Rostrevor sits on the foothills of the Mourne Mountains, proper the place the Kilbroney River meets Carlingford Lough, and the enticing seafront – lined with motels, pubs, eating places and sweetie outlets – hasn’t been mucked with a lot for the reason that city’s Edwardian heyday, when CS Lewis visited. At present it stays a city nearly eerily blessed by pure magnificence; there’s a rippling brook, moody mountains, shingle seashores and a fascinating glen referred to as Fairy Glen, as a result of we aren’t shy about magic in Eire. Rostrevor and the neighbouring port of Warrenpoint won’t ever see the crowds that Portstewart and Portrush draw, however this little nook of Northern Irish shoreline continues to be my very own personal Narnia.
Crotlieve Barn affords self-catering, eco-minded lodging in fashionable barn conversions.
Anna Hart
North Yorkshire – for historical treasures
There’s gold in them thar hills – black gold. Fossick beneath the cliffs of the so-called Dinosaur Coast and also you would possibly simply flip up a gleaming nugget of jet – Queen Victoria’s favoured gem, post-Albert. However that’s removed from the one jewel to unearth on the stretch of shore that marks the jap fringe of the North York Moors Nationwide Park. This craggy shoreline is studded with geological, archaeological and palaeontological treasures – relics of ironstone and alum mining, together with ammonites, crinoids and different fossils – together with winsome coves, seashores and fishing villages.
String collectively the best hits on a one-day stroll alongside the Cleveland Manner long-distance path east from Saltburn. Delve into the chocolate-box tumble of Staithes, between rainbow-hued cottages wedged right into a ravine above fishing boats bobbing at anchor. Proceed south-east and descend to the ghost harbour of Port Mulgrave, as soon as a loading level for ironstone, now a fossil-hunting hotspot. Then kick off your boots and sink your toes within the sand of Runswick Bay, named Britain’s greatest seaside earlier this 12 months.
Mix heritage with dwelling comforts at Alum House Luxury B&B, in a dramatic clifftop spot somewhat west of Staithes at Boulby.
Paul Bloomfield
Distant Wester Ross
If you happen to like your seashores distant, your coastal drives with a touch of correct journey and aren’t afraid of the of the massive dangerous wolf of Scottish climate, Diabaig within the Northwest Highlands is pure fantasy stuff.
Getting right here is half the enjoyable. Depart Torridon’s surly munros behind you and gear-crunch your means west alongside a laughably slim, twisty single-track, which picks its means precariously throughout the crumpled, rocky moor. That is hands-down one among Britain’s most dramatic drives. In the direction of the tip of the highway, you’ll nearly nosedive into the fishing and crofting village of Diabaig, the place a reasonably shingle seaside reclines forgotten and serene on the shores of flint-blue loch.
The rabbit-out-of-the-hat second is Gille Brighde, a lovingly transformed schoolhouse the place you’ll be able to dig into the gastronomic likes of native hand-dived scallops and wild Highland venison (advance bookings are important). Self-catering is the way in which to go. Strive Scottish Cottages or gap up in a luxurious log cabin in Diabaig’s historical woods at Tigh Brachen Bothies.
Extra seashores? Drive (or should you’re up for a significantly wild hike, stroll) north to Crimson Level for the fun of discovering two ludicrously attractive dune-flanked seashores close to empty. Edging additional north nonetheless brings you to aptly named Large Sand, an unbelievable sweep of blonde sand with views over the turquoise sea to Skye.
Kerry Walker
Pembrokeshire’s unheralded north
Earlier than my first go to to north Pembrokeshire just a few years in the past, I’d nosed into south Pembrokeshire on my method to and from locations just a few instances and whereas it was good, it was just a bit too realizing for my liking. Once we vacation with the youngsters, it’s usually the much less busy the higher for us, and in north Pembrokeshire, there’s a quieter, untouched really feel that actually appeals.
