Natural Wonders Of The UK

Durdle Door on a busy day...

Having recently walked along to Durdle Door from Lulworth Cove, I can certainly understand how some people get evangelical about the places we have in the UK....

The British Isles rock. That's a subjective cultural claim, certainly, but it's also an empirical truth – because it's geology that has created our diverse and extraordinary natural wonders. We owe the creation of vertiginous cliffs and sea stacks to deposits of sandstone and chalk; soft limestone has been etched and scoured to carve craggy gorges, coastal arches and echoing caverns; and sculpted from extrusions of volcanic basalt are the weirdly geometric columns of causeways and sea caves.

But if science speak doesn't thrill you, the sheer wildness of our landscapes can't fail to enthral. The UK's wonders may not top the lists of the tallest, deepest, widest or loudest in the world, but the canyons are grand, the waterfalls dramatic and the coastline is, frankly, as spectacular as any. And yet, we rarely celebrate these natural marvels. Typical British reticence, perhaps, though another factor might be the weather – of which we have plenty. Indeed, the power tools that cut and shaped these masterpieces are largely meteorological. It is waves, wind, rain and ice that have moulded our land.

"The UK is one of the most varied regions in the world, geologically speaking," says Joe Cornish, a landscape photographer whose new book, This Land (published 1 October), showcases Britain's most beautiful scenery. "And thanks to the auspicious location of this gnarly, ancient chunk of rock in the path of the Gulf Stream, we also enjoy some of the most varied and interesting weather conditions."

But while extreme weather is great for forging natural wonders, it can make reaching them trickier – which is why now is the time to explore, while access is generally easier and more comfortable than in winter. Most of our most magnificent sights are best enjoyed on a self-powered expedition.

The UK's extensive network of public footpaths provides access to most of our most amazing spectacles, and 15 waymarked National Trails of England and Wales (nationaltrail.co.uk) take in many of the most impressive natural monuments.

What's guaranteed is that seeing our natural wonders will set your shutter finger itching. Charlie Waite, founder of the Landscape Photographer of the Year competition (take-a-view.co.uk) and the specialist photography tour operator Light and Land (01747 824727; lightandland.co.uk), is evangelical about the idea.

"In the context of the world, we are not a physically large country but the variety and beauty of our landscapes is second to none, from the limestone scenery of the Yorkshire Dales to the basalt columns of Fingal's Cave on the isle of Staffa," he says. "And the camera is a wonderful conduit through which one can connect with the myriad natural wonders."

Take a look at the map above, how many of these iconic geological sights have you seen?

Take some time to visit these areas, look around and spend an hour or two just looking, or exploring...

Airport Scam?

A recent Article from The Independent that you may have seen splashed across Social Media recently...

Some of Britain’s top retailers are facing calls to be more honest with airport customers as they pocket millions of pounds in VAT discounts on duty free items without passing on the savings. Many stores in airports across the UK now demand that passengers present their boarding cards at checkouts before paying for any goods. But that is not a legal requirement, and instead the information is being used by stores to avoid paying 20 per cent VAT on everything they sell to customers who are travelling outside the European Union.

Research by The Independent suggests the majority of these stores are passing little if any of the savings to customers, and instead are using the tax rebate to boost the profits of their airport franchises.

Consumer rights experts have accused shops of failing to be clear about the practice, and called for customers to be much more wary about so-called duty free purchases.

“I think the problem here is that the retailers are not being straight with the public,” said the consumer affairs expert, Paul Lewis. “They are asking to see passengers’ boarding cards but not telling them that this is so they can make more money by not paying the VAT on what they’re selling. What of course they should be doing is passing on the savings that they make to the passengers who are travelling outside Europe. “The problem is, though, that they have got a captive audience,” said the BBC radio presenter of Money Box Live.

It is a frustrating practice now familiar to millions of holidaymakers and business travellers, but even some personal finance experts admitted they were surprised to learn of why boarding passes are requested at airport store check-outs.

Guy Anker, managing editor of the website Money Saving Expert, said: “I have to say even I didn’t know that the reason that airport stores asked for boarding cards was so that they could avoid paying VAT.

“There is an assumption that duty free means cheaper. But that is not the case. All it means is that the stores themselves are not paying the duty. And they may not be passing that on to consumers – even though they make it out to be cheaper. The important thing here is for consumers to do basic checks online to see if they really are getting value for money.”

