Ten most fascinating tourist attractions in England

The next tourist destination that you must visit are England. England's progress to the visitor marvels of history, culture and landscape, between the countryside and charming towns in the Cotswolds to the mountain landscape magnificent in Cumbria, tourist attractions in England too numerous to count, whether it's ancient monuments or art galleries or castles or the wonders of nature or national parks the royal palace or zoos, all that exists in England.

Here are some of the wonderful attractions in England:

Buckingham Palace 

 Buckingham Palace Built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham and the main residence of the royal family by Queen Victoria in 1837, and is now the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II as a home office, equipped with the palace and decorated with works of art is priceless and 19 rooms open to the public during the eight weeks per year , and the state rooms used regularly by the Queen and members of the royal family to welcome the guests at official events and celebrations. Buckingham Palace has become one of the important sights in England. 

Dover Castle 

Site Dover Castle to protect the coast of England closest to Europe for more than 2,000 years, from the Iron Age to the atomic age, has grown the defenses of the castle to meet the changing demands of the war, was built in 1180 and remained until now and contains displays dedicated to the siege of 1216 and the arrival of Henry VIII to power in in 1539, the castle is surrounded white cliffs is a world of magic and secrecy.

Castle Tintagel

     Tintagel Castle is located on one of the coasts of England, remains of the 13th century, the thick walls of stone walkways and sharp encircle the Great Hall, where Richard, Earl of Cornwall. The castle was built long before the name was associated with Tintagel legend of King Arthur and today there are still many questions that were not answered by the myths that surround this historic site.

River Room London 

 

 "Concert New York Brunch," a concert crazy in the middle of the day in a room River London overlooking the River Thames, visitors arrive in a room of the river to what can be described Bhvlh night during the day, begins innocently thru Saturday and Sunday: psychological comfort in one of best egg baskets that can be found in the capital, then the pasta station shown four varieties of delicious and tasty roast chicken, you can even enjoy a full English breakfast if you want it, there are a fantastic range of homemade desserts bring the feast is in unseasoned.

 Chester Cathedral 

 Originally built as a monastery was founded in 1092 has built Chester Cathedral as the Cathedral in 1541, in building a rich heritage and wonderful visit here to open a window on the story of a rich and diverse monks, kings and craftsmen, an unusual blend of old and new to enjoy everyone, from the arches Norman to Gothic columns and stunning wood carvings of the fourteenth century to afternoon tea in the dining room, the monks brilliant.

Stonehenge 

 Stonehenge may be one of the attractions, the most famous and mysterious in the United Kingdom, consisting of a ring of stones heterogeneous and complement in some cases the thresholds of heavy stone, and differed historians and scientists at the construction site and its purpose, and it was believed that the Neolithic period were lacking Stonehenge to transport initially to lift 25-50 tons of stones now lie in the Salisbury Plain.

 Windsor Castle

 The Windsor Castle, one of the three headquarters of the Queen and the home of the rule for more than 900 years, and not only for being the largest inhabited castle in the world, but made ​​in the ongoing civil, towers and walls looming They Castle bigger than her peers in the town, and look as one of the skyscrapers of the most exciting in the world . Visitors can walk around the apartments and suites international range of rooms in the heart of the palace.

 Manchester United Museum & Tour Centre

 Manchester United is the most prestigious club in the world and award-winning Museum hosts Old Trafford, this museum is an educational, interactive and regularly updated with visitors of all ages are sure to find something of interest, more than 230,000 visitors annually, and follows the museum history of the club since its inception modest in 1878 and displays the silverware collected along the way along with key officials, managers and players both past and present who have helped to create the legend that is Manchester United.

Great Central Railway

 In this tourist attraction, visitors can get a feel for the controls and enjoy the suspense and the leadership of a quick one vehicle giant or motor freight rail steam on the main line in Britain, the warm reception awaits in the Loughborough Central, where host and Dodd will take you on a tour of the work of the tractor and box signal, you'll also review short film training before your ascension tractor in preparation for the historic journey. Which includes a free lunch.

