On the second day of our English road trip, after having spent the morning exploring Lacock Abbey, we drove 10 miles up the road to our next Cotswolds Village - Castle Combe! Just when I was thinking that nowhere could be more beautiful than Lacock Village... Castle Combe may have stolen the show. This small village is arguably one of the sweetest places in England!
You Might Like: A Morning In The Picturesque Cotswolds Village Of Lacock
On the second day of our English road trip we decided to spend it exploring beautiful villages in The Cotswolds. The Cotswolds is an area in the west of England famous for its gorgeous countryside, quaint little villages with thatched cottages, and beautiful old manor houses.
You Might Like: Day 1 Of Our English Road Trip: The New Forest And Stonehenge
Our mini road trip around (mostly) the southwest of England had been in the works for months. Although I've now visited over 25 countries, I'd been neglecting beautiful areas that were only a mere three hour drive away. All of that changed this week! My other half and I packed up the car, left Brighton, and went on a four day adventure around the south of England.
Having grown up in the South East of England, we drove west and decided to focus our time on Wiltshire, The Cotswolds and Bath. Our first proper stop (besides Arundel castle which we discovered was closed on Mondays!) was The New Forest National Park.
Northern Ireland is a country that has a mixture of everything. Belfast, the capital city that's famous for being the birthplace of the Titanic, has plenty of museums and restaurants to keep any city lover busy. Also, if you fancy getting outdoors and into the fresh air, Northern Ireland definitely isn't short of rugged and dramatic coastlines to explore.
Northern Ireland shares its border with the Republic of Ireland, but since the 1920s has been part of the United Kingdom. Unfortunately the country experienced decades of violence between the late 1960s and 1998 known as 'The Troubles'. This was where conflicts arose between 'Unionists', people who wanted to stay within the United Kingdom, and 'Nationalists', people who wanted a united Ireland. In the late 1990s, the Good Friday Agreement was made. This agreement concluded that Northern Ireland would remain part of the United Kingdom, unless a majority in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland vote otherwise.
Northern Ireland is home to some of the most beautiful and dramatic coastlines in the United Kingdom. The Causeway Coast runs between Belfast and Derry/Londonderry, and with a mixture of gorgeous beaches and historical sites, it's easy to see why the route attracts thousands of visitors each year.
With the aim of seeing more of the UK in mind, we decided to make a day trip from Belfast and see what else Northern Ireland had to offer. We focused on the Causeway Coast specifically between the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge and Castlerock and had the greatest time. Having access to a car is probably the easiest method of getting around, but there are also tour companies that offer day trip excursions that visit the main sights along the route.
Edinburgh is the capital and the second largest city in Scotland. It attracts thousands of visitors each year as there is so much to see and do. Exploring the Old Town feels like you're taking a step back in time due to the stunning architecture, narrow lanes, and cobbled streets. Therefore, it's no surprise that the Old Town and New Town combined have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.
Edinburgh is fairly compact and so it's easy to explore the city on foot. Although it's a town full of steep hills and beautiful green gardens so bring comfortable shoes! If you're interested in travelling further afield to the surrounding areas, there are plenty of tour companies offering trips to explore the Scottish Highlands.
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