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Apart from a very steep and winding road, the two villages are connected by a funicular from where you can enjoy spectacular views over the bay and surrounding hills. My recommendation is to leave the car in Lynton's car park, which is bigger than Lynmouth's, then enjoy the descent down the cliff-side while having your breath taken away.
From the ramparts of this huge prehistoric hill fort, the view opens up to the Somerset Levels below - mile upon mile of fields and hedges, and twelve miles away, the isolated shape of Glastonbury Tor. Whether in golden sunlight or winter mist, this is a magical view. This may or may not be King Arthur's Camelot, but it does sometimes feel as if it's on the frontiers of another world.
Five miles north west of Yeovil
The line between the High- and Low- lands is amazingly beautiful. You look down into a river valley with massive hills on either side. Green as I've only experienced in Scotland with a train going by on the ridge. Breathtaking.
walking.visitscotland.com/walks/perthangusfife/loch-faskally-pass-killiecrankie
This is a suberb spot. In the winter, a visitor is able to walk around the lake in around 45 minutes and can then have coffee/cake/beer (delete as
appropriate) at the restaurant at the end of the lake.
In the summer, this same restaurant serves a schwimmbad situated on the grassy banks of the north side of the lake, with excellent children's facilities, pedalos, etc. A modest fee is charged for entrance.
Fishermen can also try their luck on the lake and row boats are available for rental. I once watched a local haul in one of the other locals, a pike.
About ten minutes' drive from Kufstein.
There are great walks on the coast in Sintra, near Lisbon. One of them takes you from the beach of Praia da Adraga, a sand crescent tucked between tall cliffs, to the next beach, Praia Grande.
Stunning views of the Atlantic coast and dinosaur footprints made 120 million years ago imprinted in the cliff face at Praia Grande make this a superb walk.
You can continue the walk to many other beaches and sights from here, or simply return to your starting point.
Ask for maps at the tourist office in Sintra.
Ardara is a small unpretentious town in Donegal, which hosts this year's annual festival of traditional music on May 4, 5, and 6.
Its people and pubs are great. Local scenic points include the Glengesh Pass, the Maghera Falls and the views out over the Atlantic from Loughros Point.
Good beaches around the area too.
I'm staggered by the reader who said there's 'not much to do in Lucca'. Apart from the fact that this has about the most perfect set of medieval walls of any city you'll see in Europe.
The best way to get a feel for the town is to hire a bike (there are big cycle hire places all over the old town) and ride around the walls (a circuit is less than three miles). These are so wide/deep that they have parks and cycle paths. Your wheels are also the best way to get around the narrow streets of the centre, which is now largely free of cars. Arguably Lucchese can be a bit snooty (this very bourgeois town is the only place I've seen fur coats in June) but a lovely little place nonetheless.
A good central hotel is www.ahotelinitaly.com/hotel-details/alla-corte-degli-angeli-maison-de-charme-lucca/#hotelmap. Only five rooms, nice and quiet.
Tidal islands cut off from the land for 5 of every 12 hours. Check your tides and make your way across the sands (preferably barefoot) with beautiful views in all directions. Great wildlife, birdwatching etc too.
Parkgate is close, and lovely too.
Hilbre, West Kirby, Wirral
www.wirral.gov.uk/er/hilbre.htm
Glencoe valley would surely fill anyone with awe. Choose a spring summer day and get a bus which stops off at the Information Centre. From there just explore into the hills and the springy heather, get as high up as you can. The noise from the road disappears, and you become aware of the sheer vastness of the scenery. Watch the clouds rush over the hills and dream about living in one of the tiny number of cottages that sprinkle the hills. Stunning place.
Glencoe, Scotland.
The western half of the Dingle Peninsula, from Dingle town out to the Blasket islands is some of the most spectacular, friendly and fun places in the world. From the cosy bustle of Dingle and its 52 pubs, to Funghi the dolphin in its bay, to scaling Mount Brandon and taking in the views at the Connor Pass. And that's all just around Dingle town!
Head further west and you have the amazing beauty of Ceann Tra (or Ventry) strand. Two miles of pristine beach in a beautiful bay. On a sunny afternoon you have to sit out the front of Quinns pub in Ventry village and take in the glorious view.
Then head around The Slea Head Drive for the most pant-wetting views around. Narrow roads (although wider these days) and spectacular cliff faces make for an exhilarating drive. Stop of on Coomeenaul beach and get pounded by huge waves.
There's so much more to do on this wonderful peninsula, such as taking a day trip to the now abandoned village on the Great Blasket island. Watch incredible sunsets at the peninsula's western most point. Play golf on the most exposed lynx course ever. Or just get lost down the narrow fushia hedged lanes. Some of the best surfing in Europe is here too.
What more do you want?
As a true Blue Jackeen (native of Dublin) I love Dublin, but the one thing I always tell visitors (the term "tourist" is very rarely used in Ireland) is by all means enjoy a day and maybe one night in Dublin, have a pint or two in one of the last few remaining decent tradtional pubs (Kehoes, Toners, Dohney & Nesbitts etc) but after that get out of Dublin and head west. Nothing will prepare you for Connemara. The spectacular scenery, the friendly locals, the great pubs and traditional music, fantastic beaches and just a general feeling of being away from it all out on the farthest tip of Western Europe you can get to.
From Galway head for Clifden but make sure to take the road through the Inagh Valley. Spectacular 360 degree walled valley with the beautiful Lake Inagh running through it.