Bucklers Hard Village

  

 Village gears solid on the banks of the River Beaulieu will find a safe haven from the gears solid, originally called " Montagu Town " because it has built a fleet of ships for Nelson at Trafalgar . Maritime Museum reveals a unique story , to get to the lives of the characters who lived here in the time of Henry Adams , Master of shipbuilding steel in gear between 1744 and 1805.Summer may be perfect to come to England because there are a lot of free activities that can be seen in parks and streets , or sit on the side of the road while sunbathing without feeling cold or heat , and there are many festivals and scenes that are located at the time.

Source

Lake Lucerne Lucerne, Switzerland

Lake Lucerne Lucerne, Switzerland

 Lake Luzerne is considered one of the most beautiful lakes, the largest in Switzerland , where it enjoys a stunning landscaped . This lake has the distinctive shape , they are dramatically curved and surrounded by mountains , which gives it a special beauty . This lake has an area of ​​118 square kilometers and up to the highlands along the 462 meters , with a maximum depth of 215 meters . Interfere with the lake Reuss River region at Uri in Fluelen. It can be said that the lake is beautiful and amazing because of the presence of mountains , trees and flowers inside them .To navigate between the neighboring cities of the lake , you can ride in a small boat tour around the lake to see the charming landscape . This lake is considered the most important sources of tourist attractions in Switzerland, where a lot of tourists come from all over the world to enjoy and spend quality time . Beside the lake there are green pastures where you can walk and a sense of inner peace and relaxation and comfort. As is the establishment of many celebrations in Switzerland in this lake .

 

Source

Dubai Aquarium

Dubai Aquarium

                                                          

This is the Aquarium, which is located in the city of Dubai of the most famous and beautiful, since it has 33000 animal amid an impressive array of coral reefs and colorful addition to the presence of some shark species and a variety of aquatic organisms, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Dubai has won a certificate of excellence worldwide staple of 2012 from TripAdvisor as a place of world-class entertainment

In this Aquarium will be available for tourists the chance to see the grace of God and the beauty of creatures in addition to the possibility of communication with these cute creatures and predatory and spend quality time does not forget

It was designed this place the highest international standards, bringing the fascinating world full of strange wonders of aquatic life in addition to its location in the middle of a beautiful mall, Dubai Mall and consists of tunneling Mugodaan at different levels

Visitors can walk around in these tunnels Tuilin and through them will monitor the movements of many marine organisms and you'll see many of the divers and how approaching these fish as you can join them the requirement to wear a bathing suit and experience this adventure distinctive and dive into the basin containing 10 million liters of water and worry never because you will be in the airtight cage, accompanied by divers and specialists requirement that a safe distance away from the cages Oqdhab

 

Open dates:
This Aquarium opens from Sunday to Wednesday from 10:00 am - 22:00
Entry Fee:
The price of admission ticket per person: 55 AED

Website: here
Geographic Location: Here Google MAP

 

Source 

 

The 7 best streets to shop in Paris

Ooh la la! The 7 best streets to shop in Paris

By Chantal Dewolf on Aug 17, 2013 in Europe, France, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, Western Europe   - Read 3010 times

Tweet

As the pulsing fashion capital of Europe, if not the world, a Parisian shopping experience will offer everything from luxury haute couture houses to sprawling chainstores. If you’re searching for authentic French labels, or eccentric designer stores, you can take your pick of those too. Below is the definitive list of where to part with those hard-earned euros:

Rue de Rivoli

Why go

From boutique bargains to high-end marques, Rue de Rivoli delivers a great shopping experience. The street’s store directory reads like a who’s who of international brands, including Zara, H&M, Gap and Mango to name a few.There’s a huge BHV department store opposite the city’s Hotel de Ville, and numerous must-see landmarks are located just off this major street, including Museé du Louvre and the Tuilleries Garden. The old signage of the renowned La Samarataine store can still be seen, paying homage to the Paris of yesteryear. The dessert mecca, House of Angelina, can also be found on this street -boasting what may be Paris’ best hot chocolate.

