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Which UK country is the most beautiful?

Scotland has been named the most beautiful country in the world in a poll of Rough Guide readers. The other countries of the British Isles also came out well, with England seventh, Wales tenth and Ireland eighteenth.



Beauty is subjective, but Scotland is frequently voted the most beautiful country in the UK and often the world by travel publications like Rough Guides. Its appeal lies in its dramatic Highlands, deep lochs (like Loch Ness and Loch Lomond), and rugged islands like the Isle of Skye, which offers ethereal landscapes such as the Old Man of Storr. Wales is a close contender, renowned for its stunning coastline and the mountainous peaks of Snowdonia National Park. England offers a different kind of beauty, characterized by the rolling "green and pleasant" hills of the Cotswolds, the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, and the serene Lake District. Northern Ireland is famous for the otherworldly Giant’s Causeway and the lush Glens of Antrim. Each country offers a distinct aesthetic, from Scotland's wild grandeur to England’s pastoral charm, making the "most beautiful" choice depend entirely on whether you prefer rugged wilderness or manicured countryside.

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A recent Rough Guides publication has ranked the top 20 most beautiful countries in the world for 2019, and unsurprisingly, Scotland ranked #1! Readers said the primary reasons for selecting Scotland – apart from the delightful locals – was its, “wild beaches, deep lochs, and craggy castles”.

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Top 10 prettiest towns and villages in the UK overall:
  • Castle Combe, Cotswolds, Wiltshire.
  • Portmeirion, Gwynedd.
  • Beaulieu, Hampshire.
  • Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire.
  • Keswick, Lake District, Cumbria.
  • Bibury, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire.
  • Polperro, Cornwall.
  • St Michael's Mount, Cornwall.


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