Winter in the Cairngorms / Photo: Murky1

For its size (on par with Oregon), the United Kingdom is one strikingly diverse nation. From mountains to beaches to rolling plains, its landscapes come in many varieties, one never more than a day’s journey from another.

Britain’s 14 national parks are tasked with showcasing this diversity, as well as protecting it. Recently, the Guardian asked travel industry leaders and outdoors enthusiasts to lay out what makes each of the 14 special. Here are some highlights:

Climbing Peak District / Photo: sharpneil

Brecon Beacons: Features an 8-day trek that takes in a historic church, Iron Age castle, and nature reserve, in addition to the high, angular terrain that dominates this region of Wales.

Peak District: Set square in the heart of England, Peak offers a range of climbing opportunities on its gritstone outcroppings — a type of rock found practically nowhere else on Earth.

Cairngorms: The system’s most extreme park by all counts (biggest, tallest, farthest north) draws mountain bikers looking to take on Scotland’s most epic trails.

Pembrokeshire Coast: Sea kayak is the vessel of choice for exploring this Welsh park and its 250 miles of rocky coast dotted with cliffs, sea caves, and marine wildlife.

Have you visited these or other UK parks? Share your experience in the comments.

Community Connection

For more national park goodness from around the world, check out these Matador posts:

Back to Nature: 13 Of The World’s Richest National Parks

Seven Best National Parks for Visiting Old Growth Forests

Guide to Kenya’s National Parks

Photo: orcmid

The Big Boys

1. TransAmerica Trail

It doesn’t get much bigger than this.

The TransAmerica was inaugurated during the 1976 “Bikecentennial,” a bicycle-based celebration of America’s 200th Independence Day. The route runs 4,262 miles from Virginia’s Atlantic coast, through the heartland of the USA, over the Rockies, and terminates at the Pacific in Oregon.

It was the success of the Bikecentennial that strengthened the popularity of cycle touring and led to the creation of many more American trails, some of which are profiled below.

Photo: billaday

2. Pacific Coast Route

Delivering what it promises, the Pacific Coast Route takes you from Washington’s border with Canada all the way down to San Diego, hugging the water practically the whole way.

Much of the 1,853-mile route is on shared roads, though there are some bicycle-dedicated stretches. Services — including top-notch campgrounds — are never far away.

For the super determined, the route can be extended beyond U.S. borders: north into British Columbia and south into Mexico…and beyond.

3. East Coast Greenway

Though currently only 23% complete, the East Coast Greenway will one day link Calais, Maine, and Key West, Florida, with a 3,000-mile, firm-surface, non-motorized trail system.

If you want to help the Greenway folks get this done just a little bit quicker, check out the details on their Close the Gaps Campaign.

The route is definitely ridable today, with the remaining 77% comprised of low-traffic roads.

4. Great Divide Trail

Challenge-seekers, this one’s for you. I’ll throw out some stats to get the blood pumping: 2,493 miles long. Mixes gravel, single-track, and converted railroad beds. Crosses the Continental Divide 50+ times. Gains more than 200,000 feet of elevation!

One of the founders of the Great Divide Trail has this to say:

People who’ve ridden this trail laugh when they hear others say the Tour de France is tough.

Photo: Jeremy & Taylor

The record time for cycling the whole thing? 15 days.

5. Mississippi River Trail

Get to know America’s Big River by cycling its length. The Mississippi River Trail follows it for 2,000 miles from its source in Minnesota, down through steamboat country, to the delta in New Orleans.

The trail includes bike-friendly roads as well as off-road paths and winds through 10 states.

Historic Trails

6. Underground Railroad

The escape of Southern slaves to the freedom of the North is one of the most tragic and heroic stories in American history. With the newly unveiled Underground Railroad Trail, you can see firsthand the routes that were taken by these fugitives.

Only, picture yourself traveling at night. Pursued. Oh yeah, and on foot.

