system
© Stephen Archer; Flickr Creative Commons
Coming in at 300,000 million years old and buried 100m below the Yorkshire Dales, Gaping Gill forms part of Britain’s longest cave system (over 40 miles in length). Big enough to fit St Paul’s Cathedral inside, Gaping Gill’s stalagmites and stalactites can be accessed twice a year, when experienced cavers lower a cage down to the wonders - including a 350ft waterfall - below. Sitting on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, there are plenty of walks that can incorporate this subterranean marvel. Begin at nearby Ingleton or Clapham and take in the beauty of what many still call God’s Own Country.
2. Durdle Door, Dorset, England
Make Durdle Door your gateway to the Jurassic Coast
© Gary Campbell-Hall; Flickr
Situated on Dorset’s famed Jurassic Coast (the first natural World Heritage Site in England), a venture to the iconic gargantuan rock arch of Durdle Door is a bit like walking through geological history. The limestone arch has formed over millions of years as the sea waves eroded the rock drilling a hole through the middle. For intrepid explorers navigating the world famous South West Coast Path, Durdle Door not only offers some aesthetical and historical significance, but a chance to rest upon the idyllic beach, or even take a dip in the English Channel.
3. Llechwedd Slate Caverns, Snowdonia, Wales
It might be no more than a tourist attraction these days, but social and cultural history combine with natural history at Llechwedd Slate Caverns in the heart of Snowdonia. Home to some of the finest slate in the world - formed when mud with high levels of clay was compacted and squeezed at high temperatures during continental shifts 300-400 million years ago - in the 19th Century the cavern at Llechwedd was an industrial powerhouse. Today, you can travel 660ft underground via Britain’s steepest cable railway to take in the magnificence of this natural phenomenon. Combine a visit with some hiking around Snowdonia’s rugged scenery - including Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr, and, of course, Snowdon.
4. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, England
Cheddar Gorge(ous)
© Loop Images; Craig Joiner
If you’re looking for proof of the awesome power of Mother Nature then look no further than Somerset’s Cheddar Gorge. Formed over a million years ago when meltwater floods helped carve out Britain’s biggest gorge - at its deepest it reaches 137m down - the resultant ravine is both dramatic and oddly beautiful. Situated in the equally beatific Mendip Hills, the area boasts a number of exhilarating walks, rock climbing and underground caves, in which the most famous of these, Gough’s Cave, was found Britain’s oldest complete skeleton - also known as Cheddar Man (thought to be over 9,000 years old) - in 1903. Have that, fact fans.
5. Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's Giant’s Causeway is a must-see landmark
© Chris Lofqvist; Flickr
The awe-inspiring Giant’s Causeway rock formation - 40,000 conjoined (mostly hexagonal) basalt columns - on Northern Ireland’s rugged Antrim Coast, was formed back in the mists of time when the Irish giant Finn McCool placed the rocks in the Irish Sea to enable him to cross to Scotland to duke it out with his similarly sized Scottish counterpart Benandonner.
Well, that’s what some might say. In reality, this UNESCO World Heritage Site came into being following a volcano 50 to 60 millions years ago. There are a number of hiking trails that end up at this mind-blowing phenomenon; the most apt is the striking 10km coastline walk from Runkerry House to the cliffs of Hamilton’s Seat above the Causeway.
6. Seven Sisters, Sussex, England
Seven Sisters? Bring your whole family.
© Nick Rowland; Flickr
The Seven Sisters, a series of chalk cliffs in East Sussex’s bucolic South Downs, have long been portrayed as some mythical bulwark against foreign invaders. Which, way back when, they probably were. Today, better to think of them as a comforting reminder of our island home. Nature’s sidekick, erosion, has again played a pivotal role in the creation of these classic and romantic seven hills. Unsurprisingly, the potential for adventurous romping in this stretch of coast from Seaford to Eastbourne and beyond is immense.
7. Scafell Pike, Cumbria, England
Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England - and great for skyrunning
© Sagesolar; Flickr Creative Commons
Making your way to the top of England’s highest mountain is a feat in itself; so there’s no need to window dress the prospective intrepid points. Climbing the 978m to the peak requires a hearty dose of determination and stamina. The views from the top, however, certainly reward those mountaineers wanting to drink in one of Britain’s most iconic sites. Situated in the magical Lake District, the top of Scafell Pike is littered with debris of igneous rock from the Ordovician geological period nearly 500 million years ago. That’s some ancient history there.
8. Loch Awe, Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Kilchurn Castle seen in the distance on Loch Awe
© Chris Combe; Flickr
Loch Awe by name and certainly Loch Awe by nature. This vast expanse of freshwater (the longest in Scotland and the third largest by area) offers unforgettable picture-postcard views of the Scottish Highlands. Using the town of Inveraray as a starting point there are plenty of hikes to enjoy before making your way to Loch Awe’s mesmerising emerald shores.
Flanked by conifer forests and proud old oakwoods, the Loch offers some of Scotland’s best trout fishing, but the real treat is the scores of ruined castles that punctuate the loch. The most impressive of these, Kilchurn Castle, comes at the northeastern end. Originally a base for the Campbell Clan in the 15th Century, it fell into disrepair 300 years later. Today, you can visit by boat in the summer. Ensure you head to the fourth floor to take in the mesmerising vistas.
9. The Needles, Isle of Wight
The undisputed jewel in The Isle of Wight's 70-mile Coastal Path
© SAW Pixels; Flickr Creative Commons
Once a part of the charming Isle of Wight’s western headland, the three towers of chalk that jut out close to Alum Bay don’t particularly appear to resemble anything needle-like. They’re more like a Mohawk punk homage, truth be told. But their moniker actually refers to two earlier points that fell into the sea following a storm in 1764. The sea and the elements separated the 30m chalk stacks from the mainland many moons ago.
10. Henrhyd Falls, Powys, Wales
Henrhyd Falls, Powys
© ©National Trust Images/James Dobson
Situated on the western edge of the Brecon Beacons sits the highest waterfall in South Wales, Henrhyd Falls. The serene surroundings of the wooded gorge both complement and are in stark contrast to the cascading sounds the 90ft waterfall emits when it’s feeling particularly voluble. Such a scenario can make visiting the Falls slightly treacherous so caution is advised - but it’s certainly worth it for the spectacular sight offered by the water forcefully making its presence felt. The hard sandstone behind it, known as Farewell Rock, offers another mesmerising vantage point. A meandering walk through the Nant Llech valley adds to the sense of natural wonder.
