1. Ullswater, Lake District, Cumbria
Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District. Formed by a retreating glacier after the last Ice Age, it is a typical narrow ‘ribbon’ lake and is regarded by many as the most beautiful lake in England.
Hikers should head to the pretty village of Glenridding at the southern end of the lake, the starting point for treks up Hellvellyn, England’s third highest mountain. Pooley Bridge, at the north end, has recovered from the floods of 2015, and continues to welcome visitors keen to explore the site of an Iron Age Fort that overlooks the village.
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Short Break in Lake District, Cumbria – Phoebe Smith discovers why Wanderlust readers voted the Lake District their Top UK destination
2. Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire
Wild and windswept or quiet and tranquil, the Yorkshire Dales has many faces. It is home to the UK’s most dramatic limestone formations, as well as stone villages surrounded by traditional farming landscapes of drystone walls and meadows dappled with flowers.
Hikers will want to visit the stunning Aysgarth Falls and Whernside mountain – part of the famous Yorkshire’s Three Peaks. Others will be drawn to picture-perfect Ribblehead Viaduct, which was built between 1870 and 1874 to serve the Settle-Carlisle Railway and is still in use today.
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5 hidden gems in Yorkshire – Mike Appleton ventures deep into the Yorkshire Dales to discover the region's hidden secrets
3. Eastbourne, East Sussex
Eastbourne is a grand old seaside town on the Sussex coast, with a genteel promenade lined with massed ranks of flower and shrub beds, looking out across a pebbly beach and the milky sea. There’s a pier, of course, and fish and chips and ice cream too.
Make sure you venture out to the South Downs and the iconic chalk cliffs to the east of the town. Walking paths abound, with a picture postcard view at every turn. Head to the Belle Tout lighthouse, close to Eastbourne, for one of the best sunset views in the country.
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7 must-visit English fishing ports – Tom Fort reveals the most quintessentially English fishing ports, including Eastbourne, and why you should visit them.
4. St Ives, Cornwall
Working harbour, artists’ commune, surfers' paradise, family-friendly playground... St Ives is all these things and more. Throw in some of the best seafood restaurants in the country and it is little wonder it is one of the UK’s most popular destinations.
It also helps that the town and the surrounding area is one of the most photogenic regions in the UK too. From the early morning surfers catching the perfect wave, breath-taking ocean views from clifftop viewpoints through to the stranded fishing boats in St Ives harbour that await the tide's return, there’s no shortage of memorable moments that will linger long beyond your visit.
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6 Cornish coastal walks – Cornish local Lauren Williams reveals the walks guaranteed to showcase the extraordinary beauty of her county
5. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
Cheddar Gorge is a dramatic limestone gorge, hidden in the Mendip Hills, near the small village of Cheddar in Somerset. It is famous for it’s dramatic caves and the torturous Cliff Road, a popular climb ride for cyclists. Cheddar Man, the UK’s oldest complete human skeleton was found here too.
For fans of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, the gorge should feel eerily familiar. It was the inspiration for JRR Tolkien’s descriptions of Helms Deep.
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5 breathtaking road trips in England and Wales – why the road leading into Cheddar Gorge is worth the trip alone
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The drone videos above were shot by Aerial Republic. For more inspirational videos, visit their website: aerialrepublic.com
Main image: Ribblehead Viaduct from above (Jason Hawkes)