What you should know

There are several tourist shops around the area near the Louvre, selling the usual trinkets and T-shirts, which can become very busy on the weekends. There is a shortage of dining choices on Rue de Rivoli itself but restaurants and cafés can be found in the close vicinity.

Boulevard Haussmann

Why go

For the Galeries Lafayette of course! The upmarket department store located on Boulevard Hausmann first opened its doors in 1895, and has since become a Parisian institute. The store comprises 10 floors, and boasts a beautiful glass dome and a central staircase in a stunning Art Noveau design. Throngs of locals and tourists alike descend on the store for Paris’ bi-annual sales (les soldes), where goods are marked up to 70% off.

What you should know

In December, the Galeries Lafayette Christmas decorations become a must-see attraction, with the highlight being the giant Christmas tree, located under the glass and steel dome.

Rue St Honoré

Why go

Rue St Honoré with its sophisticated extension, Rue Faubourg St Honoré, is one of the most upmarket shopping streets of Paris. Dedicated almost exclusively to luxury fashion design houses, from the likes of Hermes, Lanvin, Gucci, YSL and Michael Kors; it promises an immense concentration of ‘chic’ along its narrow passages. Just a few steps away is the famous square of Place Vendome with yet more of the top names in the fashion industry. For the über -trendy, there’s Colette; a lifestyle concept store which sells everything from clothing to gadgets. If you’re still not convinced on just how posh this street actually is, it’s worth noting that the home of the French president, the Élysée Palace, can also be found on Rue Faubourg St Honoré.

What you should know

Watch out for well-dressed thieves in this area! There have been numerous incidents where well-heeled tourists, oozing the scent of money, have been robbed of their bags, cameras, or credit cards on this strip.

Avenue Montaigne

Why go

The only street to rival Rue Faubourg St Honoré in terms of prominence, luxury and prestige;the Grande Dame of Parisian streets is the Avenue Montaigne. Once upon a time it was called the ‘Widows Lane’ as French widows would gather there in mourning. As I stroll along thequiet, understated street, I too, find myself mourning; my card’s spending limit, that is!
From deluxe fashion labels to celebrated jewelers, the regal list includes the likes of Chanel, Valentino, Gucci, Christian Lacroix, Fendi, Harry Winston and Bulgari. The majestic Plaza Athénée hotel is also located on this street, adding to the glitz and glamour already found in spades.

What you should know

The celebrity fly-trap of a restaurant, L’Avenue, is located on Avenue Montaigne. But be warned; some reviewers swear that the beautiful waitresses are a feast on the eyes whilst the food itself, leaves a lot to be desired.

Avenue des Champs-Élysées

Why go

Given the unambiguous honor of being the world’s most beautiful street, the ChampsÉlysées is certainly one of the most famous. Marked at its beginning by the Obelisk of Luxor (Concorde), and lined throughout by bosquets of square-trimmed trees, the avenue concludes at the Arc de Triomphe. The City of Paris tried desperately to prevent the ‘banalisation’ of the street, by attempting to prevent global chain stores from setting up shop, but nowadays the likes of Zara, H&M, Gap and Benneton can be found neighboring designer labels such as Guerlain, Hugo Boss, Lancel and Cartier. The highlight of a shopping expedition on this famed street is a visit to the flagship Louis Vuitton store at 101 Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The shop’s window décor, which changes regularly, is often a treat to view in itself. The long line of people waiting for a chance to spend hundreds of euros; is another.

What you should know

The street is exceptionally crowded, regardless of the season. The cafés along the center of the Champs-Élysées are a tourist trap, offering humdrum cuisine at exorbitant prices.

Boulevard Saint Michel

Why go

Unlike the high-end shopping streets of Paris, the Latin Quarter’s Boulevard St Michel is a typical neighborhood with a laid-back vibe. Shop the likes of Bennetton, Sinéquanone, and NafNaf, together with relatively affordable French chain stores such  as Camaïeu, Jules and Etam. The street is also renowned for its bookshops – one of the largest being Gilbert Joseph, and shoppers can enjoy a break from their arduous spending in the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg, a stone’s throw away. With La Sorbonne university located close by, the area is awash with cafés and bars catering to the young and hip.