For more info on the 2,028-mile trail, check out the four-part documentary playing on Adventure Cycling Association’s YouTube channel.

Photo: Jason Pratt

7. Lewis & Clark Trail

These were the explorers charged with mapping the land acquired in Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase, and this route traces their journey through the Great Plains and into the Pacific Northwest.

Of course, the original voyage was made largely by boat on the Missouri and Columbia Rivers, so the bike route follows the water whenever possible. It extends for 3,252 miles on a mix of paved roads and multi-use trails and gives easy access to many museums dedicated to the Lewis & Clark expedition.

Short(er) and Sweet

8. C&O Canal and Towpath + Great Allegheny Passage

Though created and maintained as two separate paths, these non-motorized trails link up to connect Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh, PA, running a total of 330 miles. Cycling the two takes a few days and is popular in autumn, when the leaves turn.

The C&O Towpath is the same one that was used to drag boats along the old Chesapeake and Ohio Canal until the waterway’s closure in 1924. Its route is now preserved as a park.

Photo: Ken_Mayer

In Cumberland, MD, the Great Allegheny Passage takes over. The rail trail has yet to be extended into Pittsburgh proper, but work is underway to complete this last phase of construction.

9. Green Mountains Loop

If you’re not up for driving the Green Mountain State, why not cycle it? The 376-mile Green Mountains Loop starts and ends in Burlington and threads through the small New England towns and forests that make VT so special.

Most of the route is on shoulder-less roads, though traffic is generally light. While you won’t actually be climbing any mountains, expect hills.

10. Denali Highway

The Denali Highway was once a supply route for miners during Alaska’s Gold Rush, and later the main road for visitors to Denali National Park. Those days are over, and now the highway is a prime destination for cyclers.

Though a fairly short ride at just 133 miles, there are plenty of opportunities for off-the-saddle exploration — you don’t have to look far to find a chance to hike, paddle, or camp.

The highway runs from Paxson to Cantwell and is mostly gravel.

More

A map showing several of these routes and many more is provided by the Adventure Cycling Association.

Community Connection

New to cycle touring? Make sure to check out these Matador resources:

How to Train and Prepare For Your First Multi-Day Ride

How to Choose a Touring Bicycle

Bicycle Touring: A Solid Setup

8 Steps for Successful Self-Supported Bicycle Tours

All photos: phishtopher

Long-time Matador member phishtopher, like many travelers, has a passion for things Tibetan.

But unlike most others, he’s chosen to commit several years of his life to understanding this flashpoint region firsthand, using his graduate studies to investigate “issues involving identity, memory, narratives, exile, and the ways in which Tibetans adapt to life in cities.”

Here’s a little more, in Ryan’s own words:

I have traveled many places in China, but most of my time is spent in the Tibetan west–Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan–and Xizang provinces. I often find myself staying with nomads on the grasslands and in mountain villages for research.

These places, regardless of whether they fall within the Tibetan Autonomous Region, are my favorites, as they offer the most unadulterated look at Tibetan culture available.

More on phishtopher can be found in his Matador profile, such as these tidbits:

Why I travel: to enjoy the creation of God, and to meet new people
Before I die I’d like to: set my heels to every nation’s soil and raise children who make a difference in the world
Let’s collaborate: i’m an anthropologist looking to travel, research and write about people. really i am an aspiring renaissance man, so if you need anyone trying to be too many things at once, that’s me.

To collaborate, inquire, or simply converse, click over to his profile page and leave a comment or shoot him a private message.

Community Connection

For more resources on Tibet, start off with Volunteering Opportunities in the Tibetan Community of McLeod Ganj, India and Student Travel in Tibet.

Photo: papalars

Community Connection

Follow the trail to discover The Most Spectacular Treks Worldwide.

1. The peak of Cerro Fitz Roy looms in the distance — the goal of my hike through the Southern Patagonian Ice Field near the border of Argentina and Chile.

