In all probability, given the fact that you are visiting this site,
you are an avid golfer who would dearly love to play the array of
great golf courses throughout the United Kingdom. And while Scotland
often first springs to mind when talking about golf in Britain, it
should not be forgotten that many of the world’s finest golf
courses are spread throughout England and Wales. But aside from the
golf, Britain offers much to the visitor and in terms of a history,
which is best illustrated by the countless castles that speckle the
landscape, and beautiful countryside, Britain is hard to beat.
And what of the British Nation itself? Though all part of the United
Kingdom or Great Britain, as it’s also known, England, Scotland
and Wales are each individual countries in their own right and this
is reflected in their competing as separate countries in most major
sporting events. The one government, however, essentially rules all
three countries, though Scotland does boast its own Scottish Parliament.
Scotland
lies to the north and covers just less than 35% of the entire landmass
of the island of Britain. Situated to the south of Scotland and east
of Wales, England is the largest of the three countries and accounts
for some 56% of the landmass, while Wales lies just east of Ireland
on the area that juts out into the Irish Sea and is the smallest of
the three countries, occupying less than 10% of the area of Great
Britain.
There are great contrasts between different areas in England and Wales.
From great metropolitan areas like Manchester, Birmingham, London
and Cardiff to vast areas of breathtaking and often remote beauty
like the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, Snowdonia and the Brecon
Beacons, there is literally something to suit all tastes.
As for England, there is much to explore in this land of historic
cities, dramatic moorland, rolling pastures and quintessential English
country gardens. Each area offers something new and quite unique,
with Cornwall’s quaint fishing villages in the southwest; Shakespeare
Country in the heart of England; cathedrals, castles and gardens in
the east; spectacular mountains and lakes in the Lake District of
Cumbria; and historic cities like Chester and York in the north.
Much like Ireland, Wales is the land of legend, song, fire-breathing
dragons, powerful wizards, sheep, more sheep and undisputed natural
beauty. You’ll find standing stones, Celtic crosses, historic
castles, dramatic cliffs, mountains, sandy bays and lush green valleys
in the Welsh countryside. The heritage and culture of Wales reaches
back over thousands of years, while the cosmopolitan capital city
of Cardiff is a far cry from its countless sleepy rural villages.
Scotland
lies to the north and covers just less than 35% of the entire landmass
of the island of Britain. Situated to the south of Scotland and east
of Wales, England is the largest of the three countries and accounts
for some 56% of the landmass, while Wales lies just east of Ireland
on the area that juts out into the Irish Sea and is the smallest of
the three countries, occupying less than 10% of the area of Great
Britain.
