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