2. The Perito Moreno Glacier as viewed from the observation decks in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares near the town of El Calafate, Argentina.

3. A ferry docks prior to making the journey from Argentina to Chile in Southern Patagonia.

4. Traversing the Perito Moreno Glacier feels non-terrestrial in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Argentina.

5. A photographer captures the fading sunset behind Cerro Fitz Roy near El Chalten, Argentina.

6. Sweeping clouds paint violet strokes across the morning sky — one of the many faces of Patagonia.

7. On the fringes of the hiking season in early and late winter, the ridges of Cerro Fitz Roy are covered with snow, making many trails inaccessible. Though challenging, the harsh conditions yield tourist-less hikes and magnificent views like this one taken during a lunch break.

8. Flat Patagonian plains collide with the towering Andes at Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, Chile.

9. Pondering “el fin del mundo.” A solo climb over the Martial Glacier near Ushuaia leaves a view beyond the southernmost tip of South America.

10. Arriving at the summit of another long hike leads to some “time killing” experiments in camera angles while awaiting the sunset. Matrix anyone?

11. Set at the southernmost point of South America, Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego is as eerie as it is magnificent.

12. Shipwreck in the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia, Argentina.

Community Connection

For more eerie magnificence, make sure to give these titles a read:

Searching for Patagonia

Powderquest Patagonia: Trip Report from Devin McDonell

Trekking Torres Del Paines, Patagonia, Chile

Essential Gear for Your Patagonia Trip

Photo: papalars

America’s one big place, and while the following destinations aren’t necessarily carbon copies of the big-name international draws, approached with the right attitude these one-of-a-kind sights might just tide you over till your bank account starts cooperating.

Cliff Palace: Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

You’ve imagined yourself riding up to Petra with your Indiana Jones hat on. Don’t lie.

Photo: ..lauren..

There’s something truly majestic about structures carved into rock; fortunately for Americans the Southwest is an archaeological playground, and a cheap one at that.

You’ll need a park ranger escort when visiting this particular site, which stays open just long enough to let you glimpse the dusk light creeping into the kivas. You might also catch a black bear, coyote, or mountain lion on the hiking trails.

It’s even rumored Spielberg intended to film here but met with objection from local tribes — so have at it, Indy.

That British Feeling: Philadelphia City Hall, Pennsylvania

There’s something about the Palace of Westminster that makes you want to eat a scone and conquer the world.

Photo: SnapsterMax

Funny thing is, the city halls of many ‘Thirteen Colonies’-era locales tend to possess a similar architecture — Philly’s is by no means an exception.

It even has a clock tower reminiscent of Big Ben, and if you get bell withdrawal you can pay a visit to America’s most famous, resting nearby: the cracked Liberty Bell.

Still missing an Abbey? Head across the street to the impressive Grand Lodge Temple, the center of the city’s Freemasonry.

Pyramids: Moundville Archaeological Park, Alabama

Given the heaps of theories regarding the placement of the Pyramids of Giza, it’s not surprising historians and archaeologists are also fascinated by these dozens of flat mounds scattered in geometric patters — remnants of the mysterious Mississippian culture of almost a thousand years ago.

The nearby museum is currently being renovated, but if you enjoy the whole mound thing then do yourself a favor and check out the UNESCO site of Cahokia in Illinois, which has similar features and is over ten times as big.

Photo: SF Brit

Gothic Cathedral: San Francisco, California

You can check off both French and Italian artistry with a visit to the Gothic Revival Grace Cathedral and its two replicas: the Gates of Paradise that face the Duomo in Florence and the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral.

You might even feel the hunch creep up your back at the sight of the towering stained glass — especially the intricate Twenty-Third Psalm window.

The all-male choir gives fantastic performances in December, and San Francisco native Ansel Adams’ take on the cathedral’s angles can sometimes be caught in real-life display inside.

