40-DAY WILD BRITISH ISLES, NORTH ATLANTIC & GREENLAND

Greenwich Pier on the River Thames in the London borough of Greenwich, UK, is upstream from the London Barrage, and downstream from the heart of London. The name says you are within walking distance of the historic Royal Observatory, Greenwich (now a museum), marking zero degrees longitude, where you can be photographed with one foot in the Eastern hemisphere and one foot in the Western hemisphere. View historic astronomic and navigational tools vital to Britain’s ships since 1675, railways since 1847, and the Prime Meridian since 1884. Read more about Greenwich, Great Britain

Dover, the world’s busiest ferry port, is located in the county of Kent, England, at the extreme SE corner of Britain. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, 35 km away across the Straits of Dover. Possibly best known for its lyrically famous ‘White Cliffs’, archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and leaving Britain, and this continues to this day. Read more about Dover, Great Britain

The isle of Guernsey, the second largest of the Channel Islands, lying just 12km off the coast of France, offers the visitor a mild climate, breathtaking scenery and a peaceful, unspoiled ambience. Between the wide, sandy beaches to the north and the rocky cliffs to the south are wooded valleys, marshland, and winding country lanes. Guernsey soaks up nearly 2,000 hours of sunshine annually, making it one of the sunniest places in the British Isles. Read more about Guernsey, Great Britain

Plymouth, a vibrant waterfront city packed full of attractions, is a city in Devon, England, about 310 km SW of London. Being home to nearly 250,000 people it is the second biggest city on the south coast. Plymouth grew as a major shipping port, handling imports and passengers from the Americas and the construction of battleships for the Royal Navy. Read more about Plymouth, Great Britain

Holyhead is the largest town on the island of Anglesey, off the coast of Wales, and is perhaps known best for being a busy ferry port. It is also well known for offering easy access to some of the best attractions in the country. Subsequently, visitors typically spend the whole day on day trips through Wales to see, for example, the three nearby medieval castle towns, the more distant Snowdonia National Park and the Ffestiniog Steam Railway. Read more about Holyhead, Great Britain

This capital and largest city of Ireland is situated on the mid-east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey. Dublin has more green spaces per square kilometre than any other European capital city, with 97% of city residents living within 300 meters of a park area. But Dublin’s greatest draw remains Dubliners themselves, both native-born and blown in. Read more about Dublin, Ireland

Douglas, located at the mouth of the River Douglas and a sweeping bay, is the capital and the largest town of the Isle of Man. Douglas has a number of attractions and items of interest, such as the Tower of Refuge, a small castle-like shelter built upon Conister Rock in Douglas Bay that was a sanctuary for shipwrecked sailors. From spring to early autumn, take a trip back in time to when the way of life was much slower. Read more about Douglas, Great Britain

Read more about Arran, Great Britain

‘L’-shaped Rathlin Island lies off the NW coast of Northern Ireland, just 23 km west of Scotland across the Irish Sea, and 8km north of Ireland mainland. It is part of the United Kingdom. Its population is about 100 inhabitants. Read more about Rathlin Island, Great Britain

Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, and is currently experiencing a successful tourist boom. One of the most visited cities in the UK, Belfast has plenty of attractions and is a good base from which to visit virtually anywhere else in the North. In the city centre concentrate on the glories resulting from the Industrial Revolution – grandiose architecture and magnificent Victorian pubs – and the rejuvenated area from Ann Street to Donegall Street now known as the Cathedral quarter. Read more about Belfast, Great Britain

The Orkney Islands, an archipelago of more than 70 islands, graced with temperate weather warmed by the Gulf Stream, feature some of the most dramatic coastal scenery. There are sea cliffs, some over 300m, descending to sooth white-sand beaches. Yet even more fascinating are the more than 1,000 prehistoric sites that have been found here. Read more about Orkney Islands, Great Britain

Fair Isle is a small island in northern Scotland, lying around halfway between mainland Shetland and the Orkney islands. It is famous for its bird observatory and a traditional style of knitting. The permanent bird observatory was founded in 1948, because of its importance as a bird migration watchpoint and many rare species of bird have been found here. Read more about Fair Isle, Great Britain

Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 160 km off the north coast of mainland Great Britain. Open to shipping in all weathers, it operates around-the-clock. Lerwick has strong ties with Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway, and this is reflected in the street names of the port. Read more about Lerwick, Great Britain

Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 160 km off the north coast of mainland Great Britain. Open to shipping in all weathers, it operates around-the-clock. Lerwick has strong ties with Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway, and this is reflected in the street names of the port. Read more about Lerwick, Great Britain

Noss is a small island off the east coast of the Isle of Bressay in the Scottish Shetland Islands. It lies 200km NE of the northernmost tip of Scotland, and 200km W of Norway, in the North Sea. Uninhabited, the Isle of Noss has been run as a sheep farm since 1900. Read more about Isle of Noss, Great Britain

The Faroe Islands lie NW of Scotland midway between Iceland and Norway. They constitute a self-governing island territory of Denmark with a language and culture of their own. Due to their volcanic origin, the 18 islands are rugged and rocky. Read more about Faroe Islands, Denmark