What you should know

Boulevard St Michel connects easily with other famous streets of the Latin Quarter, including Boulevard Saint-Germain (which offers additional shopping choices) and Rue Soufflot which leads to the Pantheon.

Rue de Rennes

Why go

One of Paris’ longest shopping streets; Rue de Rennes is certainly made for pavement pounding, bags in hand – Pretty Woman style. Again, the charm of Parisian shopping is that big name designers often rub shoulders with large international chain stores; and Rue de Rennes is no exception. Add to the mix a scattering of quirky boutiques, and you have a shopper’s paradise. Located just on the other side of Jardin du Luxembourg from Boulevard St Michel, the street’s beacon is the Montparnasse tower (Paris’ tallest building).

What you should know

The city’s largest FNAC (selling all things electronic and literary) can be found on Rue de Rennes. Take care of crossing the street though, as its sheer width and double-lane traffic in both directions can pose a hazard.

A magical, fire-breathing timekeeper in France

La Maison de la Magie, a museum in Blois dedicated to the history of magic and illusionists. (CC Moutoons)

Forget cuckoos: when the clock of a seemingly normal building in France hits 12, six golden dragon heads emerge from the windows, spewing plumes of smoke and roaring at the crowds below.

For about five minutes, the imposing heads – each measuring 7m long – cock their heads in all directions and move to eerie music and clanging bells, before slowly retreating back inside.
Home of the La Maison de la Magie, a museum in Blois dedicated to the history of magic and illusionists, the building plays tribute to clockmaker and magician Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, one of the most influential magicians of his time. The dragon clock was added in 1998 as part of the museum’s inauguration.
Born in Blois, France, in 1805, Robert-Houdin gave rise to many modern magic tropes, such as performing in massive curtained theatres (as opposed to in sideshows) and dressing in formal tailcoats. American magician Ehrich Weiss was so fascinated by the French magician that he created the now-famous stage name Harry Houdini as tribute.
The Maison de la Magie is opens from late March until early November. Admission costs eight euros per person, but the dragon show can be seen for free when standing across from the Chateau de Blois once the residence of French kings.

Macau beyond the roulette wheel

Peer across the smoky gambling tables and the lines of slot machines in Macau’s crowded casino halls, and there is little doubt as to what the greatest attraction is for the majority of the 28 million people who visit this Special Administrative Region of China each year. Yet beyond the neon façade, Macau has much more to offer.

The Portuguese controlled Macau for almost 450 years and in that time built churches, fortresses and grand homes in the distinctive architectural style of their motherland. When Macau was returned to China in 1999, many locals expected the new rulers to gradually erase the legacy of the European colonial days. But Chinese authorities quickly realised that Macau’s unique heritage holds enormous potential to promote the region as a tourist destination. In the last decade, the Chinese have renovated many buildings in their original Portuguese style, installed typical early 20th-century Portuguese streetlights and made every effort to celebrate Macau’s colourful history.

