827 sq miles, it draws campers, hikers, nature lovers and conserva- tionists from all across the world
to its diverse area of mountains, fields, coasts and sand dunes. A long weekend getting back to nature is the perfect anti- dote to busy city stress but for those who don’t want to get too dirty, glamping is quite popular and readily available. Perhaps your morning will start with the smell of fresh Welsh cakes on the campfire? A delicious concoction of flour, butter/lard, currants, eggs, milk, and spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg, should not be confused with scones. Adding grated apple changes their name to ‘apple dragons’.
Northern Ireland Mystical legends and epic history are in
store for you in this corner of the country. After hopping on a ferry or flight from all major airports, you’ll be transported to your next discov- ery. One of the major landmarks in Northern Ireland is Giant’s Causeway. Tis stunning nat- ural landscape was created from cooling lava that flowed from volcanic activity in County Antrim 50 to 60 mil- lion years ago. As it flowed through the chalk bed, the cooling process made
it similar to drying mud as it fractured horizontally. Te plateau is made up of mounds called ‘biscuits’, and UNESCO made it a world heritage site in 1986. Legend has it that the columns are the
remains built by a giant called Fin MacCool, who had been challenged by a Scottish giant to a fight. Fin built the causeway so they would have a place for their fight. With this in mind, you might feel as if you have unearthed another part of the world. Plant your flag and take a moment to breathe in the scenery. Flat seems flatter. Blue seems bluer. Tere is a whisper on the wind. Alternatively, you have the hustle and bustle of Belfast to keep you entertained. One of the treasures is the Titanic Belfast, a museum we recommend on our bucket list for a few reasons. Yes, it is a museum to a tragedy but stay with us. After all, this was a feat of engineering that had never been seen and has not been replicated. It is a story of tremendous ambition, incredible heartbreak and the compelling hunt for remnants of the event. Going through the museum, you can sense the full heart of pride that Belfast had in building this enormous ship. You can sense the anticipa- tion of the passengers, their excitement to be part of such a momentous occasion. From this, you might question what
event we have in modern time that can equal this desire to not miss out. And then the fate of the ship takes course, but the sorrow is quickly lightened with the feeling of intrigue at the stories that surface and the items that survived. A visit to this mu- seum is an emotional rollercoaster that leaves you with both melancholy and a de- sire to be more than you are today. But the
building alone is spectacular, reflecting Belfast’s historic ship industry in a celebration of design by American-born architect Eric Kuhne and Associates. Belfast Pride is something that can be seen on its walls, literally. Te murals that decorate the sides of buildings and homes all over the city tell the heroic, tragic and courageous history of the people and events in modern times. Check out the website
www.belfast-murals.co.uk and ex- plore visual depictions of Loyalist, Republican and social moments. Described as a mirror of political change, you can see these in Derry, too. Some showcase local heroes like IRA leader Bobby Sands, the Great Irish Famine or Irish myths.
Britannia and beyond
It’s pretty daunting to come up with a bucket list for Britain but with this coun- try breakdown, we reckon this might be just the way to explore and immerse your- self. Oh, and God save the Queen!
Amber Raney-Kincade is the American Tour Guide in London, offering walking tours and private hire to those looking to explore on foot. Find out more at
www.AmericanTourGuideInLondon.com or follow her on Twitter @AmericanLDN
www.focus-info.org FOCUS The Magazine 7
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