My alternative 14 day itinerary for a tour of Britain: week 2

In my first post last week I described a fictional journey from London up to the beautiful north west tip of Scotland. It was great to receive many suggestions of places I had missed, and also much doubt as to whether this intense itinerary would be possible to complete in one week. I have to agree it would be an insane rush and would be much better if you took your time and visited these places in two weeks. From the outset I will apply the same caveat to week 2. I am deliberately squeezing in as much as possible, but accept that it’s better taken at a more leisurely pace.

Day 8  You can take a trip to nearby Cape Wrath, but a better experience is to visit Handa Island, just off the west coast from the little hamlet of Tarbet. The island is a lively bird sanctuary and a great place to spot puffins. There are some huge birds here, none more unsettling than the great skua, a creature not averse to attacking human intruders if it feels they are posing a threat to its young. To get off the island you need to wave a flag from the beach to attract the attention of the ferryman on the mainland who will come and collect you. There is an excellent seafood restaurant by the harbour in Tarbet, and you should be in time for a welcome lunch. After lunch take a very long journey south to arrive in time to catch the sunset on the west coast at Arisaig. This stunning coastline was featured extensively in the cult 80′s movie Local Hero, and your long way on the road will be rewarded with views of the Isles of Skye and Eigg to the west.

Day 9 There’s so much stunning scenery to enjoy here, and I am loathed to leave it behind as this area is worth a week alone. But time is short, so today involves a long drive southwards all the way into England. A detour can take you onto the Ardnamurchan peninsula and a visit to the haunting Castle Tioram before crossing on the Corran Ferry and joining the A82 for the scenic drive through the Highlands and along the shores of Loch Lomond. There are many good places for lunch where you can enjoy views of the loch, and soon you will be circling Glasgow (well worth a visit and a shame to miss I know) and heading down the first motorway you will have seen for a few days. By the evening you can enjoy the beauty of the English Lake District, and a stop around Grasmere will leave you in a great location to explore the area in the morning.

Day 10 You have the choice of many walks to experience at least a little of the Lake District. The most convenient from here is the hike up to and around Easedale Tarn. It is a well trodden path but if you start early you’ll have the path pretty much to yourself, and the scenery when you reach the tarn is well worth the walk. From the water’s edge there are many wonderful extensions to the walk, and when you eventually take the path back to the village you will be ready for a hearty meal and a cream tea, before heading off southwards to Liverpool. The first city stop for almost a week, take the chance to wander around the Albert Docks where you have a wide choice of places to eat, as well as absorbing some of Beatles nostalgia that is inescapable in this part of the city.

Harlech Castle

Day 11 Set off in the morning into Wales and a mid-morning stop at Conwy, home to one of the finest castles in North Wales. Explore the castle and the old town walls before driving further west to Harlech, and perhaps the most stunning setting of all the castles in this area. It is well worth a wander along the ramparts and a climb up the steep narrow towers for a view out to the sea. From here drive back to Chester for an overnight stay in this historic Roman city.

Day 12  Today we head south again, down to Telford and a visit to the picturesque gorge at Ironbridge. The bridge itself is the world’s oldest iron bridge, and if you walk a little beyond the usual tourist shops that are on offer it is actually a very pretty spot to wander and choose the best place for a great photo. Head on past Gloucester and back into Wales to visit Tintern Abbey. This lovely ruin is found on a bend on the river Wye, and although the abbey itself is in Wales the best views of it are to be found across on the English side of the river at Devil’s Pulpit. Visit the lively city of Bristol for the evening and another great selection of places to eat. You will hear yet another distinct regional accent as you speak to Bristolians, and by now you will have heard most British accents being spoken!

Day 13  Today we head into Dorset, and a visit to Shaftesbury, with perhaps the most quaint street in the whole of Britain. Made famous to all Brits by the Hovis TV advert this steep cobbled street winds up to what I remember to be a good tea room at the top where you can admire the views of the Dorset countryside. From here the road south and east takes you down into the New Forest, the only National Park in this corner of England. Take time for a walk in the forest where you can stumble across the New Forest ponies. For your final evening stay in one of the many traditional pubs in the forest.

Day 14 It is the last day of a hectic fortnight, and the road leads back to London. A good final stop on the way is the historic city of Winchester. The cathedral dominates the city, but it is well worth wandering through the narrow lanes and finding many small shops (including of course some excellent bakeries). After a stop here, it’s time for the drive back up to London and a flight home, tired but with many memories to keep you satisfied for a long time to come.

The UK has so much to offer beyond its most famous attractions, and the aim of these posts is to highlight just a few of my favourite spots. Of course there are many that I’ve missed, but the message to visitors is this: give time in your itinerary to explore the length and breadth of Britain. There are surprises and delights in every corner of the country, and by heading off the beaten track you will discover your own highlights of this wonderful country.