7-nt North Iceland Fjords

The Westfjords in northwest Iceland is a remote and sparsely populated peninsula of steep, tall mountains cut by dozens of fjords. The raw and untamed natural landscape around Ísafjörður is characterized by a subarctic environment. A colourful show of blooming tundra wildflowers carpets the mountain slopes and valleys during the short, cool summer. Keep your binoculars handy. Iceland's western fjords are prime whale watching waters and, if your luck's in, you may just spot a tell-tale spout of water.

Established in the mid-17th century, Akureyri is home to Iceland's largest fishing company and its biggest shipyard. Viking sagas, spectacular fjords, snow-capped mountains... Iceland's Capital of the North is also surprisingly mild and the so-called Green Town is made for those long summer days.

The bay of Vopnafjörður was first settled by Vikings in the late 9th century. Little is known about the history of Vopnafjörður after Iceland lost its independence to Norway in 1264. This is an area of truly rugged, natural beauty. Devoid of trees and carpeted in thick mosses, the landscape surrounding Vopnafjörður is typical of the extreme east coast of Iceland. Gljúfursárfoss, a graceful, cascading waterfall plunges into a very dramatic gorge. It is one of the best known waterfalls in this part of the country. A highlight of Icelandic culture and lifestyle is the Bustarfell Folk Museum. Bustarfell is a quaint group of six houses, many centuries old, constructed in the traditional Icelandic farm style. The brown wooden houses, gabled in red with grass-grown roofs, is one of the oldest and best preserved farms of its kind in Iceland.

The Orkney Archipelago, a collection of stark, treeless islands off Scotland's northern coast, is steeped in history dating back over 5,000 years.

Dover is a coastal town in England’s southeastern county of Kent. Situated on the English Channel at the mouth of a valley in the chalk uplands that form the famous white cliffs, Dover is the closest English port to the European mainland. No trip here is complete without walking alongside or atop the iconic white cliffs that have become a symbol for England. Built to repel invasions from across the English Channel, medieval Dover Castle overlooks the town and houses the extensive Secret Wartime Tunnels, and is tipped to be the largest castle in England. There is a rare Roman lighthouse here, one of only three in the world and reputedly the UK’s oldest building.