Lucky to Holiday in Britain

This past summer, we were lucky enough to have a four-week family holiday in June.

So we took a tootle round the North of England and across the border into Scotland.

In fact, our holiday really started in Edingburgh; since that's where I arrived from my job in America to meet up with Emma and our girls.

Edinburgh is a Great Place to Start a Tour of Northern Britain.

We all loved our four days in Edinburgh; the historic Castle; the walk to the top of Arthur's Seat for a great view; and strolling round the great Georgian streets of the New Town.

We then drove to Northumberland for five days on a 30-acre farm-stay break near Hadrian's Wall.

We tramped the path along the wall and it was impossible not to feel a deep sense of connection to the history of this Island.

Bringing History Alive on Holiday in Hexam.

Next we headed South to our own 150-year holiday cottage in Rosedale Abbey in the North York Moors.

Further days out to Whitby, Rievaux Abbey, Castle Howard, York - Cliffords Tower, the walk round the City Walls, and a visit to the mighty Minster - all added more memories to the collective history of our family.

The Majesty of Rievaulx Abbey on the North York Moors.

Edinburgh Castle, Adrian's Wall, Whitby and York, and an ancient miners cottage in Rosedale; all brought home the shared inheritance that Britain’s attractions offer to holidaymakers who take a 'staycation'.

And while there's nothing wrong with Paris, Rome, the Alps, some bits of America, Italy, or even Australia, Bali or other places in far-flung corners; it does make me wonder why you’d want to waste so much valuable holiday time in a squalid airport or cramped sardine-tin airline for hours and hours when there are such wonderful sights to see right here in Britain.

There are Few More Uplifting Sights than 5,000-year Old Megoliths Standing Proudly on a Moorland Ridge in the Middle of the North York Moors.

We're just so lucky - particularly in the North of this Country and in Yorkshire.

That's because in most countries; and even in the South around London; urban settlements, and agricultural land, and areas of natural beauty are separate things.

But in Yorkshire and the North, these three aspects of the landscape merge together in a seamless whole.

If you climb to the top of Arthur's Seat in Edingburgh for instance; you'll overlook the built gray City, but the surrounding lowland farmland and high Scottish mountains are all contained in the same vista.

It's the same across Northumberland or the North York Moors; where the wilderness of the high moors gives way gently to the valley field systems; and then the little villages and towns scattered in the lower river valleys.

Wilderness and nature surrender to fields and woods, which give way to homes and gardens.

It just creates a place of outstanding beauty.

Just so Splendid.

And it is hard not to feel stirred looking at our magnificent North Yorkshire countryside in all its summer Glory.

And now with Autumn on hand - the North York Moors get even better.

So get outside while you can.