Djupivogur, a town (pop. 400) with a history of trading since 1589, lies on the east coast of Iceland in a region of incomparable natural beauty. The nearby lagoon, the Vatnajokull icecap and a range of glacial tongues feature some of Iceland's most famous scenery. Read more about Djupivogur, Iceland

Grimsey Island, a part of Iceland, is home to one hundred humans and one million seabirds. It stands alone, seen far out on the horizon, just a blue cliff surrounded by the wide Arctic Ocean, about 40 km off the north coast of Iceland. Only five square kilometers in area, it is home to courageous fishermen and their families. Read more about Grimsey Island, Iceland

Siglufjordur (Siglufjörður) is a small fishing town situated on the shoreline of the 7 km long fjord of the same name. On both sides of the fjord snow topped mountains rise 600 – 800 m. The 2.3 km of colourful homes and buildings lie on the road that runs the periphery of the northern part of Iceland. Read more about Siglufjordur, Iceland

A majestic waterfall located in the Westfjords region, known for its wide, tiered cascade. Dynjandi is often regarded as Icelands most beautiful waterfall and is a popular stop for scenic photography and hiking. Read more about Dynjandi (Fjallfoss), Iceland

Patreksfjordur is a small fishing village in NW Iceland, with a population of around 680 persons. Spread along a shoreline of 220m, it has an artificial harbour for its the fishing fleet, and a fish processing plant. Other industries, like fish farming and services, are also increasingly important. Read more about Patreksfjordur, Iceland

Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Iceland, is the gateway to Iceland's stunning natural wonders, which range from ice fields to boiling thermal pools. The landscape on the island seems to be in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology. On the waterfront see the open-air history of shipping disasters. Read more about Reykjavik, Iceland

Heimaey is the largest island (13.4 sq.km.) in the Westman Islands or Vestmannaeyjar cluster, 7.4 km off the south coast of Iceland. The Landnáma Icelandic record states it was first settled in about 900. It is the only island in Vestmannaeyjar that is populated, with around 5000 inhabitants. Read more about Heimaey, Iceland

Qaqortoq is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. It is the most populous town in the region and the fourth largest town in the country. The oldest standing building of Qaqortoq is a black-tarred log building from 1797. Read more about Qaqortoq, Greenland

Qaqortoq is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. It is the most populous town in the region and the fourth largest town in the country. The oldest standing building of Qaqortoq is a black-tarred log building from 1797. Read more about Qaqortoq, Greenland

Read more about Qassiarsuk, Greenland

Nanortalik is Greenland's southernmost town and is located in a scenic area with some of Greenland's most picturesque fjords, small woodlands and steep mountainsides. The town's name means ‘place of polar bears’, which refers to the polar bears that occasionally pass through the town in summer, together with the pack ice from the Arctic Ocean. It is a small town where everyone knows everyone else, and visitors appreciate meeting a friendly population of hunters who live in beautiful natural surroundings. Read more about Nanortalik, Greenland

Aappilattoq is a village in the Kujalleq municipality at the southern tip of Greenland. The name means "red" (the colour red), after the red mountains rising above the settlement. Its population of 130 or so (and decreasing) lives in a small settlement spread over a 400 m square slab of rock that rises just a few metres above the water of Prince Christian Sound. Read more about Aapilattoq, Greenland

Southern Skjoldungen Fjord is located in Tunu County, south-eastern Greenland. It is surrounded by astonishing mountains, spectacular glaciers and undisturbed wildlife, a place that the native Inuit call Land of the People. The 66km L-shaped fjord that can be navigated by visiting cruise ships along the southern side of Skjoldungen island. Read more about Skjoldungen Fjord, Greenland

Tasiilaq (meaning “the place with a lake”, and known as Ammassalik until 1997) is a town (population 2,000) in SE Greenland, just 106 km below the Arctic Circle, and 760 km due west of Reykjavik in Iceland. It lies on the southeastern coast of Ammassalik Island, lying tightly against the mainland. The research station Sermilik is located 15 km northwest of Tasiilaq on the west coast of the island. Read more about Tasiilag, Greenland

Patreksfjordur is a small fishing village in NW Iceland, with a population of around 680 persons. Spread along a shoreline of 220m, it has an artificial harbour for its the fishing fleet, and a fish processing plant. Other industries, like fish farming and services, are also increasingly important. Read more about Patreksfjordur, Iceland

Grundarfjordur is a growing community on the Breidafjordur fjord in Iceland. The town is considered unusually beautiful and well-kept, and has received several awards for its neat appearance. The region also has a reputation for a unique climate and unusually beautiful surroundings, as it is situated in front of an impressive mountain range with an alpine look. Read more about Grundarfjordur, Iceland

Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Iceland, is the gateway to Iceland's stunning natural wonders, which range from ice fields to boiling thermal pools. The landscape on the island seems to be in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology. On the waterfront see the open-air history of shipping disasters. Read more about Reykjavik, Iceland