If you have time, take a trip out to Inisboffin Island for a day, wild and unspoilt with two bars and about 80 local residents and a former hideout of the 16th century great Irish Pirate Queen herself Grace O'Malley.
There are lots of choices on the Isle of Skye; hotels, B&B, hostels and camping sites.
Our family stayed in a camping site called Torvaig near Pontree for two nights. It was cheaper than the one we had stayed at near Ben Nevis. The services were the same; showers, bathrooms, clean drinking water for free, although at Ben Nevis there was a shop. The ground was hard, but there was a beautiful view at sunset.
We liked cooking so we didn’t eat out much. But when we did there were big portions. The food was similar to Irish food; haggis is just like a mix of black puddings and mince meat. If you asked for an apple pie you would expect to get a slice but there you get a whole pie. The Pike Hotel had particularly big portions.
When we cooked it was easy to find the supplies to cook on our own in any supermarket. There are also shops on the Isle of Skye so don’t fret.
We didn’t stay long, so we only got one trip done; a boat trip.
We saw a brochure in the campsite and my dad thought it would be a good thing to do. The boat left Armadale and got to Mallaig in 45 minutes. When you get there you can stay or you can walk back to the pier. It takes a couple of hours to get back on foot. It was a great boat ride. I even got to drive the boat. The view was spectacular. It was so spectacular - that I had a dream about it. When we pulled into the bay, it was lovely and calm. To the left of me there was a mountain sheltered under a beautiful white cloud. The bay had lovely turquoise water, warmer than the sea because of the surrounding rocks and big boulders. Just right for swimming. If you don’t like salt water there is a river up beside it.
The overall view from the high rock over looking the bay was really pretty, and one you don’t see everyday.
I would recommend the holiday to outgoing people and families with teenage kids.
I had a wicked time.
Having just returned from Heron Island, we can thoroughly recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy an easy few days, whilst capturing some of the most amazing natural sights. It is off the coast of Gladstone, Queensland.
Between December and March, female turtles come on the island to lay their eggs. Between January and March turtle hatchlings scramble to the sea. It is a great place to enjoy great beaches, great snorkeling and diving and nature at its most natural. Go on the free talks and walks early on and learn how to behave so that you watch but don’t interfere with the natural cycles on the island. I recommend the Beach House. It’s the most expensive accommodation, but is the most comfortable and is situated on the beach. If you get travel sick, try the helicopter, a much easier way of getting to the island, although there is a cost consideration.
Heron Island was the best part of a long trip. Highly recommended for experiences you won't forget.
The single track road to Achiltibuie in the Coigach area of north west Scotland is full of spectacular scenery - the views of the Gormenghastian Stac Polliadh take the breath away. But the jewel in this particular crown comes on the road that veers off to the tiny hamlet of Reiff. You top the brow of a hill and there before you lies the most beautiful view of the myriad tiny specks that are the Summer Isles - with, on a clear day, the mountains of Torridon in the distance.
15 miles north west of Ullapool
From the ramparts of this huge prehistoric hill fort, the view opens up to the Somerset Levels below - mile upon mile of fields and hedges, and twelve miles away, the isolated shape of Glastonbury Tor. Whether in golden sunlight or winter mist, this is a magical view. This may or may not be King Arthur's Camelot, but it does sometimes feel as if it's on the frontiers of another world.
Five miles north west of Yeovil
The streets within the walls in the city centre are like double decker rows of shops. Walk along the upper rows for an alternative view of the streets and shops. Then take the steps up to the wall at Eastgate clock - great views of the streets and a good place to start your walking tour of the city as seen from the Roman walls.
You can pretty much circle the entire city centre by walking the wall and getting a different vantage point and contrasting views and points of interest on either side of the wall as you go round.
Eastgate
The perfect place for a family holiday. Unless you've been there, it's hard to understand why, but so many people return again and again.
Mossyard, Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway; www.geograph.org.uk/photo/271874
www.geograph.org.uk/photo/270379
Crookston Castle is in the care of Historic Scotland but has free entry. You get two castles for the price of one. It has the ditch and earthen rampart of a 12th century ringwork castle and in the centre the ruinous remains of a 15th century stone castle of unusual form. It's on a hilltop and there's a good view of the southwest side of the city from the top of the tower.
Off Brockburn Road, Pollok, SW of Glasgow city centre. Exit M8 at Junction 26
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/properties_sites_detail.htm?propertyID=PL_077
This is a cracking real ale pub at the top of the slope leading down to the South Shields ferry. Excellent beers are always on offer and you can often get a quick taster to help you make your mind up. It's friendly, cosy and inviting and you can't beat grabbing a berth in one of the pub's two bay windows for unsurpassed views across the Tyne to North Shields.
River Drive, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 1JR. Nearest Metro station: South Shields (or you can pile off the Shields ferry and head up the bank)
This incredible castle is perched on a rock high on the west coast of the island. Half the fun is the drive there, which takes you along a winding coastline with stunning views of Turkey, Halki and other small islands.
The landscape on the west is not commercial or developed, and you can stop in small villages like Embonas (famous for their wine) and Sianna (great for carpets) on the way.
Keep a look out for a caravan parked on the side of the road (before you get to Sianna) which looks as if its going to slide down the mountain. Stop here and have a coffee (or a suma) sit and contemplate the breathtaking view.
Just follow the road east from the airport - you dont have to turn off anywhere. It's about 2 hours from Rhodes Town.
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