• Related article: Mini guide to Macau, China

A stroll through the historic district’s narrow cobblestone streets makes it easy to see the fusion of Chinese and Portuguese that created such a distinct Macanese culture. Shops selling fresh egg tarts that could have come straight out of a Lisbon bakery are found alongside stalls with bak kwa, wafer-thin slices of marinated dried meat; colonial European buildings are decorated with bright red Chinese lanterns; even within the Catholic churches there are paintings of the Madonna and child, both with unmistakably Asian features and dressed in flowing Chinese silk robes.
Street signs meanwhile display names in Cantonese and Portuguese, with the two versions not always sharing the same meaning; the Portuguese wanted to commemorate historical figures by naming streets and alleys in their honour, but the Chinese did not always hold them in the same high esteem.
The most prominent landmark in Macau, beyond the garish glitz of the modern casinos, is the ruin of St Paul’s Church, a 17th-century Jesuit church that was destroyed by fire in 1835. All that remains is the elaborately carved façade, which dominates the skyline of old Macau, with the long set of steps leading up to the church crowded by Chinese visitors posing for photographs using it as a backdrop.
Above the site of St Paul’s Church and overlooking the South China Sea is a stone fortress, also built by the Jesuits in the 17th Century to defend Macau from attacks. The building now houses the Museum of Macau, a comprehensive collection of artefacts from before and after the arrival of the Portuguese. There are 16th-century maps, reconstructed streets made up of typical Chinese and Portuguese houses and cultural items such as puppets that shine a light on old Macanese life.
The most striking exhibit is a recreation of a cricket fight, demonstrating how the Chinese would bet on the outcome of a battle to the death between the two insects. The crickets were even tickled with a straw stick before a fight to increase their aggression. A champion cricket was feted as a hero and would be buried in a special casket after it had fought its final battle. Perhaps this display provides the strongest hints as to the roots of Macau’s gambling culture.
For a long time the Portuguese allowed Macau to decay slowly, reluctant to invest more than necessary in this distant outpost. Yet in the run-up to the handover of Macau to the Chinese in 1999, the Portuguese government took a renewed interest, keen to ensure a lasting legacy once their time in Macau was over. Cobbled streets, for so long put together with spare rubble from the city’s crumbling buildings, were renovated with the same high quality stone used to pave the streets of central Lisbon. Old buildings were restored to their former glory. Public statues were erected to commemorate Portugal’s role in Macau’s history; the most prominent example being the Friendship Statue at the foot of St Paul’s Church, featuring a Chinese girl handing a lotus flower (a symbol of purity) to a young Portuguese man.

Antigua rises from the ashes

It was 12 months ago that Volcán del Fuego lit up the sky above Antigua, sending grey ash to blanket the tender leaves of coffee trees growing more than 80km away. As scorching lava rolled 600m down the volcano’s slope, 33,000 people from 17 villages in the Guatemalan highlands were quickly evacuated.

• Related slideshow: Step back in time in Guatemala

Belying the devastation they bring, volcanoes are bewitchingly beautiful. I was among a small group of travellers who climbed Pacaya – the other active mountain visible from Antigua – six months after it erupted in 2010, prompting President Álvaro Colom to declare a national state of emergency. Though it was calm the morning we ascended, the mountain radiated heat; a small branch dropped into a hole in the crust lit on fire before it landed. Erring on the side of caution, we stopped to admire the panorama several hundred metres short of the smouldering peak, which again resumed its sputtering in January 2013. On the charred hillside below, mangled tree branches jutted out to meet the clear blue sky. To the northwest lay Fuego’s slumbering sister, Volcán del Agua, and just beyond it, in the verdant Panchoy Valley, was Antigua, a colonial town that writer Aldous Huxley described as "one of the most romantic cities in the world".
Entering Antigua for the first time is like stepping back in time. Most power lines are buried underground, and there are no traffic signs or signals. Stucco houses with terracotta roofs dating from the 18th Century wear lion’s head knockers on their doors; each building painted its own sherbet shade of pink, yellow, orange or blue. Bougainvilleas creep over walls and succulents spill out of iron-grilled windows. Three-wheeled tuk tuks zoom down the uneven streets past the Parque Central, where brightly attired indigenous locals peddle colourful textiles, wooden wares and traditional sweets; shoe shiners loiter; and Spanish professors chat over lunch. The city’s original 16th-century design – nine streets and nine avenues organized around an elegant Spanish square – remains unchanged. Wherever you stand, you need only look up to admire one of the majestic volcanoes that surround the town, sometimes feeling precariously close.
Despite the town’s present-day beauty, Antigua has persisted through its fair share of catastrophes, from the colonial-era decimation of the indigenous population  to a slew of disastrous earthquakes, the most recent of which killed 23,000 Guatemalans in 1976. The earliest-recorded tremor hit Antigua only two decades after its founding in 1543; several more in 1773 levelled it entirely, forcing the capital to move from Antigua to its current location in Guatemala City. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Antigua was born again in the mid-19th Century when hopeful elites pursuing coffee fortunes rebuilt the city. Since then, it has prospered – even amid a 36-year civil war that killed more than 200,000 indigenous Mayas in the late 20th Century.
Today, Antigua is the prized jewel of a country grappling with crime and corruption. As the anniversary of Del Fuego’s eruption and Pacaya’s recent rumblings remind, the nation’s larger problems are never far from this mountainous escape. Nonetheless, Antigua holds great reward for the adventurous traveller who craves historical intrigue, natural beauty and mouth-watering cuisine. Many travellers come for a day between visits to the Maya pyramids or Lake Atitlán, and are often surprised by the large number of things to do. To truly discover the best the city has to offer, start with the ghostly colonial ruins that won its designation as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1979.
The most recognisable of these is the saffron-yellow Arco de Santa Catalina (5a Avenida Norte), the only remnant of an early 17th-century convent. The private passage within the arch was built so nuns could cross the street without being seen, and it is now a potent symbol of the city’s resilience. Most haunting are the ruins of the Iglesia y Convento de las Capuchinas (2a Calle Oriente and 2a Avenida Norte) in the city’s northeast quadrant. Built in 1726, the church housed the Capuchins, a severe order of nuns from Madrid who emphasised total abnegation. Ascent the tower to explore 18 nuns’ cells converging on a circular courtyard, and then descend into the dungeon where – rumour has it – wayward sisters were tortured.

