Home     Essays                                                                                             October 2006

Simply an overview or series of suggestions for less well known places to visit across Great Britain (mainly England). At some point in the last twenty years I have visited all but one of these sites. The list is arranged according to region and then alphabetically.

Unless stated, the images displayed are not my own and are believed to be in the public domain for non profit purposes.

Please note that any images (in this guide section only) that are not my own do not link to larger versions. Only my own images link to large scale versions if so indicated.

 

South East	South West	The Midlands
The North	Wales & Scotland
Wales & Scotland

A village originally established by the Romans after 75CE as a market town. Substantial remains of the encircling defensive walls survive as well as the remains of a temple, houses and the structures of the forum. Many of the buildings in the current village were partially constructed from materials salvaged from the ruins, most noticeably the medieval church, built from reused roman stone and containing various artefacts including temple altars housed in the porch.

Free.

The priory is situated in a village near to the coast, about 15 miles north of Berwick. There is a vast churchyard in which sits this attractive pink sandstone remnant of an ancient medieval monastery, once visited by Mary Queen of Scots. The principle feature is the restored choir of the priory church, preserved now as a parish church. Beside this are a few scant ruins of the church transept plus some of the other buildings which surrounded the cloister area, attractively overgrown and weather beaten. The interior of the church is only open from 14.00 to 16.00 on Wednesday afternoons throughout the year and during Sundays in August.

The nearby Coldingham Bay (St Abbs Head) is worth a visit. An attractive coastal village with rocky outcrops and cliffs. There are footpaths to the headland starting from a nature reserve passed before arriving at the bay.

Free. (Photo: K. Marriott)

Click for enlargement

A significant Tibetan Buddhist centre in hilly countryside at Eskdalemuir, nr. Langholm. The centre was established in 1967 and includes the first Tibetan temple to be constructed in Europe. The centre offers a range of courses and retreats. There are peaceful grounds with ponds, statues of Buddhist deities, stupa monuments, a cafe and shop. Visitors are allowed into the temple during most of the day. See the photo gallery here

Free.

Across the River Tweed from Norham village and castle (Northumberland, England).

A very unusual, even peculiar, late medieval church built by James IV in 1497. This is the oldest church to remain intact in the county. The apsidal ended building is entirely constructed from stone with severe, plain arched vaults. The transepts also have projecting apses.

Free.

To the north of Dumfries and rather too close to some grim estates is the pink sandstone edifice of the medieval ruins of Lincluden College (of priests). The shell of the chapel with adjoining buildings survive in a roofless state with a seventeenth century garden area beyond and a motte upon which a castle once stood.

The chapel contains the elaborate tomb of Princess Margaret (d.1450), daughter of King Robert III.

Free.