Ancient City: Old Oraibi, Arizona

What’s better than the abandoned cityscapes of Angkor Wat or Machu Picchu? How about one that’s still in use — just a few hours east of the Grand Canyon is one of the oldest continually occupied settlements in the U.S.

Even more incentive to make it here: the Hopi residents may not allow photos of the site, but they’re incredibly warm to visitors.

Stone Sculptures: Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota

These carvings may not be as old as those at Abu Simbel, but they sure are higher up.

The four political giants make for an inspiring visit, and the best part is you don’t have to worry about that temperamental police escort through the windy desert. The light hits Teddy, Tommy, Georgie, and Abe quite well at almost any time of day.

Additionally, you can get your Cold War history fix at a genuine Minutemen Missile facility less than two hours south — they even have a “Self-Guided Cell Phone Tour” for all you DIY-ers.

Photo: Hot Rod Homepage

Gladiatorial Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, California

Brawls between adrenaline-charged super-huge men? A roaring crowd chanting for unnecessary violence?

Please your inner gladiator and attend a football game here between USC and UCLA.

The stadium’s hosted the Superbowl, the World Series, and the Summer Olympics twice. Oh, and it can seat just under 100,000 people — twice as many as Rome’s Colosseum.

Maximus would have made one hell of a tight end.

Futuristic Pinnacle: Seattle Space Needle, Washington

No photo of Shanghai is complete without the Oriental Pearl Tower across from the Bund, and the same could be said of this Seattle icon. Both have revolving restaurants and killer views. Besides, the 45 million visitors since its opening can’t be wrong.

Trekkies and Browncoats might also get a kick out of the science fiction museum right there at the Seattle Center.

Volcanic Anomaly: Crater Lake, Oregon

Photo: glennwilliamspdx

There are no whitewashed towns clinging to its cliffs, but if a volcanic caldera like Santorini is what you’re after, try this crazy puddle.

With no sources in or out, the water is some of the purest and clearest in the world.

In the wintertime, the snow around the rim glistens. You can warm yourself up in the Rim Village Cafe — and you won’t find a better view.

Community Connection

If the travel bug is still biting after you check out these American alternatives, you might be interested in reading about Why You Should Travel During The Global Recession and How To Travel The World For Free (Seriously).

All photos by author

Most travelers who make their way to the Australian state of Victoria (most commonly Melbourne) eventually find themselves heading to the Great Ocean Road. It’s a stretch of coastline in Victoria’s south that runs around 155 mi/250 km from Torquay to Warrnambool, and which includes the famous 12 Apostles.

What many visitors don’t bother to do though, is to hike any part of the 56 mi/91 km trail that hugs the coastline and gets you right down to the beaches. This is where Mother Nature is, away from the cars and buses, and into the bush with the kangaroos, wallabies, and echidnas.

Lots of options

You don’t have to hike the whole thing. You don’t even have to hike half of it. There are many points of entry and exit which facilitate short and long day hikes, and which many visitors explore while using a B&B or hotel for accommodation.

Shuttles can be hired to drop you off and pick you up at agreed-upon spots and times, and they’ll even do bag drop-off and food delivery (although, many purist hikers take major exception to this practice). We used GOR Shuttle to get taxied back to our van — I personally recommend them.

Tours are also available, if that’s your cup of tea.

For the overnight hikers

The Great Ocean Walk (GOW) starts at the Apollo Bay Visitor Information Centre and ends 90+ kms later at Glenample — within viewing distance of the 12 Apostles. For the hardest of the hardcore, this is a suggested 7-night, 8-day walk.

All the campsites on the walk are hike-in only. To minimise the environmental impact, Parks Victoria keeps the number of overnight hikers low, so each campsite has only eight spots for pitching a tent.

The campgrounds are very basic and have composting toilets, one or two untreated rainwater tanks, and a small 3-sided shelter. Open fires are not allowed and if the fire hazard is extreme, you may not even be allowed to cook with an open flame.