Heli-ski most remote regions

Lift lines and crowded slopes become a distant memory when you land atop the untamed, snowcapped, 4,500m-high Terskey Ala-Too range in northeastern Kyrgyzstan.

Specialising in mountain expeditions throughout Central Asia, K2 Adventures uses a private helicopter to transport daring skiers and snowboarders to the untouched terrain, limiting trips to a few small groups each year.
The area does not have typical skiing facilities, so the backcountry runs tend to stay unpacked and powdery. On a good weather day (temperatures vary from about -10C to -3C), skiers can expect to make about six trips down the mountain, descending about 800 to 1,200m depending on the route.

• Related article: Horse trekking through Kyrgyzstan

“Terskey is paradise for experts, with its high altitudes and wild slopes,” said Igor Fedyaev, managing director of K2 Adventures. “It’s a real no man’s land -- a huge area with very different shapes, eternal snow-covered summits and huge glaciers.”
The normal group size is about 13 skiers or snowboarders, with a maximum of 15 allowed on any trip. K2 Adventures uses Russian Mi-8MTV1 helicopters for the route, known for their ability to take off at altitudes above 5,000m, and pilots must have at least 15 years of flying experience. On the mountain itself, skiers are always accompanied by two guides, with at least one expert in avalanche safety.
In case of bad weather, guides transport the group to Uzbekistan, either to the traditional ski resorts of Chimgan or Beldersay, to Tashkent, one of the biggest cities in Central Asia, or to Samarkand, a city with a mix of ancient mosques and monuments.
For intermediate-level skiers who still want the heli-ski experience, Fedyaev recommended Kyrgyzstan's Ala-Archa and Suusamur ranges, as the descents are more regularly traversed and they are only 150km south of the capital, Bishkek, should any accidents occur, compared to the 350km between Bishkek and the Tersky Ala-Too range to the east.
Practicalities
Email info@adventuretravel.ru to book. Trips run from January to April, and cost $3,990 per person to ski the intermediate range and $4,790 per to ski the more advanced range. Both trips are seven days long, which includes about eight hours of active helicopter time during the full trip as well as accommodation in Bishkek. Additional helicopter time can be added for $260 per person per hour.
On top of the fee, skiers and boarders must carry at least $20,000 worth of international health or accident insurance coverage, pay the $110 Kyrgyz visa fee if needed and pay for skiing and avalanche-preparedness equipment if they do not have their own.

