thecrushingblow.net

If you are looking for reasons to visit the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, then the beautiful islands should be more than enough to convince you. We take you through some of the best, starting with the Isle of Lewis. Here you will find the Neolithic Callanish Stones, which predate the Egyptian pyramids. There is also the most consistent surf in Europe, lots of cliffs that are great for abseiling and a community-owned castle. It’s also the most populous of the islands, with 6000 people living in Stornoway.

Another brilliant island in the Outer Hebrides is the Isle of Harris. Attractions include the oldest rock in the world, the Lewisian Gneiss and the slightly lunar landscape. You’re sure to love the diverse terrain, with the rocky and harsh east coast providing a stark contrast to the more traditional views of the west coast, with its sandy beaches and backdrop of mountains. There’s also lots of fishing, meadows, hills, locks and castles to explore on the island, meaning there’s plenty to do.

The Isle of North Uist is also a stunning place to visit. It runs 13 miles from north to south and at low tide, you can get across to the Isle of Vallay, where you will find a stunning deserted mansion. The island has a great arts center and is peppered with freshwater lochs. Anglers can get a whole lock to themselves, there are so many of them. 9000 seal pups are born on the island every year, so it’s a great place to go if you’re a wildlife lover.

The otters, other wildlife and flowers also make the Isle of South Uist a great place to explore. As well as lovely contrasting cliffs and valleys, you’ll love the 20 miles of white shell beaches. You can also explore the traditional way of life, with Hebridean traditions such as peat cutting, seaweed collecting and wool drying all still very common. For a great day out, you should also visit the Loch Druidibeg nature reserve to complete your brilliant stay on the island.

Our final suggestion is the Islands of St Kilda, which is the most important sea bird breeding station in North West Europe. There are more than 1 million birds in total, including the most guillemots in the world. The islands are volcanic and largely uninhabited. They are owned by the National Trust and attractions include an abandoned village. They are a World Heritage Site, offer the most diverse scenery in the UK and are located 40 miles west of the main archipelago.

Find Out More : Outer Hebrides Holidays

Though there are many interesting cities in the United Kingdom, not many can rival York in terms of cultural heritage. The city of York is situated in the county of North Yorkshire in England, at the mid point between the two capitals of Edinburgh and London. First established as a permanent settlement in 71 AD by the Romans after they took over the tribal village of the Brigantes, York has had a difficult history in terms of the number of leading races and families, though it has always benefited from being a strong trade center due, in part, to its location.

Due to this amazing history, York has a variety of attractions and amenities to suit tourists of all ages and cultures. Instead of describing all of them, we have compiled a shortlist of the places that can not be missed on any trip to this remarkable city.

The first attraction on this list has to be York Castle. York Castle is actually a huge complex of buildings comprising of a keep, known as Clifford’s Tower, prisons, and law courts amongst other buildings. Today, the name York Castle generally refers to the keep which was built as part of the Norman castle in the Medieval Ages. The keep last played a military role during the English Civil War, but then fell into disrepair and was damaged in an explosion in 1684. Today, parts of the castle have now become the York Castle Museum and the Crown Court.

If you are interested in historical architecture and ancient city life then York is the place for you. One area of York that highlights this better than most is the Snikelways. The oddly named Snikelways is basically the name given to a small area of York which is crisscrossed with narrow footpaths and alleyways that were formed as a result of the tight planning in housing development over the years of evolution in the city.

In 866 AD the Vikings came to England and took over York, renaming it from Eoforwic (of Angles origin) to Jórvik. During the reign of the Vikings, York (which it became known as in the 13th century) changed dramatically. The best way to see how York or Jórvik looked in the 5th century is by visiting the Jórvik Viking Center. This attraction is immensely popular with tourists and is one of the most popular attractions in the UK outside of the capital, attracting over 16 million tourists every year. The center is laid out partly as a walk through tour and museum and partly as a ride in which you sit inside a ‘time capsule’ and you are taken around the streets of Jórvik interacting with the actors and watching the various attractions inside the center.

Find Out More : Bed And Breakfast York