Few people will have heard of Tassili N’Ajjer National Park, even though it is the largest national park in Africa—a testament to its anonymity and remoteness.
24.07.2023 - 12:27 / nationalgeographic.com
“You have to be careful,” warns Phil Wheeler, host at Preseli Hills Cottages, as we huddle over mugs of tea and an OS map tracing the route of the Golden Road, a seven-mile ramble along the spine of the hills. “I was up there the other day and I couldn’t see further ahead than this in the fog,” he says, his hand a few inches in front of his face. “Lots of the landscape features look alike, which can make navigation tricky. But there’s a special atmosphere up there. You feel things.” As an ex-military mountain guide and a competitor in the Preseli Beast fell-running race, he’s not a man to exaggerate.
The next morning dawns grey and sunless. A red kite whistles as it circles above the tawny, heather-blackened moor, casting a lonely shadow as I pick my way from the trailhead to Foel Eryr (‘eagle’s peak’). The second-highest peak in the Preseli Hills at 468 metres, its modest summit is topped by a Bronze Age burial cairn. When it’s clear, you can see for miles — but today drizzle has blotted out the view entirely.
The spectral mist seems almost suited to the Preseli Hills. Tors litter the landscape like long-buried dragons. And the crags appear less like hills and more like the ghosts of them — vanishing, reappearing, suddenly creeping up. All is silent but for the wind howling around the ragged heights and my own muffled curse as I step into a bog. There’s nobody else here but I have the eerie sense of being watched.
Far from GPS signals, light pollution and other reminders of the century we live in, these sweeping hills and moors have remained largely untouched since our ancient ancestors left their mark thousands of years ago. Even the most ordinary-looking crag might reveal, on closer inspection, a Neolithic stone circle, dolmen, Iron Age hillfort or standing stone. There are more dramatic places in Wales, but nowhere touches prehistorically deeper than the Preseli Hills.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park archaeologist Tomos Jones agrees. “The Preseli Hills are largely undeveloped in the context of recent times and as such they are a window into people from a distant past,” he says, when I speak to him later. “They show us how the landscape was arranged and settlements organised, what type of monuments were constructed, the relationships between people and how they utilised spaces and resources. This is a tranquil place. You can still feel solitude here, even on a busy day.”
Tranquil is putting it mildly. The hills feel utterly forgotten on my walk. I lose the trail as the mist closes in like a scene from a gothic horror movie. There’s a rock resembling a prostrating man in prayer, another like the skeleton of a stegosaurus, one that’s like the horned devil himself.
You need a vivid imagination to
Few people will have heard of Tassili N’Ajjer National Park, even though it is the largest national park in Africa—a testament to its anonymity and remoteness.
Rare is the traveler who looks forward to spending a night in an airport hotel. With an emphasis on convenience and utilitarian style, airport hotels tend to be a necessity rather than an indulgence. Luckily, there are those hidden gems that manage to pleasantly surprise even the most discerning traveler. In a bid to transcend their less-than-ideal locations, these hotels spare no effort in providing all the amenities you'd desire, including restaurants serving delectable dishes, cozy, comfort-focused rooms, and tranquil spas that ease post-flight stress. Check out six of Canada’s best airport hotels.
Follow the sand, cliffs and capes along the coast from the Alentejo to the Algarve.
Pasadena, California, really does have something for everyone. Food lovers, sports fans, those who travel for live entertainment, and history buffs will all find something to love in this city. Pasadena provides options for both families, couples, and even solo travelers.
Located just moments away from the renowned Whistler resort in British Columbia, the breathtaking Wedge Mountain Lodge & Spa is expected to open its doors this upcoming fall in November. Whistler is famous for skiing due to its exceptional snow conditions, extensive ski terrain, and world-class ski facilities.
Everybody knows the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Skye. But what about the other 6000-odd British Isles? Yes, we did say 6000. From the chunky Shetland Islands in Scotland’s far north to the sunny Isles of Scilly slung out from the coast of Cornwall, the British Isles are made up of islands of all shapes and sizes. Pick the right one and you could even have it all to yourself.
Central Portugal is the authentic heart of the country.Olivia Rawes escapes the Algarve and discovers Centro. The information in this article is taken from The Rough Guide to Portugal, your travel guide for Portugal.
If you like your Mayan ruins a little less grandiose than Tikal but all to yourself, then try those in and around Lago de Petexbatún, a spectacular expanse of water ringed by dense forest to the south of Sayaxché. The region is home to several ruins, including Dos Pilas, Ceibal and Yaxchilán, though the most impressive is the partially restored Aguateca – a fortified city perched on a high escarpment overlooking the lake.
Scattered like shards across a million square kilometres of the North Atlantic, west of Portugal the nine islands of the Azores are unmistakably volcanic.
Compile a list of the world’s top foodie destinations and it’s a pretty safe bet that Kenya wouldn’t make the cut. Up until now, the country has failed to gain any kind of glamorous status for its food culture, predominantly because traditional eats are created to be filling and inexpensive.
Located about 30 miles east of St Petersburg, Lake Ladoga is Europe’s largest freshwater lake, home to a whopping 660 islands. Flanked by thick forests and characterised by rocky coves, this vast body of water provides a range of outdoor opportunities, from swimming to rock climbing, as well as a fair share of historical and cultural sights.
Ever since the Dalai Lama and his entourage escaped the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959 and were granted a new home in the district of Dharamsala, in India’s Himachal Pradesh, the area has been a magnet for travellers and truth-seekers alike.