Issuu

B RINGIN G B RITAIN TO YOU

TRAVEL SPECIAL

Scenic Scotland

Shakespeare country FOLLOW IN THE BARD’S FOOTSTEPS

Colourful towns, epic journeys & romantic castles

Stonehenge AN ICON OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

Who do you think you are? UNCOVER THE ORIGINS OF YOUR FAMILY NAME

England’s ‘other’ king

How Henry VIII’s close advisor held the real power

DEC 2026/JAN 2027 £5.75

www.discoverbritain.com

BRIT EDIT

Brit Edit Your curated guide to Britain this season

6 discoverbritain.com

BRIT EDIT

EXHIBITION

Crowning glory

A new work of art inspired by a possible missing scene from the Bayeux Tapestry is to go on display in 2027 at Westminster Abbey, the site where William the Conqueror was crowned on Christmas Day in 1066. Measuring 25 square metres and using many of the colours, motifs and heraldic devices from the original piece, the new tapestry has been designed by contemporary artist Hélène Delprat and handmade in the famous French weaving town of Aubusson in central France to mark a millennium since the birth of the Norman king. Presented in partnership with the Normandy Regional Council and MILLENIUM – 2027 as part of the European Year of the Normans celebrations, it seeks to rectify the fact that the Bayeux Tapestry stops short of depicting William’s crowning, either because that section was never completed or because it was lost. The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, is delighted that Westminster Abbey will display the piece first, before it goes on tour in Normandy and is shown at William’s birthplace of Falaise Castle, saying: “As the coronation church, where monarchs have been anointed and crowned in a Christian service since 1066, there could be no more fitting place to display this work than at Westminster Abbey.” The Crowning the Conqueror exhibition runs from 1 May – 30 July 2027 in the Medieval Chapter House. Entry is included with tickets to the abbey. westminster-abbey.org

discoverbritain.com 7

DISCOVER SCOTLAND – THE TOUR

Take the high and low road From epic scenery to iconic experiences, Laura Sutherland pinpoints 21 of the best things to see and do in Scotland for the journey of a lifetime

rom the curvy green Lowland hills to the rugged Highland peaks; from the buzzy urban energy of its cities to the almost-mythological magic of its monument-dotted islands and castle-lined coasts, Scotland has perhaps too many landscapes and centuries to unravel in just one trip. However, with each one of these suggestions ticked off the to-do list, you’re another step closer to understanding the lore that has fuelled our national pride through the years, from spirited clansmen and stoic crofters to the deep patriotism of today’s Scots.

14 discoverbritain.com

➤

DISCOVER SCOTLAND – THE TOUR

Take an unforgettable road trip One thing that becomes apparent when you leave the cities is that Scotland has been blessed with many beautiful landscapes, and the journey is part of the adventure. For more than a decade the North Coast 500, which follows the folds of land that twist round the northwest Highlands, has been one of its most popular driving routes. However, with sections like the Bealach na Bà (pictured), it’s not for the faint-hearted. ➤ northcoast500.com

discoverbritain.com 15

HERITAGE HEROES

I am an assistant ranger for the Peak District National Park, based at Fairholmes in the Upper Derwent Valley in the heart of the region, where I work alongside the main ranger, Helen. Together, we cover a reservoir chain around Ladybower Reservoir and the surrounding villages of Bamford and Thornhill. This extends to Snake Pass Summit and high moorlands to the west, and Bamford Moor and Bamford Edge to the east and we are supported by 30 regular volunteers to ensure the public have the best experience possible. I started in the industry volunteering for the wildlife trust in Sheffield, whilst working as a gardener. I enjoyed the hands-on conservation work so much that I studied for a masters in wildlife and habitat management, and got a work placement with the wildlife trust where I gained valuable experience in land management, ecology and wildlife surveys. I then joined the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) for three years, helping volunteer community groups to campaign for nature and to fundraise for RSPB reserves, before taking on my current role, where I have worked for two and a half years. Today, I am responsible for engaging people with the park, supporting local wildlife conservation efforts, and improving public access to the landscape. I often talk to people about exploringthe park responsibly and explain the risk of wildfires, especially during the summer. I encourage visitors to appreciate the natural landscapes and dog walkers to use leads around nesting birds and sheep. Out on patrol, I often help visitors with route planning and carry out safety inspections. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Peak District becoming the UK’s first national park. It’s an incredible milestone and momentous occasion to appreciate the park and remember the history that led us to having national parks in the first place. Thanks to the support of Ethel Haythornthwaite, a pioneer of the countryside movement that protected the Peak District countryside from development, the Peak District National Park was founded in 1951. The Peak District paved the way for the network of 15 national parks [10 in England; 3 in Wales; 2 in Scotland – ED] enjoyed in Britain today.