One of the biggest offenders appears to be Boots, which has outlets in the vast majority of UK airports. It confirmed that its airport prices are the same as in its London stores – despite being able to avoid paying 20 per cent tax on everything it sells to travellers going outside the EU.

A spokeswoman for the company confirmed that airport store teams are asked to request and scan boarding cards to ensure the “accurate reporting of VAT”, although this was not compulsory.

“We request our customers’ boarding cards so that our VAT accounting is in line with the HMRC’s requirements,” she said.

“The HMRC and airports accept that this is general practice for all retailers located within airport terminals.”

Some of the savings made by the airport stores can be quite significant. Dixons Travel says it makes sure its prices are cheaper than the best deals available from major internet retailers. For example, it charges £53 for an Amazon Kindle compared to its website’s retail price of £53.99. But for passengers travelling outside Europe, Dixons will not have to pay to HMRC the £10.70 that Amazon would need to pay on UK-based purchases.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “Dixons Travel follows the standard practice of non-duty free airport retailers in offering one single, great value price across products.

“We are not duty free; instead, we offer customers a simple, single price and give them our price promise to beat key online competitors.”

Another popular airport franchise that requires boarding cards to be shown is WHSmith. While books and magazines do not attract VAT the company confirmed it did not pay the tax on other products and claimed duel pricing was a “practical impossibility”. A spokeswoman said: “WHSmith policy states that boarding passes should be requested from customers, and not demanded.”

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Flying Tips

Want to get upgraded? Check this article out....

Flying around the world for free might be the ultimate aim, but there are plenty of other tricks, tips and hacks to help you save pennies on planes, while receiving top treatment. 

But first - how to fly around the world for free. 

1. Fly frequently

It's all in accruing frequent flyer miles. Different carriers operate their air mile schemes in different ways, but broadly speaking, flying a long way helps build up miles which can then translate into free flights.

There are numerous ways of maximising your mile banks - from booking cheap, but long-haul, flights, to checking whether your miles scattered across a number of airlines can be moved within aviation conglomerates (such as Star Alliance or Oneworld) to be accumulated and used on one airline. 

Besides flying, air miles can be obtained by various other means. Some airline credit cards reward users with up to 18,500 air miles with a first purchase then additional miles for every pound spent (however, some do have an annual fee). Under some schemes, such as Avios, air miles can be accrued by shopping at supermarkets or dining out - though the way Avios air miles are calculated changed recently, to the apparent detriment of members.

2. Get bumped 

It might not sound like winning, but being the victim of an overbooked plane can have its benefits: you might find yourself upgraded to a premium cabin or held back to the next flight - with cash compensation to soften the blow. And there are ways to increase the chances of it happening. Choose a busy flight, like one to a beach resort during the summer holidays, and be loyal - upgrades are usually offered to those signed up to the airline's frequent flier programme. 

3. Ask for an upgrade

As our complete guide to getting an airline upgrade makes clear, there's no harm in asking for one at the check-in desk - you might just get it. As in life, be polite; borderline charming. It also helps if you've got a good reason, such as being exceptionally tall, pregnant, or even celebrating a honeymoon, birthday, or anniversary. A Lufthansa spokesman told Telegraph Travel “it never hurts to ask”, and offering a reason such as these “would certainly improve your chances”.

Other ways to get an upgrade include having a faulty entertainment system or a chair that won’t recline. You may simply be moved to another economy class seat, but if none are free... Equally, if you’ve got a legitimate grievance against another passenger – harassment, for example – you could ask to be relocated. 

4. Binge in the lounge

One of the plus points of being a member of an airline loyalty club is access to its airport lounge, where (in most cases) free breakfast/lunch/dinner/booze awaits.

Or follow the example of one traveller whose antics were reported in the Chinese press two years ago - the unnamed man purchased a refundable first-class ticket with China Eastern Airlines that came with access to the airline's VIP lounge. Each day, he'd arrive at the airport, eat lunch, reschedule his flight for the next day, and repeat. The airline eventually caught up with him when they discovered his booking had been changed 300 times in a year. Where there's a will, there's a way.

5. Find the loophole 

This takes more commitment and know-how. Apparently, hobbyists who commit their lives to exploiting airline bureaucracy in return for free or cheap air travel have gone so far as setting up code on the internet to automatically find ticket pricing errors on airline websites. 

