Breathtaking Britain Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pen y Fan

Brecon Beacons is an area of natural beauty in the south of Wales. It is a popular destination for young and old with its spectacular mountains, rivers, lakes and caves. The beacons are formed by a ridge of mountains, including the 886m Pen y Fan, Corn Du at 873m, Cribyn at 795m, and Fan y Big at 719m high.

The area is steeped in ancient history, with Neolithic settlements and Iron Age hill forts. It is believed that signal fires were placed on top of each mountain to warn of invaders, hence the reason why the area was named the Beacons.

Answer: Peat fuel extraction during the Middle Ages

Peat was a valuable commodity during the Middle Ages. Over a period of time, large swathes of Norfolk and Suffolk were cleared of wood which was used for fuel and building. From around the 12th century, peat was dug from the area in large quantities, and this digging lasted for around three hundred years.

The rise of sea levels over a period of time caused the pits to flood, and despite the construction of windpumps and dykes, the area remained flooded until it shaped the landscape as it is today.

It is the largest protected wetland in Britain and home to a multitude of rare species of flora and fauna.

Answer: The blue mountain

The two tallest peaks in the Cairngorms are the 1309m high Ben Macdui (mountain of the sons of Duff) and the 1245m high Cairn Gorm (blue mountain). The area is home to the tourist resort of Aviemore, Royal Deeside and Balmoral Castle, Glenlivet whisky, and Britain's highest funicular railway.

At 4528 square kilometres, it is Britain's largest National Park. With approximately 1.4 million visitors each year, the main attractions include skiing, walking, climbing and shooting. The literal meaning of the Gaelic word Cairn Gorm means 'blue pile of stones', although the ancient name Am Monadh Ruadh (red mountain land) is still frequently used.

Answer: Widecombe-in-the-Moor

Widecombe-in-the-Moor is a small Dartmoor village steeped in history and made famous by its annual fair held every September. It only has approximately 196 households, but their arms open wide to all the tourists who flock to their doorstep throughout the year. Some visitors park up and make it their base while they take a long ramble across the moors, while others take a more relaxing approach and visit the local gift shops and partake in a Devon cream tea. The name Widecombe-in-the-Moor is believed to mean 'withy-combe' which means 'willow valley'. The 19th century old English poem "Uncle Tom Cobley and All" is believed to have been taken from a true event.

"Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare.
All along, down along, out along lea.
For I want for to go to Widecombe Fair,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all."

Answer: Somerset

The beautiful Exmoor National Park is situated at the top of Devon and Somerset, hugging 55 kilometres of stunning coastline. The main towns within the park are Lynton, Lynmouth, Dulverton and Porlock. It has the highest concentration of red deer in Britain and the highest sea cliffs in England, including the 314 metre high Culbone Hill. Exmoor takes its name from the River Exe which rises at the west of the park before meandering south for 50 miles until it empties out in to the English Channel on the south coast of Devon.

Answer: Wast Water

The mountainous Lake District in Cumbria is one of the most popular National Parks in England, receiving up to 15.5 million visitors each year. Scafell Pike (978m) is the highest mountain in England and is located in the park overlooking Wast Water, a three mile long lake, half a mile wide and 260 feet deep. Bodies of water in the Lake District are normally called 'meres', 'waters' or 'tarns', for example Windermere, Wast Water and Stickle Tarn. Near the north-eastern end of Wast Water lies St Olaf's Church which is believed to be the smallest church in England.

Answer: Loch Lomond and The Trossachs

Just above the Scottish city of Glasgow lies the second of Scotland's two national parks. The park is divided into four distinct areas which are Loch Lomond, Argyll Forest, The Trossachs and Breadalbane.

Loch Lomond is a large freshwater lake overlooked by the 974m high Ben Lomond and has a number of small islands including Inchcailloch, Inchconnachan and Inchcruin. Argyll Forest is Britain's oldest forest park and is known for Puck's Glen, a magical and atmospheric woodland trail interspersed with rock pools, waterfalls and wooden bridges. The Trossachs is a small woodland glen and the setting for Sir Walter Scott's "The Lady of the Lake". Breadalbane is an area of mountains, lochs and woodland and is said to be where the Scottish Highlands truly begin.

Answer: New Forest

The New Forest is not new, but in fact an ancient woodland. William the Conqueror declared it as his new hunting ground "Nova Foresta" back in 1079, and it is believed trees dating back 1,000 years are still standing today. He set up a system where the forest was managed by judges (verderers), stockmen (agisters), and land users (commoners). Contrary to belief, the New Forest ponies which roam the woodland freely are not wild, but in fact they are all owned by the commoners.