Top 10 UK farm-stay holidays

Mark the turning of the seasons with a getaway down on the farm. Many offer fresh-from-the-field food, some let you (or the kids) feed the animals, and all offer a great dose of fresh air

Brackenborough Hall farm, Lincolnshire

Brackenborough Hall Farm, Lincolnshire

A moated manor house is at the heart of this biodiverse farm, but the accommodation is in three smart apartments in a converted 18th-century coach house. The lofty Granary features beamed and vaulted ceilings and inner workings of the original clock tower; and the Saddle Room and Stables makes use of old hay racks, feed troughs, mangers and herringbone stone or brick floors. The apartments sleep three to 12 people, or rent all three for a party of up to 24. Owners Paul and Flora Bennett offer complementary Lincolnshire plum bread from nearby Louth market and free guided tours of the estate – 800 acres of cattle-grazed parkland, oak woodlands and wildlife (roe deer, rabbits, barn owls and a rich variety of birds; hawthorn, sloe and blackthorn berries decorate the hedges in autumn). The manor also boasts Victorian kitchen gardens, a grass tennis court and a deserted medieval village.
• 01507 603193, brackenboroughhall.com. Self-catering from £340 a week for three or four to £655 for eight (short breaks also available)

Bre-Pen Farm, Cornwall

On a cliff, overlooking the sea at Mawgan Porth, Rod and Jill Brake's diverse north-coast farm sits on 60 acres of National Trust land. As well as farmhouse B&B, they run a tea-room (home-baked cakes and cream teas) and a farmshop (try Bre-Pen's own lamb and mint sausages, salads and seasonal vegetables and free-range eggs). At weekends, young chef Jon Harvey (ex Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall) runs the farm's bistro – £20 for three courses and bring your own wine. It's not the prettiest of farmhouses but the location – between Newquay and Padstow – is magic. Just sit in a field of sheep and gawp at the Atlantic. Take a Land Rover farm safari. You can get married here, too.
• 01637 860420, bre-penfarm.co.uk. B&B from £40 a night singles, £70 double, £99 family suite

Nettlecombe Farm, Isle of Wight

Populated with donkeys, alpacas, reindeer, goats, Buff Orpington hens, a goose called Gordon and peacock called Percy, this isn't your run-of-the-mill livestock farm – but it's set in 150 acres of peaceful South Wight countryside and it's heaven for kids. The farm's nine, family-size self-catering properties includes a stone cottage, a converted milking parlour and a farmhouse. As well as grassy play areas (furnished with a Wendy house and wooden tractor), there are three fishing lakes, access to cycle routes and some great walks (bring your own dog). Glorious views and only 10 minutes' drive from seaside Ventnor.
• 01983 730783, nettlecombefarm.co.uk. Self-catering cottages of various sizes, from £300 a week (sleeps four) or £545 (sleeps eight), low season (off-season short breaks available)

Smallicombe, Devon

Berkshires and Middle Whites – among other rare breed pigs – are the speciality of Smallicombe, a 70-acre livestock farm which has its own woodland, between Sidmouth and Lyme Regis on the Devon-Dorset border, just a few miles from the Jurassic Coast. Guests get pork sausages and the farm's own bacon for breakfast, evening meals (with home-grown vegetables), broods of piglets, plus woolly Dorset Down sheep, Ruby Devon cattle and occasional courses on pig-keeping. You can wonder around the farm and help feed the pigs or chickens. Accommodation includes adults-only grown-up suites in a wing of the farmhouse (complete with roll-top tubs and tongue and groove), a two-bedroom family room and four outhouse cottages.
• 01404 831310, smallicombe.com. Doubles from £70 per night B&B, self-catering from £195 per week for two; two-course dinner £17.95 a head, by prior arrangement

Glenkilrie, Perth

The farmhouse, like a mini baronial castle, presides over 2,500 acres of heather, grazing sheep and Limousin cows (some of Glenkilrie's beef ends up in M&S). The rooms are homely (lots of pine, primrose paint and floral prints) and the breakfast is wholesome – fresh eggs, local bacon and homemade marmalade served in a traditional family dining room. You are free to roam the farm, but according to farmer Morag Houstoun, most people come for the Highland scenery, the wildlife (you can spot deer and red squirrels from your bedroom window) and local attractions, including Glenshee Ski Cente, the Cairngorms, and the castles of Perthshire and Royal Deeside. Blairgowrie, the nearest town, is 13 miles away.
• 01250 882241,glenkilrie.co.uk. B&B from £25pp

