The UK is known for its green rolling hills, deep magical forests, and quaint isolated villages.
And with one of the longest coastlines in the world (longer than Mexico, Brazil, and India), there’s no shortage of stunning coastal walks or dramatic cliff views either.
Whether you’re a hiking lover, beach lover, or glamping lover, there’s plenty to see and do, whatever the time of year or your budget.
So, without further ado, here are 27 beautiful natural wonders in the UK to inspire your next trip.
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1. Scafell Pike, Cumbria
Scafell Pike is England’s highest peak, found in the beautiful Lake District at 978 meters above sea level. Its emerald green color in the summer and snow-covered tops in parts of the winter make it popular all year round.
Head to the top through a variety of hiking routes and enjoy the extensive views over the wonderful Lake District.
2. Ben Nevis, Lochaber
Scafell Pike may be the highest peak in England, but Ben Nevis wins the prize for being the highest mountain in the UK, at 1345 meters.
Fortunately, you don’t need to be an expert trekker to reach Ben Nevis’s peak, with a popular Mountain Path available for novices. At the top, you’ll find impressive views and even an abandoned observatory.
3. Malham Cove, North Yorkshire
Malham Cove is a curving cliff nestled in the Yorkshire Dales, famous for its white limestone façade, grassy surroundings, and eroded rock surface at the cliff’s top.
Its 70-meter cliff face makes a great challenge for rock climbers, and it’s also popular as an iconic filming location for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part I.
4. Seven Sisters, Sussex
The Seven Sisters are known for their striking white cliff faces that overlook the Atlantic Ocean on Sussex’s southern coast.
Named for their seven peaks that create a distinctive rising and falling shape, the chalk cliffs are home to some beautiful coastal walking paths and breathtaking views.
5. The Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye
Scotland’s Isle of Skye is famous for its medieval castles, rugged nature, and famous Storr. This unique pinnacle of rock can be seen for miles across the island, and the Storr hiking trail is amongst Skye’s most popular.
Formed by ancient landslides, the Storr has been a symbol of the island for centuries and is worth a visit to Skye alone.
And for stacks that rival the Old Man, you could even plan a trip to Germany.
6. White Cliffs of Dover
If you loved the Seven Sisters and are looking for more stunning white cliffs to admire, make your next stop Dover, on the Kentish coast.
Hike the magnificent trail along the cliff’s grassy peaks, or hop on the ferry from mainland Europe to see this iconic UK natural landmark as you arrive on British shores.
The cliffs are even home to a network of tunnels, used during the Napoleonic Wars and the Second World War.
7. Scottish Highlands
This list includes a whole host of beautiful natural wonders found within the Scottish Highlands, but the Highlands also deserve a spot of their own, as one of the UK’s most beautiful regions.
One of the most sparsely populated areas of Europe, and the UK’s most mountainous region, it’s home to stunning peaks, undisturbed nature, and even a taiga biome.
You could spend months exploring this region!
8. Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh
Arthur’s Seat is an ancient volcano and hill peak which overlooks the city of Edinburgh, becoming an iconic symbol of Scotland’s capital city.
Thought to be named after King Arthur, the hill boasts great views of the city and is popular amongst hill walkers and climbers alike.
9. The Major Oak, Sherwood Forest
This magnificent oak tree is found in the heart of Sherwood Forest, and according to legend is where Robin Hood and his Merry Men would sleep when not robbing the rich.
The tree is thought to be almost 1000 years old, and is famed for its strange shape and huge imposing size.
10. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
Cheddar Gorge is England’s largest gorge, running for nearly five miles through the green Somerset landscape.
Formed a million years ago, during the last Ice Age, its show caves were also home to the blue-eyed Cheddar Man. At over 9000 years old, Cheddar Man is the UK’s oldest complete human skeleton.
11. Duncansby Stacks, Caithness
The Duncansby Stacks are not just the most northeasterly point of the British mainland, but also a beautiful geological landmark.
These three pyramidic sandstone rocks rise dramatically out of the ocean, the result of thousands of years of coastal erosion. Draped in bright green moss, the Stacks offer some impressive views of the northern Scottish coast.
12. Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands
Loch Ness is famous worldwide as the home of the Loch Ness monster, but it’s also a beautiful natural wonder in its own right.
As the country’s largest lake by depth, it is huge and can be explored from nine different villages that surround its perimeter, including the wonderful Urquhart Castle.
13. Dark Hedges, County Antrim
Dark Hedges is an impressive avenue of beech trees, known for their almost magical appearance as they hang and intertwine over the avenue.
The centerpiece of many impressive photos, the trees were also featured in Game of Thrones as part of the King’s Road.
For other Game of Thrones’ natural wonders, check out Spain.
14. Fingal’s Cave, Inner Hebrides
Found on the uninhabited island of Staffa, Fingal’s Cave is a sea cave formed entirely from hexagonal basalt columns, due to Paleocene lava flows 60 million years ago.