The founding of the park has given our iconic landscapes and special habitats more public appreciation, advocacy and legal protection. It has also created a supporting structure to improve access and keep the Peak District special for future generations to enjoy. The anniversary is a time to reflect on the park’s ecology and as a place where people can enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors. We conduct butterfly surveys, including the annual big butterfly count, and introduce bug hotels with local school groups. I love doing these wildlife surveys in our nature area where we aim to inspire more children to develop a lasting connection with the natural world. I like to improve the waymarking of paths to help visitors’ navigation. This helps walkers stay on the correct local trails without needing a map or GPS. We recently introduced a new ➤ tramper and wheelchair route near to the visitor centre, 46 discoverbritain.com

George stands on Bamford Edge overlooking Ladybower Reservoir

My Britain

George Jones, a Peak District park ranger, talks to Jeremy Flint about his glorious workplace, 75 years after it was made a national park

discoverbritain.com 47

HERITAGE

Stonehenge in silence Susan Gray reports back from a peaceful tour of Britain’s most iconic ancient site 54 discoverbritain.com

HERITAGE

This image: The trilithons and earthworks of Stonehenge Right: The scale of the monument is best appreciated up close

“

ho wants to see some rocks?” asks English Heritage guide James McCarraher, as he steers a Mercedes people-carrier along a country back road. Then, through the windscreen the Neolithic stone circle’s arch-like trilithons loom into view, and I gasp in awe, as visitors to Stonehenge will have done for the last 4,500 years. I am on the new English Heritage Stonehenge Explorer Tour, and following a short walk from our parking place, James and his fellow guide, Julia Kirkland, lead me and four other participants into the stone circle. Apart from a Romney sheep putting its head through a narrow opening between upright stones, who gambols off at Julia’s rebuke: “No sheep in the circle!” we have the monument to ourselves in the early-evening sunshine. Had I been here in April, Gertie, the great bustard, would have been overhead. Hunted to extinction in the 1830s, the bird’s annual return to the stones is testament to the success of a programme to reintroduce great bustards to Wiltshire. ➤ Instead, on my visit, larks, wagtails discoverbritain.com 55

CROSSWORD & QUIZ

Crossword no 255

Solutions in next issue

Teatime

QUIZ

Test your knowledge of Britain – answers below! 1. How many species of mistletoe are there around the world? a) 1900 b) 1700 c) 1500

2. Which was the first national park in Britain? a) The Peak District b) The New Forest c) The South Downs 3. What is a trilithon? a) A single standing stone b) Another name for the Altar stone c) A set of three stones in an arch

82 discoverbritain.com

Down 1 Market town on the river Avon (7) 2 Celtic tribe ruled by Boudicca (5) 3 Burnham ____, a nature reserve in Buckinghamshire (7) 4 Casting the ____, M R James story (5) 5 The ____ is a scenic waterside area of Plymouth (3) 6 Historic market town in Cumbria’s Eden Valley (7) 7 County town and cathedral city on the river Severn (9) 8 ___ Todd, fictional brutal barber (7) 13 Charming suburb in the London Borough of Sutton (5) 15 English actor famed for Luther (5,4) 16 Bill_ , late comedian and TV presenter (5) 18 Strong, traditional west of England cider (7) 19 English ska and pop band formed in 1976 (7) 21 James ____, English horror writer of The Fog (7) 22 East Devon town known for its lace and antiques (7) 24 The ____ Islands are famed for seabirds and seals (5) 25 Wild edible mushroom with a sponge-like cap (5) 27 Single-masted medieval trading ship (3)

4. Where did Cardinal Wolsey die? a) Leicester b) York c) Esher 5. Where in Scotland is Neist Point Lighthouse? a) Isle of May b) Skye c) Eyemouth 6. If your surname is Chandler, what is the most likely occupation of your ancestors? a) Travelling merchant b) Candle-maker c) Silversmith 7. Where is Shakespeare’s younger brother Edmund buried? a) Stratford b) Denmark c) Southwark Solutions to crossword 254 Across: 1 Cheshire 5 Oswald 10 Ariel 11 Ely 12 Ector 13 Clapham 14 Elstree 15 Rye 16 Malta 18 Roget 20 Ashes 22 Cakes 24 Aga 26 McLaren 28 Gwynedd 29 Romeo 30 Spa 31 Oxeye 32 Lancet 33 Hebrides Down: 1 Chaucer 2 Elizabeth 3 Holkham 4 Rheum 6 Spenser 7 Astor 8 Derwent 9 Hyde Park 17 Loch Ness 19 Gravesend 20 Admiral 21 Scrooge 23 Seymour 25 Andrews 27 Lemon 28 Grace Teatime quiz answers: 1,C. 2, A. 3, C. 4, A. 5, B. 6, B. 7, C

Across 1 Historic capital of Scotland (9) 6 The largest county in Wales (5) 9 Principal river in southwest England (3) 10 Iconic computer that selects Premium Bond winners (5) 11 Old ___, language of the Vikings (5) 12 Wuthering ____, classic novel by Emily Brontë (7) 13 War associated with Florence Nightingale (7) 14 County town of Kent (9) 17 Female character in Tom’s Midnight Garden (5) 18 Old ____, the original site of Salisbury (5) 20 Romney, Hythe & ____, a famous miniature railway (9) 23 Salman ____, celebrated novelist (7) 24 ____ Sam, beloved Welsh children’s TV character (7) 26 Alan Alexander ____, creator of Winnie the Pooh (5) 27 Famous National Trust castle in Dorset (5) 28 Roland ____, puppet character created in 1983 (3) 29 Celebrated Irish poet, dramatist and writer (5) 30 Dramatic 62-mile long valley in the Scottish Highlands (5,4)