BURREN COUNTY CLARE (IRELAND)

The Burren National Park is located in the southeastern corner of the Burren and is approximately 1500 hectares in size. It contains examples of all the major habitats within the Burren: Limestone Pavement, Calcareous Grassland, Hazel scrub, Ash/Hazel Woodland, Turloughs, Lakes, Petrifying Springs, Cliffs and Fen. The word “Burren” comes from an Irish word “Boíreann” meaning a rocky place. This is an extremely appropriate name when you consider the lack of soil cover and the extent of exposed Limestone Pavement. However it has been referred to in the past as “Fertile rock” due to the mixture of nutrient rich herb and floral species.
In 1651 a Cromwellian Army Officer named Ludlow remarked, “of this barony it is said that it is a country where there is not water enough to drown a man, wood enough to hang one, nor earth enough to bury them. This last is so scarce that the inhabitants steal it from one another and yet their cattle are very fat. The grass grows in tufts of earth of two or three foot square which lies between the limestone rocks and is very sweet and nourishing.” The highest point in the park is Knockanes (207 metres) which continues as a curving terraced ridge to Mullaghmór to the south. East of this ridge is an area of extensive, low lying limestone pavement containing a number of semi-permanent lakes. West of this ridge the pavement sweeps down to partially drift-covered ground which gradually rises again to reach the foot of a rocky escarpment. To the south of the park the limestone bedrock disappears under a layer of glacial till. This till area is far more intensively managed for pasture and silage.

CAMBRIDGE, KING'S COLLEGE

One of the 31 constituent Colleges that make up the University of Cambridge, King's College was founded by King Henry VI in 1441 and has continuously striven to uphold Henry’s love for ‘education, religion, learning and research’. A visit to King's College Chapel is a truly inspirational experience. It is the largest and most spectacular of the college chapels in Cambridge.

The Chapel is the grandest and most beautiful building in Cambridge and ranks amongst the most important examples of perpendicular (late gothic) architecture. Stone, wood and glass combine with music to provide an unforgettable experience under Rubens' Adoration of the Magi. The famous service of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has been broadcast on the radio since 1928.

NEWGRANGE, IRELAND

 Newgrange is a prehistoric monument in County Meath, Ireland, located 8 kilometres (5 miles) west of Drogheda on the north side of the River Boyne. It is an exceptionally grand passage tomb built during the Neolithic period, around 3200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.Newgrange is the best known Irish passage tomb and dates to c.3,200BC. The large mound is approximately 80m in diameter and is surrounded at its base by a kerb of 97 stones. The most impressive of these stones is the highly decorated Entrance Stone.

BLACKPOOL, LANCASHIRE

Blackpool is widely regarded as Britain’s most popular seaside resort, and is packed full of excitement and adventure, making every visit a fun-filled experience.  Blackpool offers a whole range of accommodation types to choose from, with accredited hotels, guest houses, B&B’s and self-catering apartment’s. If you are feeling adventurous take a trip up the famous Blackpool Tower, which stands at 158 metres over the town, or get your adrenaline pumping at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, where you can ride the UK’s tallest rollercoaster, the Big One. There is plenty for the whole family to enjoy, including the traditional fair. Quieter adventurers can appreciate Blackpool’s calmer side by strolling down the newly renovated South Promenade. Discover contemporary artwork by pop artist Sir Peter Blake and the glittery spectacle that is the world’s largest Mirror Ball in the Great Promenade Show. The magnificent Winter Gardens have a fantastic programme of unmissable events from award-winning West End to big name music concerts, as well as the Blackpool Grand Theatre.

LIVER BUILDING , LIVERPOOL, MERSEYSIDE

Overlooking the River Mersey and dominating one of the world’s most famous waterfront skylines, is Royal Liver Building. This iconic symbol of Liverpool, built in 1911, and at the time, the tallest building in Europe, has the enviable status of a Grade 1 listed landmark building.
Classic on the outside yet modern, light and chic on the inside with large open plan interiors that push the boundaries of contemporary design and technology.

THE ISLE OF MAN

 

Imagine a place . . . Shrouded by mystery, a sea-bound kingdom with its own captivating story to tell. With a rich history, that echoes through the ages. A melting pot of character and taste, where true heroes exist and sea monsters bask in the shallows. Landscapes carved from pure imagination and magical vistas of the Seven Kingdoms. A world of tangled trees and twisty trails. A place where legends are Manx made...

CLIFFS OF MOHER, IRELAND

When you make your pilgrimage to the Cliffs of Moher, you’re coming for one of two things: the staggering height of the rock face, and the even more staggering beauty of the views from the top. Soaring to 702ft, the striated stone reaches its long fingers southward to counties Cork and Kerry beyond, with a keen eye from O'Brien's Tower even able to spot the Aran Islands to the north. Of course, one of the most unique and precious aspects of the cliffs is the local wildlife that calls them home. Those with a love of bird-watching will be spoiled here: think countless sad-eyed puffins; elegantly dressed razorbills; chattering kittiwakes; and if you’re lucky, even an elusive peregrine falcon.

LAKE WINDERMERE (CUMBRIA)

Windermere in the Lake District is England's largest lake, it's 10.5 miles long, that's just over 18 km, and at its deepest point is 219 feet, that's 66.7 m.
Windermere is also the name of a small town, which lies just over a mile from the lake shore. It's separate from the town of Bowness-on-Windermere, which is one of the busiest place along the shoreline and the main jetties for cruise boats.
Windermere and the surrounding area is arguably the most famous and popular area in the whole of the Lake District. There are a range of activities, attractions, places of interest and things to do around the lake, and on it!

YORK MINSTER, YORK

York's cathedral church is one of the finest medieval buildings in Europe.  The Minster is also known as St Peter's, its full name being the 'Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York'.  In the past the church sat within its own walled precinct, known as the Liberty of St Peter. The site of the magnificent medieval building has always been an important one for the city.  The remains of the Basilica, the ceremonial centre of the Roman fortress, have been found beneath the Minster building. The first Christian church on the site has been dated to 627 and the first Archbishop of York was recognised by the Pope in 732. A stone Saxon church survived Viking invasion in 866 but was ransacked by William the Conqueror's forces in 1069.  William appointed his own Archbishop, Thomas, who by the end of the century had built a great Norman cathedral on the site. The present Gothic-style church was designed to be the greatest cathedral in the kingdom.  It was built over 250 years, between 1220 and 1472.