Another gentleman, who was sued by United Airlines, found what he described as an "inefficiency" in airline pricing, when he realised you could book flights to lesser-known airports that connected via a major hub on the cheap, then just not take the final leg of the route and settle down in the bigger city for a cut-price break. 

6. Book clever

There's an app called Hopper that promises to advise travellers on the cheapest days of the year to fly, reckoning it can save fliers 40 per cent, on average. On a simpler note, it becomes almost immediately apparent when booking flights, that if you shift your travel time a day or two either side, or to a slightly antisocial hour, you can save hundreds of pounds. 

EasyJet offers what's called a Flexi Fare that allows you unlimited free date changes to your flight within a four-week period. Book an off-peak flight, then shift it to a peak time, like a bank holiday or half term, and spend the savings on champagne and oysters. 

7. Smash the baggage fees 

Avoid paying hefty bag fees by meticulously ensuring all your luggage fits in your carry-on bag or on your person. A multi-pocketed trench coat with more hidden compartments than you can shake a stick at might be just the answer.

8. Bring your own plastic bags 

Most airports give them away for free, but there are still some that will charge you for resealable plastic bags to put your hand luggage liquids in (For example, Luton charges £1 for two; Liverpool John Lennon, four for £1). To be safe, not sorry, bring your own from home (no bigger than 1litre capacity). Then fill with hotel toiletries you may have acquired over the years - mini bottles perfect for travelling. 

Likewise, bring your own snacks, rather than spending money on them in the airport, or worse, on the plane. If it's water you're after, bring an empty bottle then find a place to fill it up once you're past security. 

9. Beat the liquids rule

Invest in some reuseable 100ml plastic bottles, into which you can decant sun block and shampoo, so you aren't stung for overpriced travel-size bottles. And don't forget to plunder the free toiletries at your hotel - they're perfect for the frequent flier. 

10. Pick the check-in queue on the left 

If all the queues for check-in and security look fairly equal, then go for the one on the left. Studies show that people tend to veer towards their dominant side: right-handers go right, left-handers go left. As a result, the queues on the left are often shorter.

When Things Go Wrong

This is A great article from The Telegraph....

The summer holidays are upon us. I’m assuming you have bought your travel insurance, booked your airport parking, checked-in for your flight, ordered your euros and have remembered your tickets and passport. I also assume that you don’t need any help in having a good time. It’s when things go wrong that they risk ruining your holiday. So here is our guide to sorting them out. 

Cancellations and delays 

If your flight is cancelled, European Union regulations require airlines to offer you either a full refund of the unused parts of your tickets, or to re-route you to your destination, as soon as possible. The airline is also liable to pay for the cost of a hotel and subsistence for all those stranded as a result, until a replacement flight is provided. 

If your airline advises you to buy your own food and accommodation, keep all receipts, and keep such costs to a reasonable minimum, before making a claim when you get back to Britain. Your insurance policy may also pay out a small amount for very long delays (usually over 12 hours), but not usually enough to pay for more than a meal or two. In addition to this, if you are flying on an airline based in an EU member state you are entitled to compensation of at least 250 euros if your flight is delayed by more than three hours and the delay is the airline’s fault (this includes some technical problems). Compensation is not payable for delays caused by outside factors such as bad weather, security issues or air traffic control strikes or congestion. 

Missed departure

If you miss your ferry, train or flight through no fault of your own - perhaps your car or the bus or train you were travelling in broke down - your travel insurance policy will normally cover the extra cost of onward travel. You’ll need supporting evidence such as a receipt for roadside assistance or repair work on your car, or confirmation of delay from the public transport company. It’s vital too to contact your airline or ferry company and explain that you missed the flight, otherwise the return leg might be cancelled automatically. 

Lost Luggage

If your baggage doesn’t turn up on the carousel when you arrive report it straight away, before you leave the baggage hall. Ask for a property irregularity report (PIR) and record the details of what you have lost. If you can’t get one (because there is no one at the airport desk, for example) you are still entitled to claim but it is much more straightforward with a PIR. You should then write to the airline, enclosing the a copy of the PIR, within seven days of the flight. 