The cave’s interior is not only stunning, but also known for its great natural acoustics and echoes. It has been the inspiration for a large number of cultural products, from Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth to Pink Floyd’s single, Fingal’s Cave.
15. The Green Bridge of Wales, Pembrokeshire
The Green Bridge of Wales is an iconic rock arch formed by thousands of years of coastal erosion, rising 24 meters out of the Irish Sea.
It can be accessed by hiking the gorgeous Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which will take you across the impressive cliffs that line Wales’s southwestern coast.
16. Suilven, Sutherland
Suilven is another stunning mountain in the Scottish Highlands. Known for its unique curved shape and lonely peak, it rises 731m above sea level and can even be seen from the Minch sea.
Its grassy peak requires almost a whole day of hiking from the local village of Lochinver, but is well worth the journey, and passes through some great natural spots on the way.
17. The Needles, Isle of Wight
The Needles are the iconic symbol of the Isle of Wight, an idyllic island on England’s southern coast and a popular natural attraction in the UK in its own right.
Rising 30 meters out of the English Channel, these chalk rocks can be seen up close and personal by riding the Needles chairlift, a great family activity.
18. The Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim
Another one of Northern Ireland’s beautiful natural wonders, the Giant’s Causeway is home to 40,000 basalt rocks, which create a remarkable walkable plateau and an out-of-this-world appearance.
Formed 60 million years ago, the causeway is loved amongst geologists, photographers and travelers alike.
19. Winnats Pass, Peak District
Winnats Pass is an impressive gorge found in the heart of Derbyshire’s Peak District. Known for the strong winds that whizz through the valley, it also forms a hiking path popular for its difficult climbs.
The Pass is also home to the Speedwell Cavern, a huge network of cave tunnels which can only be accessed by boat tour.
20. The Old Man of Hoy
The Old Man of Hoy is one of the tallest rock stacks in the UK, rising out of the Orkney sea on the island of Hoy.
From certain angles, people say that the stack resembles a human figure, giving it its distinctive name. Only a few hundred years old, it is thought that the Old Man will soon collapse into the sea, so see him while you still can.
21. Jurassic Coast, Dorset
A World Heritage Site along the coast of the English Channel, Dorset’s Jurassic Coast boasts over 185 million years of geological history, left visible by strong coastal erosion.
Spanning 154 kilometers, geologists have been exploring the geological discoveries of this natural landmark for years and years, while hikers make the most of the South West Coast Path, which runs across its whole length.
22. Durdle Door, Dorset
Durdle Door is the Jurassic Coast’s most famous attraction, a beautiful limestone arch that looks so idyllic in the glow of the sun and with the calm ocean tides flowing through it.
A symbol of the UK’s natural beauty, it has featured in numerous films and TV shows, including Doctor Who and Nanny McPhee.
And, if you’re a fan, you could even travel to Italy to see its doppelganger!
23. Wistman’s Wood, Devon
Wistman’s Wood has been left largely untouched by humans since its ancient beginnings, creating a magical forest that may be the greenest landscape you’ve ever seen.
The Wood is also home to a large population of adders, due to its quiet and undisturbed environment, so keep a good lookout.
24. Lough Neagh, County Antrim
The largest lake on the island of Ireland, Lough Neagh is a stone’s throw from Belfast and is so expansive that it supplies 40% of Northern Ireland’s water.
Steeped in Irish folklore and with a whole host of varied flora and fauna, it’s a great spot for exploring, relaxing, and bird watching.
25. Corryvreckan Whirlpool, Scotland
The Corryvreckan Whirpool is one of the world’s largest permanent whirlpools, formed by the strong Atlantic Ocean currents that run through the Strait of Corryvreckan.
Travelers can see the famous whirlpool by joining a local boat tour, which will take you right up to the whirlpool’s exterior.
It’s also known as the most dangerous scuba dive in the UK, so don’t get any ideas unless you’re a professional.
26. Gaping Gill, North Yorkshire
Gaping Gill is the largest underground cave in the UK, said to be so big that it can fit the entirety of York Cathedral inside. The chamber’s main shaft is also home to the largest waterfall in the country, as the Fell Beck falls into the cave.
The cave system runs for 16.6 kilometers, and is normally only open to experienced cave explorers. But, for two weeks of the year, lucky tourists can pay to be lowered into the cave for their own personal exploration.
27. Mother Shipton’s Cave, North Yorkshire
Mother Shipton’s Cave is one of the weirdest natural wonders in the UK. It’s not just known for its beautiful mossy exterior, but also the story of Mother Shipton, who was supposedly born in the cave and successfully foretold dark prophecies throughout the 15th century.
Nearby is the famous petrifying well, which will turn any object into stone due to the high mineral content of the surrounding waters and was long associated with witchcraft.
And there you have it! 27 beautiful natural wonders in the UK to inspire your next trip. Which one will you visit first?