Nannerth Farm, Powys

This is farm diversification with knobs on. In the beautiful Wye Valley, the farm offers an apartment, two cottages, a gypsy caravan, wild camping (just you and the elements – no loo, no shower, no Wi-Fi), VW camper-van hire, and a "dog stay cabin" (for canine guests). The Gallagher family still find the time to manage 200 acres of hay meadows and Welsh mountain ewes. A conservation farm, it's all organic, partly powered by green energy and rich in wildlife. Regular hands-on breaks offer weekends of animal feeding and farmhouse breakfasts. From a treehouse hide, you can also try a bit of nocturnal badger-watching.
• 01597 811121, nannerth.co.uk/nf. Self-catering from £207 per week for two, £304 for four or £389 for six; three-night autumn breaks available

Moor Court Farm, Ledbury, Herefordshire

This 15th-century house is timber-framed with rustic oak beams; the Godsall family have tended its 500 acres since the 1920s, and they still grow cereals and rear livestock. Fields of hops – a Herefordshire staple – are almost a thing of the past in this hilly Welsh border county, but there are two traditional hop kilns in the yard. Stay in a poshed-up farmhouse bedroom (one has a four-poster), dine on Moor Court beef and lamb or local game and try a spot of autumn apple-picking (the farm's own orchards grow fruit for Weston's local organic ciders).
• 01531 670408, moorcourtfarm.co.uk. B&B from £35pp sharing or £40 single; evening meal from £19 a head

Church Farm, Suffolk

There are chickens and a pony, but the mainstays of this East Anglian farm are fruit and forestry: in summer until October, raspberries and strawberries; in autumn, tons of apples and pears; in winter, Christmas trees. Paul and Ruth Williamson's flinty farmhouse offers two lovely rooms (a double and a twin) – both lushed up with goose down duvets, Egyptian cotton, antique beds and handmade soaps. For breakfast, Ruth serves fresh eggs cooked on the Aga and seasonal home-grown fruit and for afternoon tea she offers home-made cakes and scones. For dinner, there's a decent village pub – The Manger in Bradfield Combust, just down the road.
• 01284 386333, churchfarm-bandb.co.uk. Doubles from £70 B&B

Yew Tree Farm, Cumbria

Yew Tree Farm, near Coniston, Cumbria. Photograph: Alamy Set against a backdrop of craggy Lakeland fells, this 17th-century farmhouse near Coniston was owned by Beatrix Potter before she left it to the National Trust. In the 1930s, Miss Potter (the farm played a starring role in the movie) helped her tenants weather an economic downturn by suggesting they open a tearoom. She even bought the furniture. But though the furniture is still there the tearoom was recently closed. Jon Watson, today's tenant farmer, now supports his heritage meat business by letting his Grade II-listed farmhouse – all dark oak panelling, real fires, cruck-frame beams and patchwork quilts combined with rain showers and a hot tub. On the farm's 700 acres, discover sloping meadows of Swaledale and Herdwick sheep, big fluffy cows and spectacular views. In October, you can see Jon take his "tups", or mountain rams, to market in nearby Broughton-in-Furness.
• 015394 32321, yewtree-farm.com. Self-catering from £575 a week (sleeps six)

Lovesome Hill Farm, North Yorkshire

Mary and John Pearson's farm overlooks the Hambleton Hills from 165 acres of sheep-dotted fields, orchards and gardens between North Yorkshire's Moors and Dales national parks. There is one farmhouse guest room, another in a cosy cottage and four more in a converted granary – all very traditional (oak, beams, pine, upholstery). Walkers or cyclists can doss in a dorm-style bunk barn (Wainwright's coast-to-coast path skirts the southern edge of the farm). Aga-cooked breakfasts and evening meals include Lovesome's own eggs, bacon, beef and lamb, homemade breads, cakes, apple juice and jams. And you are invited to help collect eggs or join a spring lambing break.
• 01609 772311, lovesomehillfarm.co.uk Doubles from £72 B&B, bunk-barn beds from £11pp; dinner from £12.50-£25 a head