There is something to leaving the familiar places only to realize they hold more magic and beauty and story than you could see when you were there. Enjoyed this essay & laughed at those photo captions… “boring” 👏🏼
Loved this post! I live in England and love exploring, would love to see more. I also find it shocking when people think that the UK have a bad food scene.
Totally agree with you. I've hardly been on a plane since Covid, partly because there is so much beauty and history to discover here. It's a shame some people forget that. And by "boring", I think a lot of these naysayers just mean "not sunny enough".
Oh you’re not wrong. My daughter was persuaded to join my wife and her dog for a week in a tentbox in Cornwall - Lands End, deal sanctuaries, Lost Gardens of Heligan (sp? I can’t remember). And we live in London - no comment needed. I could go on and on…
I think William Cobbett said you should get to know something about your own country before you go gadding about the world. I think he was referring to young men going on the Grand Tour but I dare say he would happily have applied it to backpackers heading to Australia too. Wonderful photos in this post.
What a strange attitude this young backpacker had!
I have lived in England all my life. I have traveled to some amazing places (Peru, Switzerland, The Azores, Iceland, Norway.....)
I have also traveled extensively in the UK (The Lakes, Scottish highlands and islands, Northumberland, Wales, Norfolk). Every place I have traveled to has been fascinating in its own way. There is such a variety of habitats and landscapes in the UK I cannot imagine that anyone would consider it boring unless they had never ventured out of their own town! (And even that probably isn't boring.)
Thanks for this - trying to change my perspective on the UK - after having lived there for about 4 years during my time at Uni, I have to say I kind of felt the same, the UK doesn't feel wild. Something I always felt there was that there is some green space - but it all seems to be in the form of manicured gardens, estates' grounds. One place I liked visiting was the Attenborough nature reserve in Nottingham - but that was mostly due to having a birder guide with me. And to some extent it's true - the UK has lost a lot of its historic habitats and species, it has become less wild. But I also acknowledge it's partly my own fault for not getting to the right places!
It’s one of the most nature depleted countries in the world so you’re not entirely wrong. But if you get out to the coasts and deeper into the parks you’ll find some real gems.
From what I read over here in America, the rewilding movement in the UK is quite strong. I'd be curious to know or read your perspective on whether it's making a visible impact on the landscape.
Rewilding in Scotland is picking up steam, and some farms have found rewilding to be beneficial for productivity (Isabella Tree’s Knepp Estate is a prime example) but it will still require a lot of government support to make it mainstream. A lot of people think it means we will be inundated with wolves and are terrified of how that affects the many sheep farmers we have here so campaign against it.
Wolves are very controversial here as well. Ranchers have abandoned the dog breeds that used to protect cattle and are accustomed to allowing their animals to roam our public wilderness without any threats.
I enjoyed your posts, Thomas. During my five-year stay in the UK, I always needed more time to visit remote areas. This is perhaps because I was a Japanese temporary resident of the UK, but I always wanted to come back and explore places, particularly the islands in Scotland.
Really enjoyed this post. There is so much to see in Britain, so much diversity and beauty that I don't know how anyone could describe it as boring. I guess it is only when you take the time to explore a place and get to know it that you really understand its true value.
I hope you enjoyed your time in Northumberland. It is a beautiful place. Isn't it funny how people say there is nothing to see in the UK but have not taken the time to explore? I wish more people would (or could) go out and about and see what a glorious place it is.
Thanks! The UK has this reputation for being a dreary grey place when the reality is often the opposite. Hope to inspire more people to get out and check out the best bits!
There is something to leaving the familiar places only to realize they hold more magic and beauty and story than you could see when you were there. Enjoyed this essay & laughed at those photo captions… “boring” 👏🏼
So glad it resonated with you! ❤️
Loved this post! I live in England and love exploring, would love to see more. I also find it shocking when people think that the UK have a bad food scene.
Iced buns and cheesy chips should be world renowned
Totally agree with you. I've hardly been on a plane since Covid, partly because there is so much beauty and history to discover here. It's a shame some people forget that. And by "boring", I think a lot of these naysayers just mean "not sunny enough".
