Paradise on England’s doorstep: Ireland and Wales

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Dublin, Ireland

It is perhaps one of the great idiosyncrasies of the English population that we seem to share a firm conviction that if we are to find our own version of Shangri-La, we need to search for it beyond the borders of our own country.

As a nation, we are quick to dismiss the merits of such gems in England as the Lake District, the Norfolk Broads, the Yorkshire Moors and the beautiful coastal regions of Devon and Cornwall. While our local familiarity with these places may not breed contempt, it does seem to nurture a healthy disregard for the many outstanding places we have in England.

If that is true for England, then it is certainly the case for two of our nearest neighbours, as when it comes to incredible scenery, outstanding attractions and a wealth of fascinating history, both Ireland and Wales can offer their own veritable paradise of options for tourists.

Top sights on the Emerald Island

River Liffey

The typical English person may assume that Ireland and Northern Ireland is basically a few cities, a Lough or two and then vast expanses of farmland or peat bog. Nothing could be further from the truth as any visitor to the Emerald Isle can easily testify.

To start with, the two capital cities of the north and south are both booming cosmopolitan cities that offer a myriad of attractions for visitors. You can book yourself into any number of quality Dublin hotels through HotelClub and find yourself at the heart of this vibrant, positive and cultured city.

From the walks around Trinity College, to the shops and friendly pubs around Temple Bar, the famous Half Penny Bridge over the River Liffey and the magnificence of Phoenix Park, Dublin is a city that not only celebrates its rich heritage in a wide variety of ways, but one that looks forward to an exciting future too.

While many popular tourist attractions are centred near Dublin, venturing a little further afield gets you out of the popular sites and into the heart of this beautiful country. The Wicklow Mountains offer outstanding walks and the chance to visit the quaint towns of Arklow and Wicklow.

South of Dublin the seaside resort of Bray can be found, featuring a stunning shingle beach. Indeed, all along this Irish Sea coast there are plenty of quiet, unspoilt beaches which are ideal to pull into and enjoy a spot of sea-fishing or just a stroll along an unspoilt coast.

Further afield is the glorious Ring of Kerry, arguably the most beautiful part of the entire country where seaside villages dot the landscape amidst a backdrop of glorious seaside views. Featuring beautiful beaches and a host of outstanding towns; it is easy to see why this part of Ireland is rightly regarded as an undiscovered paradise.

Yet this is just a taste of what southern Ireland has to offer, simply driving through its verdant rolling countryside, littered with twinkling brooks and streams, peat bogs and sharp granite hills, is a pleasure to behold. It is easy to see why Ireland is thought to be a country of song and rhyme when every turn reveals something truly spectacular.

Northern Ireland – a place full of wonders

The Giants Causeway

The same beauty can be found in the north with many Belfast hotels experiencing a huge swell in the numbers of visitors over the past decade or so. The emergence of Belfast as a true European metropolis has seen a marked increase in visitors exploring this once troubled, but always beautiful part of the world.

While Belfast itself has many attractions you would associate with a European capital such as fantastic shopping, theatre and sporting events, travelling outside the capital thins out the crowds and allows you to enjoy rural Northern Ireland in great tranquillity.

The Giant’s Causeway is arguably the most popular attraction outside the capital, but visit it at the quiet times of the day away from the crowds and it can be an almost ethereal experience.

The unspoilt rugged beauty of the Mourne Mountains in the south east of the country are a perfect haven for walkers, cyclists and climbers offering truly spectacular scenery and views of County Down. Another rural wilderness is Glenveigh National Park, 14,000 hectares of mountains, lakes and woodland that is both beautiful and remote.

Another worthy destination is the biggest Lough in the British Isles, Lough Neagh, which has a host of walks, water sport activities and other activities close by to keep any visitor amused.

Heading back over the Irish Sea, we head to another beautiful country, Wales. Famous for being the land of song, Wales is one of the most beautifully unspoilt places in the UK, offering a vast range of different activities and options for English visitors.

Finding hidden gems in Wales

Snowdonia landscape

A great place for a holiday base is in the booming Welsh capital of Cardiff. The city has undergone a massive transformation in recent years and now boasts some of the most sought-after home and business locations in the UK.

There are a wide range of 5, 4 and 3-star Cardiff hotels available to suit all budgets and the capital has excellent transport links with the rest of Wales as well as a main route into England towards London.

After investigating the many attractions of this bustling city, it is great to see the contrast of modern Cardiff, with some of the more rural and unspoilt areas of the UK. The Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast, the Teifi Valley and Snowdonia are all places that are achingly beautiful and which remain largely untouched by mass tourism.

As well as superb natural features, Wales also offers other outstanding attractions; the towns of Aberystwyth, Caernarfon, Barmouth and Conwy are renowned for their quaint, rustic style. The magnificent marble church at St. Asaph is truly one of the greatest wonders of Wales, yet remains largely unknown to visitors. Indeed all over this welcoming country, there are pockets of outstanding beauty that can make any Englishman realise that paradise really is right here, on his doorstep.

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