Scheveningen, The Netherlands by FaceMePLS

1) Scheveningen, Netherlands

This beach may not be able to boast the highest temperatures or the most picturesque seafront, but there are plenty of water sports to take part in and a number of bars and restaurants. However, one of the most appealing things about Scheveningen is its location – you can easily have an early morning dip in the sea before visiting Anne Frank’s House in Amsterdam or one of the 17th century palaces in The Hague.

2) The Curonian Spit, Lithuania

The natural, largely unspoilt beauty of this Lithuanian beach needs to be seen to be believed! Unfortunately it’s a protected World UNESCO Heritage Site and sadly, as a result, there are certain areas that are a no go for tourists. However, the parts you can access are absolutely worth the journey, and this beach is a truly beautiful place to spend a day.

Curonian Spit, Lithuania by Tobin

3) Pembrokeshire, Wales

While you can never depend on good weather in Wales you can certainly depend on absolutely stunning scenery in Pembrokeshire. If you’re not convinced take it from the National Geographic magazine, which voted it the second best coastal destination in the world. It’s easy to fit in as part of a trip round the UK so there’s no excuse for not seeing the area for yourself.

4) Barleycover, Ireland

Again, this beach may generally be cold, but the beautiful natural surroundings in County Cork more than make up for it. This beach could be the perfect antidote to a hectic weekend sightseeing and sampling Ireland’s famous Guinness beer in Dublin, which is only a few hours away by car.

5) Pupnatska Beach, Croatia

The Dalmatian Islands off the coast of Croatia all boast delightful coastlines and, as a result, trying to pick out just one is mightily difficult. However, Pupnatska beach, on Korčula Island is a definite contender thanks to its sapphire waters, stunning white sand, and a friendly, laid back atmosphere.

Pupnatska Luka, Korcula, Croatia by Andrea Musi

6) La Rochelle, France

While the South of France boasts some mesmerising beaches, there are plenty of places on the western coast that can give the south a run for its money. La Rochelle is one such resort. What many people will love about a holiday incorporating La Rochelle is the fact that the area is steeped in history. Many holidaymakers will only feel comfortable sunbathing once they are sure they have explored the town and learnt about its rich history.

7) St. Brelade’s Bay Beach, Jersey

Gorgeous views, interesting trails, lovely restaurants… there’s little if anything to fault with this beautiful beach. And, even better, being on an island the size of Jersey means there’ll be another great beach around every turn. So take a wander and you could find yourself your own private piece of beach!

If you are taking one of the many Europe tours available, do make sure to add a beach into your trip. Europe’s architecture, art, culture, food and history are all wonderful of course, but everyone needs time to relax! And what better way to unwind and rest tired feet than on a beach with truly stunning scenery?

Written by Michael Palmer, a passionate traveller and experienced travel writer.

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Eighty-one miles later it ends up on the Essex coast at Harwich.

The Essex Way meanders through ancient villages and picturesque towns, taking in some stunning scenery and a goodly dose of welcoming pubs in which to quench your thirst en route!

From Epping, the walk crosses the line of the old Roman road from London to Colchester, continuing along the River Blackwater before reaching the North Sea.

The Essex Way, spearheaded by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England and maintained with the help of an army of volunteers, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Way-marked by plaques and directional arrows, the route can be walked in easily-managed stages or accomplished in one go with carefully-planned stopovers at hostelries and bed and breakfast accommodation along the way.

Where to Start

Epping – once renowned for its association with highwaymen and footpads who terrorised stagecoaches and travellers through Epping Forest – is the easily-accessed starting point thanks to its rail links to London.

From there, a seven-mile stroll takes you through Ongar Great Park, the first recorded deer park in England, and across the line of the Roman Road where army legions marched from London to Colchester.

St Andrew’s Greensted – the oldest wooden church in the world, Essex, England, UK / Photo by Nick

A couple of miles away lies Greensted, boasting the oldest wooden church in the world and once a temporary home to several of the Tolpuddle Martyrs following their full pardon and rescue from transportation to Australia.

