| The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern | | | | KingdomMany tourists enjoy cruising on Lake |
| Ireland (commonly called the United Kingdom or UK) | | | | Windermere, the most famous lake in England. Taking |
| is located in the British Isles off the northwest coast | | | | a relaxing drive through the Cotswolds is another |
| of Europe. The UK has the fifth largest economy in | | | | way to spend the day. There are rolling hills and |
| the world and attracts tourists year round. There are | | | | lovely stone cottages for a great view, and the area |
| four constituent parts, or home nations, to the | | | | is less than 100 miles west of London. Tourists also |
| United Kingdom: *England *Scotland *Northern Ireland | | | | enjoy great shopping, play theaters and fine dining. |
| *Wales | | | | The UK offers interesting places and fun activities to |
| Cultural Facts about the United KingdomThe UK | | | | both families and individuals.Explore the United |
| became the dominant maritime and industrial power | | | | Kingdom on a Hiking AdventureWith all the hustle and |
| of the 19th century, and contributed tremendously to | | | | bustle, glitz and dazzle of the United Kingdom, you |
| the development of Western ideas concerning | | | | might be wondering when you'll find time for a great |
| capitalism, democracy, property, literature and | | | | hike. Don't worry, there are many delightful hiking |
| science. Many of the world's top universities are | | | | opportunities right around the corner from many of |
| located in Great Britain. The English language is known | | | | the major tourist areas. Whether your goal is to get |
| as the "global language" and has spread to nations | | | | some exercise and stay fit during your trip to the UK |
| around the world.Touring the United KingdomThe UK | | | | or just enjoy the outdoors a bit, you can escape to |
| offers some of the world's most popular vacation | | | | the rolling hills of the Cotswolds or the crashing |
| destinations, from historic cities to tranquil ocean | | | | waves of the Outer Hebrides.Hiking is Different for |
| views. There are lovely country houses, majestic | | | | Every RegionYou'll find breathtaking mountains to the |
| castles, unique structures and ancient monuments. | | | | north in the Lake District and in the Pennines. Also, |
| The reasons so many folks choose the United | | | | magnificent mountain scenery awaits in the remote |
| Kingdom, particularly Great Britain, as their destination | | | | regions of Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland. If |
| are endless!Castles and Palaces in the United | | | | you're up for a challenging hike, the Peak District |
| KingdomThere are many delightful castles in the UK | | | | offers strenuous climbs to give you a real workout. |
| where tourists can take a walk through history and | | | | For a less challenging hike, you might want to try the |
| learn about royal families of the past. Tourists can | | | | Shropshire Hills or the Chilterns. There are thousands |
| also visit many stately homes. There are hundreds of | | | | of miles of English countryside if you're just starting |
| these in Great Britain that are open to the public. One | | | | out with hiking. Visit the eastern portions of England |
| popular castle is Castle Howard in North Yorkshire. | | | | where the land flattens to enjoy riverside strolls, see |
| The entrance of the castle is gorgeous and has a | | | | pretty skylines and visit unique villages. For hiking near |
| dome overhead. The lovely park around the castle | | | | the city, go south where you can stay in or near |
| makes a visit worthwhile. The Scottish Edinburgh | | | | London, but still find a peaceful walk on the outskirts. |
| Castle sits on a hill high above the remainder of the | | | | Hiking in the southwest reveals Medieval castles, the |
| city Edinburgh, and offers a view of where some of | | | | beautiful coastlines of Cornwall and Devon, and also |
| the bloodiest events of Scottish history took place. | | | | the gentler side of the Cotswolds.Hike from |
| The Windsor Castle is known to be the largest | | | | CockingA great hike near London begins in the village |
| inhabited stronghold in the world, and it is also the | | | | of Cocking, which is situated at the foot of the |
| largest castle in England. Although the castle was | | | | South Downs Way. The trail will lead you through the |
| severely damaged by a fire in 1992, it has been | | | | lovely countryside. The stretch from Cocking to the |
| restored. For garden lovers, the Hever Castle and | | | | stately home of Uppark passes by ancient Neolithic |
| Gardens in Kent offers an enchanting landscape with | | | | burial mounds, herds of sheep, deer and forests. This |
| a surrounding moat and a drawbridge for protection. | | | | hike is a wonderful way to relax after a busy tour of |
| Also in Kent is Penshurst Place, a gorgeous country | | | | London.Hiking at the Lake District National ParkYou'll |
| mansion that was once the home of Sir Philip | | | | have many hiking options at the Lake District National |
| Sydney, an Elizabethan poet of the 1500s. The | | | | Park, where high mountains and secluded valleys |
