Find the nearest Landscapes & Nature
Our Landscape and Nature category brings all Coast Radar’s listings related to looking for something to do or a place to visit together where they offer some form of the countryside or coast path based activity.
Finding the best things to see and do on a day out with your family or friends is easy – simply explore the countryside or coast path activity links below, hit the jump to my location button or use the search bar to plan your next UK and Ireland activity.
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- Aillwee Cave is a cave system of over a kilometre of passages leading into the heart of the Burren mountainside. The cave was discovered in 1944 by a local farmer but was not explored and mapped until late 1970’s when he told people about it. Features of the cave include an underground river and a waterfall as well as some large stalactites and stalagmites and the layout consists of a stream passage, ending in a sump. The bones of bears found in Aillwee Cave and the shallow pits discovered in the passage suggest bears may have used the cave for hibernation. Today, tours of the cave consist of a 30-minute guided walk.
- Cnoc an Fhreiceadain (also known as Watch Hill) is a coastal mountain peak, at 307 metres (1,007 ft) high has spectacular views along the north coast of Scotland towards Orkney in the east to Durness and Arkle in the West. Cnoc an Fhreiceadain is an Old Red Sandstone conglomerate, and dates from the Paleozoic era, around 400 million years ago.
- South of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, between the villages of Stackpole and Bosherston is a varied stretch of coastline, famous for sandy beaches, wooded valleys and lily ponds.
- The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire. Don’t just think of a forest as the New Forest coast extends for 26 miles in length, as the crow flies, making it up to 76% of Hampshire’s total coastline (33 miles). The designated area of the National Park covers 571 km2 (140,000 acres) and includes many existing SSSIs. As well as most of the New Forest district of Hampshire, it takes in the South Hampshire Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a small corner of Test Valley district around the village of Canada and part of Wiltshire south-east of Redlynch.
- Bolam Lake Country Park with easy walking and cycling along many lakeside and woodland trails. Canoeing and fishing on the lake. Facilities include picnic areas, cafe and visitor centre.
- Cave Hill Country Park offers some nice panoramic views across Belfast and waymarked walking trails suitable for casual walkers or more serious ramblers. The country park includes Cave Hill Adventurous Playground, archaeological sites, Cave Hill Visitor Centre, an eco-trail, gardens, orienteering routes, and refreshments in Belfast Castle. Its most famous feature, known as ‘Napoleon’s Nose’ is a basaltic outcrop which resembles the profile of the famous emperor Napoleon. The park is named after caves located on the side of the cliffs, and there are three large man-made caves thought to have been originally excavated for iron-mining. Adjacent to the lowest cave is ‘The Devil’s Punchbowl’, also sometimes called ‘The Devil’s Cauldron’, a site where ancient Celtic farmers corralled their cattle. This consists mainly of a steep hill, mainly of rocks and boulders, and is considered dangerous to amateurs. McArt’s Fort on the summit of the hill is an example of an old ráth or ring fort protected on one side by a precipice and on the others by a single ditch, 10 feet (3.0 m) in depth and 25 feet (7.6 m) in width. The enclosed area is nearly level. It is believed that the fort’s inhabitants used the caves to store white foods for the winter and may have served as a refuge during times of attack.
- Garinish Island (island of Ilnacullin) extends to 15 hectares (37 acres) and is renowned for its gardens which flourish in the mild humid micro-climate of Glengarriff harbour assisted by a mainly pine shelter belt. Structures within the garden include a clock tower, a Grecian temple, a Martello Tower, and an Italian casita.
- Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Hampshire’s biggest country park… 20 miles of trails for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
- Alton Water is the largest area of inland water in Suffolk. Activities include:For those interested in wildlife, Alton Water Park hosts a variety of interesting waterfowl, especially in winter. New conservation zones and bird hides have been established to increase biodiversity with the help of local conservation volunteers. An eight-mile cycle and pedestrian route. This is hilly in places and can get muddy when we have rain. Fishing with bream and pike the most popular quarry. Day and season permits are available. Watersports Centre provides excellent sailing, windsurfing or diving facilities.Stutton has the main car park is close to the visitor centre and all facilities including cafe. Other car parks are situated around the lake.
- The Saltee Islands are a pair of privately owned islands small islands sitting 5km off the southern coast of Wexford. The two islands are Great Saltee (89 hectares) and Little Saltee (37 hectares) and are a Special Area of Conservation. The islands are a breeding ground for Fulmar, Gannet, Shag, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin and Grey Seal. An area surrounding both islands and extending approximately 500m off shore was granted the status of a Special Protection Area to protect the bird habitat. Day visitors are allowed on the Great Saltee between 11:30 and 16:30 only, with arranged trips from the closest fishing village on the mainland at Kilmore Quay.
- Donaghadee is probably best known for its lighthouse and harbour, which has been a haven for ships since at least the 17th century. The harbour consists of two independent piers running north-westwards out to sea; parallel nearer the shore, they converge at the outer ends to form a harbour mouth 46 m (150 feet) wide. At low tide the water in the harbour is fifteen feet deep.
- Great Blasket Island lies approximately 2 km from the mainland where the nearest mainland town is Dunquin; a ferry to the island operates during summer months.