If there’s no sign of your bag after three weeks, it will be declared lost, but if your bag is returned to you even only a couple of days after arrival on the outbound flight, airlines are still obliged to cover costs of “essential items” such as toiletries and clothing to tide you over in the meantime. This terminology is unhelpfully vague, so ask the airline what its policy is and keep receipts for anything you buy. Compensation policy varies: it can be an upfront cash payment, a fixed daily budget, or remittance once your claim and receipts have been submitted. This must be done within 21 days of recovering a delayed bag. Airlines will often suggest you claim on your travel insurance. Depending on your policy, you may get a higher level of cover this way (the maximum payout from an airline is around £1,000). But check your insurer’s excess charge and small print first - some policies provide minimal or no cover for luggage while in the care of an airline. 

Hire car issues

Such is the dysfunctional nature of the car hire market at present, this could be the most stressful experience of your trip. First rule at peak times is to get ahead in the queue by sending one of your party to go straight through customs rather than wait for the baggage. Second is to be alert to all the potential sales pitches and pitfalls. Here is a summary checklist: 

* Research the insurance excess and the cost of waiving it. It is usually cheaper to buy a policy in the UK before your leave, rather than pay on arrival. 

* Check the fuel policy - are you being charged for a full tank and so are expected to return it empty for example, or will a re-filling charge be levied if you don’t return it full? 

* Inspect your car carefully and report and photograph any damage before your drive it away. 

* Photograph all sides of the car when you return it so you have clear evidence of the condition it was in. 

Effective complaining

The most common cause of complaints on holiday is accommodation. Usually you know as soon as you arrive whether there is a problem, but whenever it crops up, the key thing is to let the operator, agent, hotelier or villa owner know straightaway as soon as you are aware of an issue. After all, they may not realise something has gone wrong, and may be delighted to help. And if you don’t give them the chance to sort things out, your chances of compensation at a later date will be undermined. 

Your rights depend on two key principles - the accommodation must be safe, and it must match what you were promised in the brochure or booking website. Referring to this will help make your point. Do, however, keep a sense of perspective. How bad is it really? Are you blowing a small thing out of proportion? 

If you do feel genuinely aggrieved, still try to hang on to that sense of perspective. If you are perceived as having been calm and reasonable, you are also much more likely to resolve the situation before it starts to spoil your holiday. Confrontation is probably counter-productive. It’s a good idea to get the most conciliatory member of your party to negotiate - at least at first. 

If there is a serious problem which is not satisfactorily resolved, keep written, photographic and video evidence, and, if possible contact details of any witnesses. This could be absolutely crucial if you have to take your case to court or arbitration. 

Police problems

If you are arrested or in desperate straits, British citizens should turn to the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate. There is a limit to what they can do, but they will endeavour to represent your interests and put you in touch with legal help. 

Lost passport

You’ll need to visit the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate (see above) - phone in advance. You must report the loss (government website here), and take an “emergency travel document application form” (from here), a passport photo, proof of your travel plans and a police report, if your passport was stolen. There is a non-refundable fee of £95 (often covered by travel insurance policies) and if your case is straightforward you may receive a replacement on the same day. The emergency travel document will allow you to leave the country you’re in and get to your destination via up to five countries (which must be named on your itinerary) within a specified time. 

Insurance claims

Travel insurance policies cover quite a few eventualities, but two areas attract by far the highest number of claims:

Loss or theft: When claiming be aware that there will a time limit within which a loss or theft has to be reported to the police - usually 24 hours. The key thing is to ensure you get a copy of a police report confirming the loss or crime. If you lose money you may need to produce cash withdrawal slips or receipts. 

Medical claims: once any immediate emergencies have been dealt with, and excepting minor claims for more routine visits to a GP, it’s vital to contact the assistance line given on your policy. They will assess your case, authorise and organise treatment and, normally, settle bills directly. To back up any claims, keep proof of purchase of any medicine or treatment. 

Potential pitfalls: Policies usually specify an excess charge (typically £50) on most claims, but some will waive this on medical claims in Europe if you have an EHIC card (available free from here). And there are plenty of exclusions which it's as well to be aware of before you travel. Valuables left unattended in a car, in a hotel room or on the beach may not be covered, and all sorts of activities may be proscribed - including the sort of thing that you might organise on the spur of the moment without thinking about insurance cover, such as horse-riding, white-water rafting, parascending etc. 

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