North Atlantic Splendours - 6130B

Dover, the world’s busiest ferry port, is located in the county of Kent, England, at the extreme SE corner of Britain. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, 35 km away across the Straits of Dover. Possibly best known for its lyrically famous ‘White Cliffs’, archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and leaving Britain, and this continues to this day. This goes some way to explaining why this region in Kent has more than its fair share of castles, stately homes and museums than any other coastal region in the UK. Read more about Dover, Great Britain

Bristol, a quirky British city with beautiful hilly vistas and plenty of historic sights to explore, is located in SW England, and is England's 6th largest city. It is also one of England's sunniest cities and has one of the milder climates. A centre of culture, employment and education in the region, it is famous for its music and film industries. At the harbour one can board Brunel’s SS Great Britain and discover the true stories behind the ship that changed the world. Read more about Bristol, Great Britain

Fishguard, one of the twin towns at the heart of North Pembroke shire, is surrounded by outstanding natural beauty that blends the allure of sea, towering cliffs, the Preseli Hills, ancient standing stones and delightfully mysterious valleys such as Cwm Gwaun. Ideally situated for gentle and challenging walks take the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, surrounded by Britain’s only Coastal National Park. You’ll find family owned shops and businesses as well as Galleries, Gift and Antique shops – and plenty of quality or budget cafés, pubs and restaurants – all offering a warm Welsh welcome. Read more about Fishguard, Great Britain

This capital and largest city of Ireland is situated on the mid-east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey. Dublin has more green spaces per square kilometre than any other European capital city, with 97% of city residents living within 300 meters of a park area. But Dublin’s greatest draw remains Dubliners themselves, both native-born and blown in. When at their ease, they are the greatest hosts of all, providing a life-affirming experience that will restore your faith in human nature. Read more about Dublin, Ireland

Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, and is currently experiencing a successful tourist boom. One of the most visited cities in the UK, Belfast has plenty of attractions and is a good base from which to visit virtually anywhere else in the North. In the city centre concentrate on the glories resulting from the Industrial Revolution – grandiose architecture and magnificent Victorian pubs – and the rejuvenated area from Ann Street to Donegall Street now known as the Cathedral quarter. Among the fascinating places that tourists visit is the Belfast Castle with its restaurants, small heritage centre, and beautiful views of the whole city. Read more about Belfast, Great Britain

Read more about Arran, Great Britain

Fort William on Scotland’s mid-western coast is the second largest town (pop. 10,000) in the highlands as well as being a major tourist centre. Fort William lies near the head of Loch Linnhe, one of Scotland's longest sea lochs, beside the mouth of the rivers Nevis and Lochy. The town and its suburbs are surrounded by picturesque mountains. Read more about Fort William, Great Britain

Stornoway is an attractive town and the administrative centre of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The shape of the town is defined by the harbour, and is home to a beautiful, rugged landscape of rolling grassy hills and crinkly inlets of the sea. Take a leisurely stroll round the harbour and see everything from the ferries to cargo boats and small visiting yachts, as the harbour is definitely an asset to the town. Interestingly, several streets in the centre are pedestrian areas with good access to an interesting range of shops. Read more about Stornoway, Great Britain

Invergordon is a deepwater port near the entrance of Cromarty Firth, "the seaway to the Scottish Highlands." Inverness, where shopping is great and visitors can see tartans being made, is the capital of the Highlands, and is a half an hour drive from Invergordon. Loch Ness, home of the elusive monster, is just a few kilometres beyond. The town of Invergordon itself is small and modern, and now specialises in the construction of large offshore wind turbines. Invergordon also has a grain whisky distillery that produces many blended whiskies. Read more about Invergordon, Great Britain

Copinsasy is one of the smallest of the 70 or so Orkney Islands in north Scotland. It lies just off the east coast of Orkney Mainland. Copinsay is uninhabited since 1958 and managed as a bird reserve. The island used to be full of life, and there remain a large, double storey farmhouse, behind it the farm buildings for the farm tenants, a school with schoolteacher, homes for three lighthouse keepers' families, and an ancient burial site. Read more about Copinsay, Great Britain