Pick and choose your itinerary

Overnight hikers can opt to do one-night/two-day hikes, two-night/three-day hikes, and so on. There are many starting and ending points but you must obtain a camping permit before spending the night.

For a detailed list of possible itineraries, read this very helpful PDF of FAQs.

A popular itinerary

Probably the most popular stretch of the walk is from Johanna Beach to the end at Glenample. This takes in roughly half of the trail — but from all accounts this is the better half. It is three nights, so is doable over a long weekend, which explains why it was booked solid when my wife and I tried to reserve sites over the Labour Day long weekend (early March in Australia).

Johanna Beach hike-in campsite

But you’re a traveler, and you don’t even know what a weekend is, right? Perfect. We backed it up for one night (starting Thursday instead of Friday) and found ourselves almost completely alone for the whole walk, sharing each campground with only one other couple.

Johanna Beach to Glenample

If you’re driving in, you have two options: park at Johanna Beach and arrange a shuttle at the end to drive you back to your car, or park at the end and get shuttled to Johanna Beach to begin. The latter is better in my opinion, but we were forced to do the former due to time constraints.

The Johanna Beach hike-in campground is around one kilometer from the carpark, although it is all uphill. This is good though as it puts you at the top of the cliff overlooking Joahanna Beach and the coastline beyond. Brilliant view to wake up to the next morning.

Note: the drive-in campground here is free, so if you want to save yourself one night’s costs, keep this in mind.

The remaining two campsites you would use are Ryan’s Den and Devil’s Kitchen, in that order. The campgrounds are spaced around 9 mi/15 km apart from each other, so it is an honest day’s hike, especially packing full gear (including your trash — carry out what you carry in).

It’s an undulating trail as you follow the topography of fingers of land that reach into the sea. The vegetation is colourful and varied, and you’ll even pass some blackberry bushes — make sure to pause and fill up on some berry goodness.

When sunny, the ocean to your left is a rich blue, reminiscent of the Mediterranean but with the wildness of the Oregon Coast.

Things to consider

*There are some stretches of beach walking (e.g. Milanesia and Wreck Beach) that are inaccessible at high tide. Check tide times before you start, otherwise you will have to take the less scenic high routes.

*You must reserve your campsite at least two weeks in advance, and you are only allowed to stay a single night in each one.

The 12 Apostles come into view

*It pays to reserve early. As we were the first to book, we were awarded with site #8 at each campsite. The sites are numbered 1-8 from the entrance, with 8 being the closest to the cliff’s edge, meaning the best views.

*When planning your itinerary, keep in mind that you are only permitted to walk in one direction: from Apollo Bay to Glenample. Booking campsites in the reverse direction is not allowed.

*As stated previously, each campground has rainwater tanks, but they are untreated. Make sure to pack some sort of filtration system or purification tablets. At the very minimum, if you don’t have these, boil the water for 10 minutes.

*I’m a big fan of telescopic hiking sticks as they help to distribute the weight of your pack to your arms too. They can also be extremely handy on tricky downhill sections. Highly recommended.

*The toilet houses are quite nice and one of them even has an ocean view. Toilet paper is provided, but it probably wouldn’t hurt to bring a bit extra, just in case.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

To read my personal account of the walk, check out 4 Nights on the Great Ocean Walk. If you’re just interested in pictures, pop over to my Flickr set.

Trips co-editor Hal Amen witnesses our changing world while Hiking the Chacaltaya Glacier. If you want to get philosophical about the ethics of hiking, read Nature for Sale: The Growing Trend of Wilderness Consumption.

Photo: Matt Scott

I won’t waste your time talking up Paris. You know it’s cool, hip, and romantic. You know the sites to see.

Or do you?

Sure, you’ve got the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomf engraved into your itinerary, but what about the real Paris?

Matt is a Matador veteran. He’s penned some hugely popular articles such as 10 Volunteer Opportunities for Free Travel and The 10 Most Spectacular Train Journeys in the World.

