Parks and nature in the United Kingdom

Parks and Nature Highlights

This selection highlights natural and designed landscapes across the United Kingdom: urban high points and monuments on Edinburgh’s Calton Hill; curated plant collections and glasshouses at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; royal grounds at Holyrood and adjacent Princes Street Gardens; granite tors on Dartmoor such as Hound Tor and Haytor; the River Tees’ notable falls (High Force, Low Force, Cauldron Snout); glacial Talkin Tarn; and wetlands including Loch Scarrasdale Valley Bog.

Parks and Nature Highlights — Map

[Duncan] / CC BY 2.0

A

Calton Hill

Historic hill featuring panoramic city views, iconic monuments, and cultural heritage. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ardfern / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Slieve Donard

Slieve Donard is the highest mountain in Northern Ireland and the wider province of Ulster, with a height of 850 metres.

Ham / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular…

Ludi Ling / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Historic royal palace featuring Renaissance architecture, state apartments, gardens, and abbey ruins. It serves as the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland.

E

West Princes Street Gardens

Public park and garden in the city center featuring scenic strolling areas, lush greenery, and views of Edinburgh Castle and the city skyline.

Nigel Cox / CC BY-SA 2.0

F

Hound Tor

Hound Tor is a tor on Dartmoor, Devon, England and is a good example of a heavily weathered granite outcrop.

Smalljim / CC-BY-SA-3.0

G

Haytor Rocks

Haytor, also known as Haytor Rocks, Hay Tor, or occasionally Hey Tor, is a granite tor on the eastern edge of Dartmoor in the English…

Mypix / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

St Boniface Down

St Boniface Down is a chalk down near Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight, England.

I

Black Stairs

Waterfall.

Les Hull / CC BY-SA 2.0

J

High Force

High Force is a waterfall on the River Tees, near Middleton-in-Teesdale, Teesdale, England.

Icetons / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

Low Force

Low Force is an 18-foot high set of falls on the River Tees, England, UK. Further upstream is the High Force waterfall.

L

Cauldron Snout

Cauldron Snout is a cascade on the upper reaches of the River Tees in Northern England, immediately below the dam of the Cow Green…

Cheese360 / CC BY-SA 3.0

M

Talkin Tarn

Talkin Tarn is a glacial lake and country park near Brampton, Cumbria, England.

Albert Bridge / CC BY-SA 2.0

N

Castlewellan Forest Park

Castlewellan Forest Park is located in the town of Castlewellan in County Down, Northern Ireland.

Adrian Pingstone / Public domain

O

Castle Park

Castle Park is a public open space in Bristol, England, managed by Bristol City Council.

NotFromUtrecht / CC BY-SA 3.0

P

Queen Square

Queen Square is a 2.4 hectares Georgian square in the centre of Bristol, England.

Q

Loch Scarrasdale Valley Bog

Peatland bog and wetland.

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