The 8 Can't-Miss Towns In UK

The UK is full of unforgettable character towns. The literary-minded can follow in the footsteps of the Brontë sisters in Haworth, or browse the crowded bookshelves of Hay-on-Wye. High Street in Holywood pulls the local community together with its food and shops. The pastel harbour of Portree opens onto the dramatic Scottish Highlands. Each of the eight towns below offers something different, and every one is worth a stop on a UK road trip, or as a destination unto itself.

Conwy, Wales

Conwy's historic core is ringed by the remains of medieval town walls dating to the 13th century. Those walls and Conwy Castle let visitors see the Conwy that once was. Eight towers rise from the castle, with spiral staircases that open onto wide views. To the east of the castle, the Suspension Bridge caused a stir when it opened in 1826 and still carries a turret at each end. Along the walls, people can walk the full circuit past 21 towers and take in the view from the top. Other stops include Plas Mawr, regarded as the finest Elizabethan town house in Britain, with original Tudor-style furnishings and an Elizabethan garden. A twenty-five-minute drive reaches Eryri National Park, the largest national park in Wales. It takes in 119 kilometers (74 miles) of coastline and nine mountain ranges, and draws around four million visitors a year.

Hay-on-Wye, Wales

Anyone who loves books settles in quickly at Hay-on-Wye, a small town three hours south of Conwy. Richard Booth's Bookshop, established in 1962, covers three floors stocked with out-of-print classics, secondhand titles, and new releases. Stella & Rose's Books deals in rare and collectible volumes, while Murder and Mayhem fills two floors with crime and horror. Between shops, visitors can canoe on the River Wye, and the river beach known as The Warren makes a good spot for a waterside picnic. Those after more of a workout can hire a mountain bike from Drover Cycles and take on the off-road loops around town.

Bourton-on-the-Water, England

Over in England, Bourton-on-the-Water is often likened to a small English Venice for the low stone bridges and shallow channels that run through its centre. Traditional cottages line the water, some of them centuries old, their front gardens thick with flowers. The River Windrush, which feeds those channels, is the reason for the town's layout and an easy walk along either bank. Families can hunt for the hidden golden dragonfly inside the Dragonfly Maze, then visit the Cotswold Motoring Museum to see vintage cars and motorcycles. A short drive out of town, The Slaughters Manor House serves tea and cake.

Haworth, England

Haworth was once home to the Brontë sisters, and it is where visitors can walk out to the Brontë Falls. A path continues up to Top Withens, a ruined farmhouse said to have inspired Wuthering Heights, with moor views stretching out below. Main Street is full of filming locations, including scenes for the 2016 TV film To Walk Invisible, and Peaky Blinders, shot at Haworth station. On the same street, Mrs Beighton's Sweet Shop sells old-fashioned treats. More Brontë history awaits at St Michael and All Angels' Church, where the sisters' father preached and where all the family except Anne are buried in a vault beneath the building. Visitors can also tour the Brontë Parsonage before boarding the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway for a short, scenic ride.

Cushendun, Northern Ireland

Cushendun sits on the Antrim coast, and it was built to look like a Cornish village, with whitewashed cottages and a small harbour. It is also one of the better places in the region to spot a red squirrel. Sightings are rare enough to cause a stir, and the animals are protected under Northern Ireland law, with local rangers helping to keep them safe around the village. Visitors after a day by the water can head to Cushendun Beach, where the Cushendun Caves sit at the far end. The caves gained a following after they appeared in Game of Thrones as the Stormlands. Toward the back of the village, Cregagh Wood offers more chances to see squirrels and an easy stroll through the trees.

Holywood, Northern Ireland

Holywood, pronounced like Hollywood, has the only surviving working maypole in Ireland. The current pole is a replacement for the original, a ship's mast, and records show a pole has stood at the town-centre crossroads since at least the 1620s. It takes centre stage each May for the town's annual May Day Fair. Nearby stand the ruins of Holywood Priory, a 12th-century stone structure that remained in use until 1541. The adjoining graveyard holds several notable figures, among them the physicist Sir Joseph Larmor. Anyone wanting to stretch their legs can follow the Holywood Town Walk and Cultural Trail, which begins at the maypole and passes the priory, the parish Church of St Philip and St James, and the old School House. The trail also leads to High Street, the main shopping street, where Oscar & Joy carries gifts and souvenirs, and the Yard Gallery sells framed prints.

Fort Augustus, Scotland

Fort Augustus sits at the southern end of Loch Ness, home of its elusive monster, and the location does much of the work. An estimated 300,000 people pass through the small town each year, many hoping to settle the question of whether Nessie exists. Beyond monster-watching, visitors can sit beside the 60-mile Caledonian Canal and watch boats work through the flight of five locks that step them down into the loch. Loch Ness Cruises run from here and carry onboard sonar, and the Caledonian Canal Centre covers the waterway's history. Walkers can pick up the Great Glen Way, which runs straight through town, with good chances of seeing deer and pine martens along the route.

Portree, Scotland

Portree closes the list, and it earns its place. The town's pastel houses line the harbour on the Isle of Skye. The Scorrybreac Trail takes in the water, and on a clear day the view reaches the Isle of Raasay. Nearer the harbour, the Portree Walkway is a short circuit of about 30 minutes. Hiking tours run out to the Old Man of Storr, the basalt pinnacle on the Trotternish Ridge, while boat trips such as the Sea Eagle Wildlife tour and the Kilt Rock and Isle of Rona whale trail head out for birds and marine life. Kilt Rock takes its name from the folds in the cliff face that recall the pleats of a kilt. Farther up the peninsula, the Trotternish coastline is known for the dinosaur tracks and bones found in its rock.

Planning The Route

These eight towns string together into a loop that crosses all four UK nations without ever feeling rushed. A literary run through Haworth and Hay-on-Wye pairs naturally with the castle walls at Conwy, while Cushendun and Holywood are the highlights of a Northern Ireland leg, and Fort Augustus and Portree carry the trip into the Highlands and out to Skye. Each a unique destination in its own right, these spots are a must on your next visit to the UK.