Highlands in top three of rural retreats for peace and quiet in the UK inverness-courier.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from inverness-courier.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
1. Cross the bridge and pass the front of the Active Living Centre to enter Pontypool Park. Beyond the building turn right and follow the broad drive heading towards Pontymoile Gates for a short distance. Ignore the first left turn towards the ski slope but around 100 yards further on turn left to take a clear but unmade path rising into the woods. The path soon becomes a wide sandstone track climbing through the trees. Further up it passes through a tunnel and emerges to ascend a grassy glade. Near the top a sign post indicates a right fork to the Shell Grotto, which you can now see crowning the top of the ridge ahead. A final short but steep climb brings you up to the building.
POWYS is the most peaceful place in the United Kingdom. Holiday letters, Cottages in Northumberland, have revealed the county offers the best peace and quiet in the kingdom after compiling population data and information of natural sanctuaries such as national parks, Dark Sky Parks and Dark Sky sites. A spokesman said: With just 26 people per square kilometre, you can be promised a place where you can find plenty of space. A large proportion of Brecon Beacons National Park sits to the south of Powys where there is endless woodland, waterfalls, hills, moorlands, and heritage sites to explore. Powys is the only district in the UK to boast two internationally recognised Dark Sky Reserves: Elan Valley and Brecon Beacons Dark Sky Park.
Powys has been crowned the UK s dark skies hotspot by a holidays company. With its wide open spaces and lack of light pollution, the county has been named the best place in the country to watch the stars by the holiday provider Cottages in Northumberland. The county s low population relative to its vast size means that there are huge swathes of the county that remain untouched by the light of towns and cities. The accolade will come as little surprise to Powys residents – particularly members of the Powys County Times Camera Club, whose prowess in picking out stargazing spots is outstanding.
This area of Wales has been named the best in the UK for a bit of peace and quiet
If you want to visit, however, you ll have to wait until lockdown restrictions are eased
Updated
Powys has topped a list of the most peaceful and quiet places to spend time in the UK (Image: Mark Lewis)
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