Absolutely. And so many people judge a place on the weather alone, sadly
Oh you’re not wrong. My daughter was persuaded to join my wife and her dog for a week in a tentbox in Cornwall - Lands End, deal sanctuaries, Lost Gardens of Heligan (sp? I can’t remember). And we live in London - no comment needed. I could go on and on…
That’s a beautiful part of the country! I need to spend more time down there myself.
I loved every second of this, the next time someone says the nature in the UK is boring I will be directing them to this post
This has made my day! I’m so glad you like it.
I'm pretty sure that the seal was listening to your Backpacker Chat.
Beautiful photos, Thomas.
Haha I think you’re right!
I think William Cobbett said you should get to know something about your own country before you go gadding about the world. I think he was referring to young men going on the Grand Tour but I dare say he would happily have applied it to backpackers heading to Australia too. Wonderful photos in this post.
Very sensible and totally agree. Thanks for reading!
What a strange attitude this young backpacker had!
I have lived in England all my life. I have traveled to some amazing places (Peru, Switzerland, The Azores, Iceland, Norway.....)
I have also traveled extensively in the UK (The Lakes, Scottish highlands and islands, Northumberland, Wales, Norfolk). Every place I have traveled to has been fascinating in its own way. There is such a variety of habitats and landscapes in the UK I cannot imagine that anyone would consider it boring unless they had never ventured out of their own town! (And even that probably isn't boring.)
Thanks for this - trying to change my perspective on the UK - after having lived there for about 4 years during my time at Uni, I have to say I kind of felt the same, the UK doesn't feel wild. Something I always felt there was that there is some green space - but it all seems to be in the form of manicured gardens, estates' grounds. One place I liked visiting was the Attenborough nature reserve in Nottingham - but that was mostly due to having a birder guide with me. And to some extent it's true - the UK has lost a lot of its historic habitats and species, it has become less wild. But I also acknowledge it's partly my own fault for not getting to the right places!
It’s one of the most nature depleted countries in the world so you’re not entirely wrong. But if you get out to the coasts and deeper into the parks you’ll find some real gems.
From what I read over here in America, the rewilding movement in the UK is quite strong. I'd be curious to know or read your perspective on whether it's making a visible impact on the landscape.
Rewilding in Scotland is picking up steam, and some farms have found rewilding to be beneficial for productivity (Isabella Tree’s Knepp Estate is a prime example) but it will still require a lot of government support to make it mainstream. A lot of people think it means we will be inundated with wolves and are terrified of how that affects the many sheep farmers we have here so campaign against it.
Wolves are very controversial here as well. Ranchers have abandoned the dog breeds that used to protect cattle and are accustomed to allowing their animals to roam our public wilderness without any threats.
I think it will be a tricky conversation for a long time. In mainland europe however there are still many wolves and bears
I loved the soul of this piece, Thomas. Your writing and photography are equally lovely!
Thanks for reading! I'm glad you like it.
I enjoyed your posts, Thomas. During my five-year stay in the UK, I always needed more time to visit remote areas. This is perhaps because I was a Japanese temporary resident of the UK, but I always wanted to come back and explore places, particularly the islands in Scotland.
Thank you very much for reading. The British Isles would love to have you back! The Scottish isles particularly are beautiful.
Really enjoyed this post. There is so much to see in Britain, so much diversity and beauty that I don't know how anyone could describe it as boring. I guess it is only when you take the time to explore a place and get to know it that you really understand its true value.
Thank you for taking the time to read it! You’re absolutely right. And it becomes all the more precious when you learn how fragile it is
I hope you enjoyed your time in Northumberland. It is a beautiful place. Isn't it funny how people say there is nothing to see in the UK but have not taken the time to explore? I wish more people would (or could) go out and about and see what a glorious place it is.
Thanks! The UK has this reputation for being a dreary grey place when the reality is often the opposite. Hope to inspire more people to get out and check out the best bits!
I love your writing. Such passion for our natural world woven into poetry .
Great photos too
That's very kind of you to say, thanks so much for reading!
It's so sad that some people don't take the time to explore their own country. There is so much to see in the UK and your photos are beautiful.
Thank you Juliet! Here’s to exploring your own back garden 👍