The Orkney Islands, an archipelago of more than 70 islands, graced with temperate weather warmed by the Gulf Stream, feature some of the most dramatic coastal scenery. There are sea cliffs, some over 300m, descending to sooth white-sand beaches. Yet even more fascinating are the more than 1,000 prehistoric sites that have been found here. Amazingly, they constitute the greatest concentration of these sites in all of Europe. Read more about Orkney Islands, Great Britain

Djupivogur, a town (pop. 400) with a history of trading since 1589, lies on the east coast of Iceland in a region of incomparable natural beauty. The nearby lagoon, the Vatnajokull icecap and a range of glacial tongues feature some of Iceland's most famous scenery. Located on the south side of the Berufjorour fjord, the village also offers easy access to Vatnajokull, the biggest glacier in Europe, and East Iceland. Read more about Djupivogur, Iceland

Heimaey is the largest island (13.4 sq.km.) in the Westman Islands or Vestmannaeyjar cluster, 7.4 km off the south coast of Iceland. The Landnáma Icelandic record states it was first settled in about 900. It is the only island in Vestmannaeyjar that is populated, with around 5000 inhabitants. One night in January 1973 a volcanic eruption of the mountain Eldfell began on Heimaey. Read more about Heimaey, Iceland

Grundarfjordur is a growing community on the Breidafjordur fjord in Iceland. The town is considered unusually beautiful and well-kept, and has received several awards for its neat appearance. The region also has a reputation for a unique climate and unusually beautiful surroundings, as it is situated in front of an impressive mountain range with an alpine look. Sailing into Grundarfjordur, one travels into Iceland's heroic past, for this township - village really - is one of the oldest settlements on the island. Read more about Grundarfjordur, Iceland

Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Iceland, is the gateway to Iceland's stunning natural wonders, which range from ice fields to boiling thermal pools. The landscape on the island seems to be in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology. On the waterfront see the open-air history of shipping disasters. In town walk past parliament building, city hall, Tjörnin pond, Höfði House(where Gorbachev and Reagan met in 1986 to end the Cold War), Hallgrímskirkja (the largest church in Iceland), and Laugavegur (the main shopping street) Read more about Reykjavik, Iceland

Patreksfjordur is a small fishing village in NW Iceland, with a population of around 680 persons. Spread along a shoreline of 220m, it has an artificial harbour for its the fishing fleet, and a fish processing plant. Other industries, like fish farming and services, are also increasingly important. In addition to its hundred or so houses are a campsite, four guesthouses, hotel, restaurants, cafes, and service buildings. Read more about Patreksfjordur, Iceland

The town of Akureyri with its population of 17,000 is the administrative, transportation, and commercial centre of North Iceland. It is situated at the head of the 60 km long Eyjafjordur fjord, the longest and one of the most breathtaking fjords in Iceland. At first sight it appears as though it was transplanted from the Swiss Alps, as behind the city are beautiful farmlands that rise gently to year-round snow-capped granite mountains that provide the best skiing in Iceland. However, one of the most unusual aspects of the area is its warm climate. Read more about Akureyri, Iceland

Siglufjordur (Siglufjörður) is a small fishing town situated on the shoreline of the 7 km long fjord of the same name. On both sides of the fjord snow topped mountains rise 600 – 800 m. The 2.3 km of colourful homes and buildings lie on the road that runs the periphery of the northern part of Iceland. The town grew from the herring industry in the 1940s and 1950s, and there are no herring today. Read more about Siglufjordur, Iceland

Tromsoe, the home of the famous Northern Lights, is situated a mere 2000 km from the North Pole, on the same latitude as Northern Siberia and Alaska. Most visitors are surprised by the prominence and sophistication of this fascinating port. On offer are high-quality theatre, arts and music, which contrast with the boundless and vast wilderness surrounding the city. The city centre contains the largest number of wooden houses in northern Norway as well as the oldest house. Read more about Tromsoe, Norway