Continuing through a host of picture postcard villages including Coggeshall, once home to a flourishing lace-making industry and known latterly as a world-famous antiques centre, the Essex Way travels along the ‘Pennypot’ footpath from John Constable’s Dedham to Wrabness, through Stour Wood and along the seawalls which protect the coast, and onto the centuries-old port of Harwich, East Anglia’s ‘Gateway to the Continent.’

The town’s Low Lighthouse houses the Maritime Museum, while the High Lighthouse marks the end of the Essex Way.

What Else to Watch Out For

• Fairstead Church, where restoration work 130 years ago revealed 13th century wall paintings
• Cressing Temple, the earliest English settlement of legendary warrior-monks the Knights Templar
• Coggeshall Abbey, the ruined Cistercian Abbey founded in 1140
• Munnings’ House, the former home and studio of celebrated painter Sir Alfred Munnings at Dedham
• Langham Hall, once home to Sir Walter Tyrell who was suspected of killing King William II whilst hunting in the New Forest in 1100
• Willingale Airfield, where between June 1943 and July 1944 American airforce personnel attached to 287th Bomb Group flew raids over occupied France
• Willingale, unique for having two churches in the same churchyard
• Good Easter Church, where cedarwood shingles on the roof attract varieties of woodpeckers
• Pleshey, with one of the finest Norman castle earthworks in the country
• Sandy Wood near Great Leighs, whose ancient woodland existed in medieval times
• Chappel Viaduct spanning the Colne Valley, with its seven million bricks making it probably the largest feat of engineering in Essex

Cressing Temple, Barley Barn, Essex, England, UK by Amanda Slater

Nicki Williams is a copy writer for Gear-Zone, where you’ll find everything you need for walking the Essex Way, including wet weather clothing from The North Face, Berghaus and Rab, and hiking boots from Brasher, Meindl and Scarpa

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Poulnabrone Dolmen, County Clare, Ireland by Kglavin

Of course, Ireland has a worldwide reputation, and everyone has his or her own ideas of what the country represents. The best of Ireland for you will largely depend on your personal reason for visiting this special country. You may be going for the breathtaking scenery, the richness of its history and antiquities, its wealth of literary tradition, or indeed for its unique and world-renowned pub scene. Whatever you want from Ireland, you will find it, as long as you know where to look.

If it is the antiquity of Ireland that attracts you, you should head for Bru Na Boinne in County Meath, a historic landscape resembling a necropolis, full of prehistoric monuments. One of the most awe-inspiring is Newgrange, a stone age passage tomb. Then, a visit to the Burren in County Clare can satisfy your longing for stunning scenery as well as ancient monuments. This limestone plateau, known as one of the weirdest landscapes in the world, contains a wealth of ancient monuments, including a stone age fort and the spectacular Poulnabrone Dolmen. Less ancient, but still breathtaking, the Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland’s most amazing medieval castles.

Rock of Cashel, Ireland by RX-Guru

On the other hand, those who are attracted to the pub scene should head for the village of Doolin in County Clare, known as the center of Ireland’s music, which of course is the heart of the country’s pub culture. Alternatively, to experience the pub scene at its best, try Galway city, where an even Dubliners flock for the weekend to soak up the pub atmosphere. Galway is also the base for trips to scenic Connemara and the Aran Islands.

Lovers of Ireland maintain that every season of the year has its charms. Winter is good for those on a budget, but the weather can be atrocious, while many suggest you should avoid the peak summer season because of the crowds. For most people, the favorite month is May, followed by September, when the crowds are absent and the weather is often at its best. But the important thing is that you go, and see this very special country for yourself.

If you are planning to visit places other than Ireland, visit http://www.sglta.org/.

The post The Best Of Ireland – How To Fulfill Your Vision appeared first on Best of European Union.

Seven Sisters, UK by mari

Stunning Scenery

The Seven Sisters and Beachy Head are one of the most iconic views in the country. These stunning cliffs are whiter and longer than the White Cliffs of Dover and offer miles of uninterrupted walks. Standing at Beachy Head you can look to your left to see the quaint essential sea side town of Eastbourne where you can make out their award winning carpet gardens along the sea front and the pier jetting out into the water.  Directly in front of you is the lighthouse and without getting too close to the edge, directly underneath you’ll see what’s left of part of the cliff that collapsed into the sea just over ten years ago. On a clear day you’ll see Brighton to the right and if it’s clear enough you’ll see all the way over to Selsey in the edge of West Sussex. You’ll find plenty of spots along this costal route to pull up your camper van or motorhomes for a quick overnight stop or if you prefer a few more immunities there are dozens of campsites dotted along the south east coast.

