The Nutshell – Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk

This pub is famous simply because it is the smallest pub in England. If this doesn’t spark your curiosity, then perhaps the dimensions will: The Nutshell is only 15 feet wide by 7 feet deep. Interestingly, it has been the same way since it was built in 1867. This pub has made the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest pub; even though it is said to feel crowded with only 10 people, 102 have once fit inside! After a long day of exploring and driving, pull your car over and enjoy the bizarre atmosphere of this famous bar.

Photo of Nutshell – smallest pub in England by Karen Roe

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks – St Albans, Hertfordshire

It’s likely you and your car are starting your journey in London. After navigating your way out of Heathrow airport, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is a relatively close drive. Just North of London, this pub is the oldest in England. While some records state that this pub opened in 1129, there are some records of monks selling alcohol in this building as far back as the 700s! The interesting octagonal shape of the building (supposedly for cock fighting), the very low ceilings and the attached cellar will make you feel like you’re eating and drinking back in time.

Photo of Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, UK by Legis

The Old Silent Inn – Stanbury, West Yorkshire

There’s no bizarre or quirky reason to make a special visit to this pub. Simply, it is a great stop because of its fantastic location in the midst of the Bronte region of the UK. While sipping a local brew, you will look out onto the moors, the sheep and the ruins. To add to the picturesque scenery, The Old Silent Inn is famous for its friendly service, and good food and drink. If you’re planning on heading to the North part of the country during your road trip through England, this pub is a must-see after a long day in your car. In addition to the stops you’ve already planned for your road trip through England, traveling by car will also allow you to easily get to all these famous pubs. After a great day of driving, traveling by car will let you visit some very memorable pubs. You can eat and drink like a monk, a Victorian and a Bronte all on one road trip!

Susan enjoys traveling by car around the country and blogging about it, she also enjoys not driving a new car, but only buys and drives used cars, she picks up at car acutions or rental agency used car sales.

The post Three Pubs You Must Visit During Your Road Trip through England appeared first on Europe Explored.

Meteora, Greece / Konstantinos Koukopoulos

But forget the cityscapes of Bruges and Paris, as beautiful as they are, because the originality just isn’t there. These are the tours that everyone does, and they don’t require that much effort either.  Instead, to truly discover those inspiring landscapes that had your jaw dropping at the credits, check out these fascinating European locations that can form the backdrop to your next European holiday.

Meteora, Greece

Perched precariously on top of the rocky Meteroa mountains in Thessaly, Greece, are a collection of monasteries which are incredibly difficult to reach. The original 9th Century monks had formed an order by climbing these formidable rock towers and occupying the hollows and tunnels which ran across their surfaces, and it wasn’t for another three thousand years or so before solid structures began to appear.

Named Meteroa, meaning ‘In the Heavens Above’, only a handful of the original 24 are still inhabited by monks, and although visitors are welcome, you really do need to put in the effort to get to them. Stone steps and walkways lead intrepid visitors up the edge of uncertain cliffs to get to the buildings atop them.  Fans of the James Bond movies will recognise one of the monasteries, Holy Trinity (which is the least accessible of them all), from the movie For Your Eyes. Whether you manage the climb all the way to the top or not the view from this area is inspiring.

Marktschellenberg, Germany

Located just south of Salzburg is an open meadow that should be instantly recognisable to fans of the Von Trapp family.  It is of course the meadow through which Julie Andrews ran and sang with such wanton abandon in The Sound of Music nearly 50 years ago.  The meadow has reportedly changed little in that time, although producers do admit to having added one or two background trees to their shots during production for the effect.  This iconic location is easy to get to and, along with other locations from the film in the neighbouring towns, forms a tour that has quickly become one of the most popular walking holidays in Europe.

Mamores, Scotland, UK / Graham Lewis

Mamores, Scotland

The Mamores isn’t actually a place, but rather a mountain range in the Scottish Highlands.  Lying close to the town of Fort William, the Mamores incorporates ten of Scotland’s highest mountains that form a continuous and circuitous route from one to the next.  This is the type of walking that requires specialist gear, so don’t think about hopping up the nearest hill in your trainers when you’re on a day trip to the area.

The height of these mountains makes the weather unpredictable and confusing so experience is essential.  If you do fit into this category and you find yourself standing at the top of Stob Ban or Am Bodach, you’ll be following in the footsteps of Mel Gibson’s epic trek as William Wallace in Braveheart.  And while you might not be lucky enough to meet a wild man in a kilt on your holiday, the spectacular view of the surrounding mountaintops should more than make up for it.

Byline: Fiona Galloway is a travel writer who has written about walking holidays in Europe.

View Three European film locations for your next holiday in a larger map

The post Three European film locations for your next holiday appeared first on Europe Explored.

Sandy beaches on the southern coast of Cyprus are very popular among tourists already for years. There are lots of young people coming here every summer. Cyprus’ beaches are traditionally evaluated very positively. The coast slowly descends into the warm turquoise water. The crystal clear sea is suitable for the lovers of water sports – here you can try paragliding or riding on water skis, or diving.

Until the late 18th century, the only inhabitants on the island were monks from the local monastery. The monastery was built specifically as a home for sacred icon, which according to legend, should appear to hunters during hunting. Just after almost two centuries, about twenty civilians moved to the area and founded the city, in the middle of which you can find a monastery.

Nature around Ayia Napa is beautiful, there are also many cultural and historical monuments and archaeological sites and beautiful churches.

How to get here
During the summer season you can take a ferry from the Greek island of Rhodes or the city of Piraeus and Turkish Tasuku. It can be reached by air, Ayia Napa is located about 50 kilometers from the airport in Larnaca.

View Ayia Napa Resort with its most beautiful beaches in Cyprus in a larger map

The post Ayia Napa Resort with its most beautiful beaches in Cyprus appeared first on Europe Explored.