Besides writing and photography, he also guides tourists around the city of love. So there is no question about it: Matt knows Paris.

More on Matt:

Favorite places I’ve been: Too many to mention but some highlights: India, Nepal, Indonesia, New Zealand, West Coast USA and Alaska – all have stunning scenery.

I’m fired up on: Food, from all over the world- my breakfast is almost as important to me as what I’m planning to see that day.

Travel style: Just me and my backpack (It’s also nice to have my girlfriend along too) and to really immerse myslef in a culture and place.

Ideal place to watch the sunrise: Waking up where you’ve just watched the sunset.

If you’re shy and aren’t quite ready to ask Matt your questions, he’s also written three Matador guides for Paris, so you can check if the answers are here: Free City Tours in Paris, 48 Hours in Paris, and How to Save Money in Paris.

To contact Matt, visit his profile and send him a message.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

In addition to Matt’s guides above, Matador has published numerous articles on visiting and living in Paris. Just type in “Paris” in the Search bar at the top right of the page and browse around.

We’ve also got you covered all over the globe. Make sure to check out previously featured members at our Destination Experts page.

Photo: Unhindered by Talent

Community Connection

Inspired to head into nature? Make sure you’re geared up at Matador Goods.

For more mountainous pictures, feast your eyes on Photo Essay: Day Hike to Camp Muir, Mt. Rainier.

1. Palmyra, Syria
This ancient desert oasis of a metropolis, 200km from Damascus, is at least 4,000 years old and can still be visited by camel caravan.
Photo: captain.orange

2. Borobudur, Indonesia
Borobudur was an active Buddhist temple from the 9th to 14th centuries and is located rather precariously between two Javanese volcanoes.
Photo: ctsnow

3. Teotihuacan, Mexico
Sitting less than an hour outside Mexico City, this pre-Aztec pyramid city may have been the most populous in the world during its heyday between A.D. 150 and 450.
Photo: Juls Barrett

4. Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey
The unique stone formations of this region in central Turkey were made even more picturesque when homes and monasteries (and today hotels) were carved into them beginning around A.D. 300.
Photo: Nir Nussbaum

5. Khara-Khoto, Inner Mongolia
Marco Polo is said to have passed through this Mongol trading outpost before it was sacked by a Ming Dynasty army. Since then, the Gobi has slowly been taking up residence.
Photo: Ed_Stannard

6. Wat Phu, Laos
The lazy riverside town of Champasak is the gateway to these Khmer temple ruins, granted Unesco World Heritage status in 2001.
Photo: Adam Jones, Ph.D.

7. Tikal, Guatemala
Though only questionably qualifying as “lesser-known,” this stop on the Maya Trail did lose out on becoming a “New 7 Wonder of the World” to its cousin farther north, Chichen Itza.
Photo: mtsrs

8. Volubilis, Morocco
The Romans sure got around, leaving behind their characteristic triumphal arches and columned temples in unlikely places — such as a few dozen kilometers outside of Meknes, Morocco.
Photo: ollografik

9. Bagan, Myanmar
This ancient Burmese capital and its 2,217 peaked-dome temples should be better known, but its location within a “rogue state” is holding it back.
Photo: jmhullot

10. Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Tiwanaku (or Tiahuanaco) is still being excavated, as funds become available, but has already revealed countless secrets about a pre-Inca empire that ruled the Altiplano until A.D. 1000.
Photo: victorsounds

11. Mesa Verde National Park, USA
The Anasazi’s cliff-carved city, built in the 11th century, is considered the largest in North America and is the centerpiece of this national park in the Four Corners region.
Photo: ..lauren..

12. El Djem, Tunisia
More evidence of the Roman presence in North Africa comes in the form of this ruined amphitheater — the ancient empire’s third largest.
Photo: skuds

Community Connection

If you like what you see, you can browse more Trips photo essays here.