Storstappen Island is one of three uninhabited islands that constitute the Gjesværstappan group, at the very north of mainland Norway. The small island lies 17 km to the WSW of North Cape, the (second) most northerly point of mainland Europe, and favourite of cruise liners that often pause off shore at the cape. Storstappen Island covers about one square kilometre, and is 508 km north of the Arctic Circle. At the right time of the year, and weather conditions permitting, one can see the aurora borealis, and of course the midnight sun. Read more about Storstappen Island, Norway

Honningsvåg, Norway, lies deep within the Arctic Circle at 71 deg.N. latitude, on the island Magerøya. Twenty-two km north of Honningsvåg is North Cape, the northernmost part of mainland Europe. Magerøya connects to the mainland via the 6.87km North Cape Tunnel. Read more about Honningsvag, Norway

Alta lies on the fjord coastline of Norway, just below North Cape. It is the second northernmost city in the world surpassing 10,000 inhabitants, and 380km north of the Arctic Circle. The large Altafjorden has several notable bays and fjord arms that branch off from it including Langfjorden, Jiepmaluokta, Kåfjorden, and Lille Kufjorden. The "midnight sun" is above the horizon from 18 May to 27 July, lasting a bit longer than the polar night from 26 November to 16 January. Read more about Alta, Norway

Bodø, located about 80km north of the Arctic Circle, is the largest city in Nordland county, and the second largest in North Norway. It has a population of 50,000. The city was completely rebuilt after its destruction during WWII, with the completion of the Town Hall in 1959. Despite its location and being one of Norway’s windiest cities, Bodø features a sub-polar oceanic climate, with chilly (but not cold) winters and cool summers. Read more about Bodo, Norway

Vigur is an island in the Ísafjardardjúp fjord in Western Iceland, offshore from villages such as Hamar, Kobleinseyri and Trod. It is the second largest island in the fjord, and it is filled with bird life, being a nesting ground for Puffins, terns, guillemots and several other species. There’s an historic building on the island known as the Viktoriuhus that acts as a small museum of items from the Westfjords Folk Museum. To reach Vigur there are trips by boat from Isafjordur during the summer months. Read more about Vigur Island, Iceland

The capital of the Westfjords of Iceland is Isafjordur. The landscape is majestic, with fjord after fjord towering above shore and sea, but each and every fjord has its own distinctive character. Tiny fishing villages nestle at their foot. On arrival take a stroll through the streets of the town. Read more about Isafjordur, Iceland

Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Iceland, is the gateway to Iceland's stunning natural wonders, which range from ice fields to boiling thermal pools. The landscape on the island seems to be in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology. On the waterfront see the open-air history of shipping disasters. In town walk past parliament building, city hall, Tjörnin pond, Höfði House(where Gorbachev and Reagan met in 1986 to end the Cold War), Hallgrímskirkja (the largest church in Iceland), and Laugavegur (the main shopping street) Read more about Reykjavik, Iceland

Southern Skjoldungen Fjord is located in Tunu County, south-eastern Greenland. It is surrounded by astonishing mountains, spectacular glaciers and undisturbed wildlife, a place that the native Inuit call Land of the People. The 66km L-shaped fjord that can be navigated by visiting cruise ships along the southern side of Skjoldungen island. The fjord provides an extensive and close-up look at ice bergs, massive crevasses, ice pillars and some truly awesome views. Read more about Skjoldungen Fjord, Greenland

Tasiilaq (meaning “the place with a lake”, and known as Ammassalik until 1997) is a town (population 2,000) in SE Greenland, just 106 km below the Arctic Circle, and 760 km due west of Reykjavik in Iceland. It lies on the southeastern coast of Ammassalik Island, lying tightly against the mainland. The research station Sermilik is located 15 km northwest of Tasiilaq on the west coast of the island. Tasiilaq is on the shore of a natural harbour, Tasiilaq Fjord. Read more about Tasiilag, Greenland

Husavik is a town in Norourþing municipality on the north coast of Iceland on the shores of Skjalfandi bay, that is about 15 km across. The town of around 2000 inhabitants depends mainly on fishing and tourism. It has become the centre of whale-watching in Iceland. Whales of many species frequently enter the bay, and visitors can charter a traditional renovated fishing boat for viewing. Read more about Husavik, Iceland