| baroque Blenheim Palace in Woodstock offers visitors | | | | meet to form an inviting landscape. This is the largest |
| a peek at the birthplace of Sir Winston | | | | English national park that was established in 1951. |
| Churchhill.Charming Gardens in the United KingdomThe | | | | There are villages, towns, lakes, dales, fells, beaches |
| UK is known for its talented gardeners from the | | | | and tide pools within the park, giving every visitor a |
| past, who each left behind a legacy that is carried on | | | | multitude of things to see and do. The park offers |
| today. At almost every popular tourist attraction, | | | | challenging hikes as well as relaxing walks, and |
| there's a garden to greet the visitor. Botanical | | | | soothing waterfalls will also greet you occasionally.A |
| gardens are frequent in the United Kingdom, so you | | | | Hike in Wales and ScotlandIn North Wales, Snowdonia |
| can enjoy nature's beauty almost anywhere you go! | | | | has the highest mountains in Great Britain and Wales, |
| Below are some of the most popular botanical | | | | and offers a great challenge for hikers. Scotland, a |
| gardens. Anything from exotic to common flowers | | | | region known as "Highlands and Islands", has many |
| and shrubs can be found in the 300-acre Royal | | | | dark forests, remote islands, romantic castles and |
| Botanic (Kew) Gardens near London. These gardens | | | | stunning coastlines. Some favorite areas for hikers in |
| contain the largest herbarium on earth. The | | | | Scotland are the Cuillin range in Skye, the Fort William |
| Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent has an unusual | | | | area and the Cairngorms. The United Kingdom is a |
| landscape and attracts many tourists during fall, when | | | | great place to hike no matter what your experience |
| colors are vibrant. Stourhead is the most well-known | | | | level. You can take a challenge on the high hills or |
| garden in England, and is often called the birthplace of | | | | enjoy a relaxing stroll in the park. Either way, you'll fall |
| English landscape gardening. It's located near | | | | in love with the alluring countryside and rolling hills of |
| Shaftesbury, on the outskirts of the Greater London | | | | the UK!You can find international cell phones and |
| area. The garden appeals to tourists with its | | | | service for the U.K. for your trip from Free incoming |
| flowering shrubs, trees and even bridges and | | | | calls from all countries night and day and calling the |
| temples, which add tremendously to the | | | | states is just US $.08 per minute! They rent and sell |
| scenery.United Kingdom's MuseumsVisitors to the UK | | | | phones and satellite phones as well.John Dulaney, |
| are able to learn about culture and history by touring | | | | born Dec. 11th, 1946, married with children. |
| one of the country's many museums, with the most | | | | Living most years since 1969 outside the USA and |
| popular being in London. The British Museum in | | | | working in motion pictures since 1965 I started with |
| London houses the famous Rosetta stone and the | | | | my wife, Jojo, in March of 1994 in San Francisco, Ca. |
| Elgin marbles. It's one of the world's greatest | | | | I've lived in or been to approximately 36 countries |
| museums. The National Gallery in London offers a | | | | and have lived under Democracies, Socialism, |
| dazzling collection of Western art, and represents | | | | Communism, dictatorships, kingdoms and others. |
| many famous artists, from da Vinci to Picasso! The | | | | There is nothing like home. |
| gallery houses an abundance of Renaissance art | | | | I participated at Channel Four in Manila, Philippines |
| pieces. Art lovers can get their fill here while in | | | | during the "People Power Revolution" and stood, with |
| London. Another great art museum in London is Tate | | | | my wife's brother, along with half a million others |
| Britain, where some 10,000 works are | | | | against the threat of tank attack. |
| displayed.Touring StonehengeStonehenge, England is | | | | I have witnessed the ruinous effects of Socialism |
| a very popular attraction that bewilders many visitors | | | | Communism /Dictatorship in dozens of countries and |
| with legends and mystical theories dating back to the | | | | today enjoy the remains of our freedoms and |
| Dark Ages. It's located near Amesbury in Wiltshire, | | | | protections of the Constitution in the USA here in |
| just 90 miles from London. When in Scotland Tourists | | | | California. |
| who will be visiting Scotland in late fall will find the | | | | Working in front of and behind the camera films |
| Scottish Highland Games to be very entertaining! | | | | around the world we removed to the suburbs and a |
| From the Tugs of War and pipers and drummers to | | | | quiet life, for a few years. We still have property in |
| the sheep dog demonstrations, these games appeal | | | | Umbria, Italy, some is for sale. After all is said and |
| to adults and children alike. It's a great way to spend | | | | done I count my children, wife Jojo and my friends |
| a family vacation.More Fun Things to Do in the United | | | | as my only real treasure. |