The Rufus Stone is the location where King William "Rufus" II was slain with an arrow.

The Beaulieu Motor Museum is home of Bluebird, the car driven by Donald Campbell that broke the land speed record in 1964.

Answer: Cheviot Hills

The Cheviots is a range of hills in Northumberland which provide a natural border between England and Scotland. A favourite for walkers and horse riders, the hills are alive with the sound of...bleating feral goats descended from the Neolithic period, roaming wild through the gentle windswept heather moorland.

The Northumberland National Park is full of tranquility during the summer months, but with harsh and often brutal landscapes during the winter. You will find sections of Hadrian's Wall (shown in the image), and or course Kielder Forest (England's largest forest) and Kielder Lake (Europe's largest man-made lake) within the park.

Answer: Roseberry Topping

The North York Moors is a National Park in North Yorkshire. It has rugged heather moorland and a North Sea coastline which includes the fishing ports of Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay. Land features include the 298m high soaring ridge at Sutton Bank with its 25 percent gradient road and hairpin bends. Roseberry Topping is a 320m hill with a distinctive conical shaped top. The name was taken from the Old Norse word Othenesberg (Hill of Odin) which later changed to Ouesberry, then Roseberry, and Toppinn which is an Old English word for hill.

Spotted Dick, Jam Roly Poly, and Eton Mess are all traditional British puddings.

Answer: Peak District

The Peak District is a National Park in the centre of northern Britain and lies within several counties including Derbyshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Yorkshire. Popular tourist destinations include Alton Towers theme park, Chatsworth House, stately home to the Duke of Devonshire since 1549, and the Crich Tramway Village and Museum.

Stanage Edge is a four mile long gritstone escarpment popular with climbers, walkers and paragliders. Dovedale (shown in the image) is a beauty spot which follows the River Dove through a picturesque limestone ravine. Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, initially built as a settlement by the Romans called Aquae Arnemetiae (spa of the goddess of the grove).

Answer: Pembrokeshire Coast

The Mumbles, Anglesey and Holyhead, and the Welsh Marches are all scenic places in Wales, but it is the 420km long Pembrokeshire Coast which has been designated a National Park. With rugged cliffs and sandy beaches, it is a haven for wildlife and rare species. Choughs and gannets have made their home along the cliffs, and porpoise, dolphins and basking sharks can be seen swimming in the waters off the coastline.

The area is also known for its clean sandy beaches which include St Bride's Bay, Whitesands Bay and Cardigan Bay.

Answer: Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri

Snowdonia is the largest National Park in Wales and situated to the north-west of the country. The Snowdonia National Park Authority is one part of a working group which is committed to promoting the Welsh language. The beautiful sing-song language of the Welsh is one of the oldest languages in Europe, and old traditions and customs of the Welsh people are still being kept alive today through its environmental sector. The Welsh call Snowdonia 'Eryri' which means 'highlands', and the 1085m high Mount Snowdon is called 'Yr Wyddfa' which means 'great tomb'. Legend says that the ancient Welsh King Rhita Gawr was slain on top of the mountain by the English King Arthur.

Stadiwm y Mileniwm is the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Rheilffordd Ffestiniog is the Ffestiniog Railway in Snowdonia, and Ynys Mon is Anglesey Island.

Answer: Seven Sisters

The South Downs National Park lies between Winchester and Eastbourne in the south of England. It features rolling green hills, woodland and market towns including Petersfield, Midhurst and Lewes. The most famous land feature within the park are the white chalk cliffs along the south coast including the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head.

The Seven Sisters headland was created when ancient rivers cut swathes into the chalk cliffs, creating seven peaks and their valleys in between. Even today, the chalk cliffs are eroding back approximately one metre a year.

The highest peak in the Seven Sisters is the 77m high Haven Brow.

Answer: Aysgarth Falls

The Yorkshire Dales National Park has been a popular place for featuring in British television and film. Some of these have included "Emmerdale", "Last of the Summer Wine", "Heartbeat", "Brideshead Revisted", "The Railway Children" and "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone". With flower rich meadows interspersed with dry-stone walling, the Dales is full of beauty and brimming with history. Ancient woodlands with bubbling streams only add to the character of the land.

The main rivers which flow through the park are the Swale, the Ure, the Wharfe, the Aire, the Ribble and the Lune. Aysgarth Falls featured in the 1991 film "Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves", where Robin (Kevin Costner) fought against Little John (Nick Brimble).