Vopnafjordur (Vopnafjörður) is a village and municipality in Northeast Iceland, standing on a peninsula in the middle of a mountainous bay of the same name. The main industries of Vopnafjörður are fish processing, agriculture, tourism and other services. Vopnafjörður attracts salmon fishers, artists, and celebrities. The largest river to run into the bay is Hofsá, one of the best salmon fishing rivers in the country. Read more about Vopnafjordur, Iceland

Eskifjordur is a village and port in eastern Iceland with a population of just over one thousand. Straight across from the village is the mountain Holmatindur, almost a thousand metres in height, which is considered by the locals to be one of the most naturally beautiful in the area. Like most inhabited places in this country, the villagers here mostly make their livelihood by fishing. In commemoration of the mariners who drowned, is a sculpture located along the main road. Read more about Eskifjordur, Iceland

Noss is a small island off the east coast of the Isle of Bressay in the Scottish Shetland Islands. It lies 200km NE of the northernmost tip of Scotland, and 200km W of Norway, in the North Sea. Uninhabited, the Isle of Noss has been run as a sheep farm since 1900. It is a National Nature Reserve, with over 150,000 birds and chicks, and is truly is a bird watchers delight. Read more about Isle of Noss, Great Britain

Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 160 km off the north coast of mainland Great Britain. Open to shipping in all weathers, it operates around-the-clock. Lerwick has strong ties with Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway, and this is reflected in the street names of the port. Behind the old harbour is the compact town centre made up of one long main street, Commercial Street. Read more about Lerwick, Great Britain

The Orkney Islands, an archipelago of more than 70 islands, graced with temperate weather warmed by the Gulf Stream, feature some of the most dramatic coastal scenery. There are sea cliffs, some over 300m, descending to sooth white-sand beaches. Yet even more fascinating are the more than 1,000 prehistoric sites that have been found here. Amazingly, they constitute the greatest concentration of these sites in all of Europe. Read more about Orkney Islands, Great Britain

The deep-water Scrabster Harbour is located in Thurso Bay on the North coast of Caithness, Scotland. It provides vital access to the remote Outer Orkney Islands which lie off the NE coast of Scotland. The area has much to offer visitors, with a wealth of historic buildings, heritage centres and tours viewing the majestic North Coast and all the wildlife and natural heritage on offer. Indeed, its huge skies and natural beauty made the area a Royal favourite for more than 50 years. Read more about Scrabster, Great Britain

Read more about Aberdeen, Great Britain

Newcastle, situated on the north bank of the River Tyne, was once in the forefront of 19th century industrial innovation, and is now at the forefront of technical innovation, leisure and culture. Be sure to wander down to the transformed waterfront, the Quayside that is now lined with stylish hotels, designer bars, restaurants and public art. However, in large parts, Newcastle still retains a medieval street layout as narrow alleys still exist in abundance. The Gateshead Millennium Bridge, a work of art in itself, arches across the Tyne to link the City to Gateshead Quays and the well known Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. Read more about Newcastle, Great Britain

Great Yarmouth is a holiday resort town on the coast of county Norfolk, England. It is located at the mouth of the River Yare facing the North Sea. Its flourishing herring fishing industry died out in the latter part of the 20th C, and has been replaced by the oil rig supply industry and servicing natural gas rigs. The most recent development is offshore wind power, and off the coast can be seen a wind farm of 30 generators on Scoby Sands, 2.5 km to the east. Read more about Great Yarmouth, Great Britain

Dover, the world’s busiest ferry port, is located in the county of Kent, England, at the extreme SE corner of Britain. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, 35 km away across the Straits of Dover. Possibly best known for its lyrically famous ‘White Cliffs’, archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and leaving Britain, and this continues to this day. This goes some way to explaining why this region in Kent has more than its fair share of castles, stately homes and museums than any other coastal region in the UK. Read more about Dover, Great Britain