5 Best Sights in England

The River Lyd carved a spectacular 1½-mile-long chasm through the rock at Lydford Gorge, outside the pretty village of Lydford, midway between Okehampton and Tavistock. Two paths follow the gorge past gurgling whirlpools and waterfalls with evocative names such as the Devil's Cauldron and the White Lady Waterfall. Although the walk can be quite challenging (sturdy footwear is recommended), the paths can still get congested during busy periods. Two tearooms are open from late March through October. In winter, access is restricted: usually only the waterfall and the top of the gorge remain open.

Plunging hundreds of feet into the sea, Dover's startingly white cliffs are a spectacular sight, and one of the most iconic symbols of England. The cliffs, which are composed mainly of chalk with slivers of flint, are eroding at a rather alarming rate: more than a foot (30 cm) a year on average. Because of this, you must be cautious when walking along the cliffs—experts recommend staying at least 20 feet from the edge. The cliffs stretch for around 8 miles altogether, but the most popular section to visit is the one managed by the National Trust, about 2 miles east of town. The visitor center has 5 miles of walking trails heading farther east to the 19th-century South Foreland Lighthouse and St. Margaret's Bay, with spectacular views along the way. There are also some lovely coastal walks to the west of Dover with good views of the cliffs, including Samphire Hoe, Folkestone East Cliff, and Warren Country Park. Signs will direct you from the roads to scenic spots.

Move over, Dover: these are perhaps Britain's most spectacular white cliffs. Located 16 miles southeast of Lewes, off the A259 just before Eastbourne, this up-to-530-foot-high curtain of chalk has watched over the English Channel for nigh on 100 million years. You can walk the windy path along the top of Beachy Head for lovely views of the cliffs, the sea, and the red-and-white-striped lighthouse. For a longer clifftop walk, continue west along the Seven Sisters Cliffs; it's around 5½ miles (two hours) each way from the Beachy Head parking lot to the stony beach at Cuckmere Haven.

One famous beauty spot linked with Wordsworth is Dora's Field, below Rydal Mount next to the church of St. Mary's (where you can still see the poet's pew). In spring, the field is awash in yellow daffodils, first planted by William Wordsworth and his wife, Mary, in memory of their beloved daughter Dora, who died in 1847.

If you head southeast of Shrewsbury on the B4380 for around 5 miles, you can see, rising on the left, the Wrekin, a  distinctive wooded, conical, 1,335-foot-high hill formed out of volcanic activity. It may have been the inspiration for Middle Earth in the Lord of the Rings books, as at various times J. R. R. Tolkien lived reasonably close. The walk to the summit, which has panoramic views, is about 5 miles (best reached via the A5 as you head east out of town). A few miles farther on, on the B4380, you enter the wooded gorge of the River Severn. Part of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape (areas important for biodiversity), this is walking country, and you can find maps and guides on the official website.