From the Isles of Scilly to the Northumberland coast and Scotland’s North Arran: Britain’s most beautiful natural areas for 2023 named by Which? – so what’s YOUR favorite?
The Isles of Scillythe Northumberland coast and Scotland North Arran are Britain’s favorite scenic destinations, according to a survey.
Which? asked around 5,000 holidaymakers to rate their favorite scenic destinations in Britain for 2023, marking places based on eight categories including peace and quiet, wildlife spotting opportunities, food and drink, scenery and attractions.
An overall area score was then calculated based on a combination of overall satisfaction and likelihood of recommendation.
It is tied for first place as both the Northumberland coast and the Isles of Scilly have been named the best Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Scotland has no AONBs, so respondents were asked about the 40 National Scenic Areas (NSAs), with North Arran, the northern part of the Isle of Arran, at the top.
Britain’s favorite scenic destinations have been named by Which? – with the Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall in joint first place
The Northumberland coast is in the running for the title of Britain’s best Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Northumbrian village of Bamburgh is just one of the many scenic locations this AONB has to offer. Which? reveals. Above is Bamburgh Castle
Looking first at the AONB rankings, the Isles of Scilly – the smallest AONB in Britain, which has taken top spot for the third time in a row – receives five stars for scenery, walks, accommodation and tranquility and silence, which amounts to a total score of 89 percent.
The watchdog noted that visitors were impressed by the island’s “spectacular scenery” and “beautiful beaches” and praised the “relaxed” pace of life. It says: ‘The Isles of Scilly are famous for their unspoilt landscapes, with each island having a distinctive character and attractions, from the flower fields of St Martin’s to the tropical gardens of Tresco.’
Meanwhile, the Northumberland coast – which also has a score of 89 per cent – gets five stars for its scenery, walks and attractions, and four stars in all other categories.
The Northumbrian village of Bamburgh was featured in a Which? survey earlier this year, and is just one of the many scenic locations this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has to offer, the watchdog notes.
One respondent commented: ‘This place has everything: rugged coastline, castles, villages and wildlife.’
Any more praise for the Northumberland coast, what? notes: ‘From the stark beauty of the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne, an important Christian site dating back to the sixth century, to the tranquil hustle and bustle of Seahouses harbour, there is plenty to enjoy for all ages.’
Which? asked around 5,000 holidaymakers to rate their favorite scenic destinations in the UK, marking places based on eight categories
North Arran has been declared the most beautiful nature reserve in Scotland. Above you can see the region’s highest peak, Goat Fell
There is still a shared second place with Wales Gower and that of Northern Ireland Causeway Coast and the Antrim Coast and Glens achieved a score of 83 percent.
The Causeway Coast scores five stars for its scenery and four stars for its walks, visitor facilities and attractions. It boasts some of the most visited sights in Northern Ireland, including the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the ‘dizzying’ Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Which? notes.
Although the region only scores two stars for peace and quiet, visitors found that there was tranquility to be found away from the ‘busy and touristy’ attractions, namely on Rathlin Island, which the consumer group said is ‘famous for its puffin population’.
The Antrim Coast gets five stars for its scenery, and four stars for walks, tranquility and appeal. According to which? visitors were struck by the ‘beautiful, rugged landscape’ and ‘great wildlife viewing opportunities’.
Meanwhile, Gower, known for being the first region to be designated an AONB in 1956, scores five stars for the quality of its walks, and four stars for scenery, tranquility and visitor facilities. The watchdog notes that visitors praised the ‘pristine bays’ and ‘beautiful’ scenery, with one respondent calling it ‘heaven on earth’.
Scotland has no AONBs, so respondents were asked about the National Scenic Areas (NSAs)
Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast is joint second in the AONB rankings. Pictured is the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the region
Wales’ highest scoring AONB is the Gower Peninsula in South West Wales, which was considered ‘heaven on earth’ by one respondent. Pictured is the region’s Rhossili Bay
In total, Northern Ireland has a total of three AONBs on the list – in addition to Causeway Coast and Antrim Coast, Morne also appears in the figures, with a shared fifth place with a score of 80 percent.
In addition to Gower, Wales has five AONBs, which one? reveals – Clywdian Range and Dee Valley (joint sixth, 79 percent), Llyn (joint sixth, 79 percent), Wye Valley (joint eighth, 77 percent), and Anglesey (joint ninth, 76 percent) are also ranked.
Looking at Scotland’s National Scenic Areas rankings, North Arran ranks first overall at 88 percent, with five stars for scenery and four stars for walks, wildlife spotting, peace and quiet and accommodation.
The consumer champion reveals that survey respondents said the island felt like ‘another world’. While there, visitors can explore ‘breathtaking’ landscapes that range from coastal areas to mountains, including the island’s highest peak, Goat Fell.
It is tied for second place in Scotland’s rankings, with Shetland And Wester Ross with an area score of 87 percent.
Sixty miles north of the Scottish mainland, Shetland scores a whopping five stars for peace and quiet, with respondents praising the ‘wild and peaceful’ countryside. Which? reveals. It scores four stars in all other categories, including wildlife viewing, visitor facilities and accommodation.
One visitor said: ‘Everything was well organised…I enjoyed a luxurious cottage, beautiful scenery, walks and wildlife, and excellent local food.’
Meanwhile, Wester Ross scores five stars for peace and scenery. Which? notes that respondents were particularly impressed by the area’s ‘outstanding’, ‘stunning’ and ‘incredible’ scenery.
The Antrim Coast is the second best AONB in Britain, with visitors impressed by its ‘stunning, rugged scenery’. Above you see part of the coastal section at Larne
Above is the beautiful St Ninians Beach in the Shetland Islands. The islands are joint second in the rankings of Scotland’s national nature reserves
Pictured is the Rua Reidh Lighthouse near Gairloch in Wester Ross, a region ranked second in Scotland’s National Scenic Areas
The consumer group says the region boasts an ‘incredible range of landscapes’, with one visitor saying Wester Ross offers ‘landscapes on a grand scale’.
The region also scores four stars for walks, wildlife watching and accommodation, dropping to three stars alone for attractions, visitor facilities and food and drink, the watchdog reveals.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel said: ‘Britain is blessed with a fantastic choice of unspoilt natural landscapes, and this year’s research shines a light on some of the most beautiful locations these islands have to offer.
‘Whether you want to explore historic sites, spot wildlife in their natural habitat or be active in nature, there is a unique nature reserve on your doorstep waiting to be discovered.’
The full research from Which? could be found here.