A beautiful seaside walk has been named one of the UK’s best, with a medieval fortress and dramatic coastline. A study by CEWE ranked UK walks based on Google review data.
Each location was analysed for star ratings, number of ‘beautiful’ reviews using descriptive terms such as ‘beautiful’, ‘stunning’, ‘amazing’, and ‘lovely’. In third place was a walk in northeast Scotland, 15 miles south of Aberdeen. The walk starts at the harbour of Stonehaven and goes 1.7 miles south to Dunnottar Castle. The circular route is about 3.5 miles and will take between 90 minutes and two hours, passing Black Hill, Strathlethan Bay, Dunnicaer Pictish Fort, and Castle Haven. The walk got 254 beautiful reviews and a 4.8-star rating.
Stonehaven is a small former fishing town with a population of just 11,000 people. It is a charming coastal town known for its picturesque harbour and vibrant Hogmanay fireballs ceremony.
The town parties on New Year’s Eve in the ancient fireballs ceremony, when people swing blazing balls above their heads to ward off evil spirits.
The dramatic and ruined Dunnottar Castle is one of Scotland’s national treasures, perched on 160-foot-high cliffs jutting out into the waves. It once belonged to the Earls Marischal, one of Scotland’s most powerful families.
The castle played a crucial role in the country’s history for 1,000 years, hosting historical figures including Mary Queen of Scots. It was used in the 1990 film adaptation of Hamlet and was also selected as Merida’s home in the Disney movie, Brave.
Just south of Stonehaven, you’ll find RSPB Fowlsheugh reserve, where the spectacular cliffs are packed with 130,000 breeding seabirds in the spring and summer.
Elsewhere, Northern Ireland’s Mount Stewart walk topped the list. Located on Strangford Lough in County Down, the 19th-century estate boasts 259 ‘beautiful’ reviews and a 4.7-star rating.
The grounds feature a grand mansion with a notable collection of paintings, beautifully landscaped gardens, and 10 miles of walking trails that wind through farmland and woodland.
Powis Castle and Garden in Welshpool, Wales, came in second place with 255 ‘beautiful’ reviews and a 4.7-star rating. The castle was built in the 13th century as a medieval fortress with views across the Severn Valley.