Quirky City

If miles and miles of rolling hills and stunning views don’t quite do it for you and you want something a little more happening then Brighton has to be your ultimate destination. All the cheese of a British sea side town with just enough quirkiness to make it cool, culture to make it cultural and eccentricity  to make it unique. There aren’t many sea side cities with a palace parked right in the centre, The Royal Pavilion was commissioned by the Prince Regent who would go on to become King George IV. Walking round you’ll notice the first half is decorated so decadently it’s almost too grandiose then suddenly the latter half resembles the more traditional sombre décor you’d expect from a royal palace. It’s almost like you can spot the very room he was decorating when he unexpectedly became king. If history doesn’t appeal to you the shops in Brighton are second to none. There are plenty of typical high street names but The Lanes and North Laine offer truly one off shops from jewellery to bohemian chic and everything you could possibly imagine in between. Oh and there’s always the obligatory sea side attractions and pier.

Royal Pavilion, Brighton, UK by Richard Randall

Quaint Essential Sea Side Town

Hastings is the best stop along the south east coast if you’ve got young children to keep entertained. It offers all the innocence of a British sea side holiday without the hidden innuendo of Brighton and it’s generally a little cheaper too.  Driving through Hastings you can’t fail to spot too perfect attractions for the little ones. The first is the sea side attractions; although the pier is off limits after a devastating fire a few years ago there is still plenty down the sea front to keep children of all ages entertained, from Underwater World to the Stade Amusement Park and Clambers. The second obvious attraction is the Hastings Funicular Cliff Railway taking visitors up the steep cliff to the national park at the top (for more of Sussex’s stunning views). For slightly older kids a trip to Battle just outside of Hastings is the perfect way to make their history lessons come to life (the infamous Battle of Hastings never actually took place inside Hastings, but just outside in a place that would later become known as Battle). Set a little further inland this beautiful little town offers plenty to see and do for any history buffs – or even someone who just appreciates what the perfect British holiday entails.

Louise writes for TraveWorldRV who offer the largest range of RV’s and Motorhomes in the UK – whether you’re looking to buy or rent, they can make sure you see the country in style.

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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

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Although this is apparent, it’s very often the case that people think they need to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to find a place where they can truly relax in beautiful surroundings, wanting to feel as though they’ve been whisked away to another world.

Whilst there’s no doubt somewhere like the Caribbean can do just that, for most of us, there’s somewhere closer to home that can meet those needs exactly – and for us in the UK, that place is Sutherland, Scotland.

Serene Scotland

Scotland itself is well-known around the world for its lochs, glens and mountains, but many Brits – particularly the younger generations – seem to disregard the country as a true relaxation destination, when the truth is it is just as beautifully stunning and serene as many other global destinations.

And there are plenty of people who’d say certain parts of the country, such as Sutherland in the north, are more stunning and serene than anywhere else in the world!

One of the country’s oldest, traditional counties and the fifth biggest in terms of size (although it now falls under the Highlands umbrella), it is so sparsely populated that your average-sized Scottish town has more people living in it, resulting in a landscape that appears to be almost completely unspoilt.

Ben Hope

Take the 3,000 foot high Ben Hope, which provides glorious views of the surrounding area (including the Orkney Islands on a clear day), as an example.  Fantastic for amateur and experienced walkers alike (a phrase that applies to the whole of the county), Ben Hope is one of Scotland’s least climbed mountains – purely because of its location – giving it a very magical, traditionally-Scottish feel.

And a discussion about Sutherland can’t take place without a mention of Sandwood Bay.  Often reported as being one of the most secluded beaches in the world, its wonderful sands can only be reached by foot on a four mile amble along a well-trodden track from the nearest town of Blairmore.

But if you’re happy to make the journey, you can not only sample the golden sands and clear blue sea, but you get to view the awe-inspiring Am Buachille, a sea stack just off the coast that gives you a fantastic feeling of being watched over whilst you relax.

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