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Mail reveals Britain's top 20 natural wonders as part of our special series

They include Loch Awe in Scotland and Henrhyd Falls in Powys, Wales

Our guide helps you make the most of your summer holiday in the UK

All this week the Mail is revealing 100 Glories of Secret Britain: the wonderful sights across the country too few of us know about or visit. Use them to make the most of your summer holiday.

Today, for the fourth part of our collection of Britain's lesser-known gems, JO TWEEDY selects 20 stunning wonders of nature...

LOCH AWE (ARGYLL AND BUTE, WEST SCOTLAND)

A certain mythical monster might ensure that Loch Ness steals the lion's share of tourists, but Scotland's myriad lakes - glassy expanses of water in undulating landscapes - are almost all worth viewing.

Loch Awe does what it says on the tin; a vision of emerald that laps at the gentle woodland on its edges. Stretching almost 15½ sq miles, it is Scotland's third-largest freshwater loch.

Several ruined castles sit atop tiny islands on it, but Loch Awe's party piece lies on its northern shores, in the shape of eerie-looking 15th-century Kilchurn Castle. It's accessible by boat in the summer, so you can stride up to the ruined castle's fourth floor for a spectacular view.

WHERE TO EAT: Staging post Taynuilt Hotel lays on an Argyll-themed tasting menu (01866 822437, taynuilthotel.co.uk).

WHERE TO STAY: Hazel Cottage, 275 yards from the Loch Awe shore, sleeps eight and costs from around £500 per week (07790 104 073, holiday-rentals.co.uk).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Walk in the shoes of those incarcerated during the 19th century at historic Inveraray Jail (01499 302 381

HENDRHYD FALLS (POWYS, WALES)

Creeping gingerly behind a waterfall, while it cascades like melted glass before you, is certainly one way to add a little zing to a day out.

Soaring more than 90 ft in a deeply wooded gorge in the Swansea Valley is Henrhyd Falls, an unbroken flow of sparkling water that has a tantalising strip of rock behind it that enables the curious to get in behind the roar.

The highest fall in the Brecon Beacons, Henrhyd's thunder can be heard some way downstream, particularly if the heavens have just opened.

The falls lie just a few hundred yards' walk from a National Trust car park near Coelbren; although be warned, the wooden bridge and staircase used to access them can be slippy.

In winter, it does a good impression of a scene from Disney's film Frozen, with the falls freezing to an icy curtain if temperatures plummet below zero. GPS coordinates: 51.797510, -3.663180.

WHERE TO EAT: Hearty portions of Welsh food are the order of the day at the Abercrave Inn in Abercraf (01639 731 002, abercraveinn.co.uk).

WHERE TO STAY: Nearby Nant Ddu Lodge has one-night room and spa deals from £105 per person (01685 379 111, nant-ddu-lodge.co.uk).

WHAT'S NEARBY? This is waterfall country, so get your fill of these spray-soaked Welsh showpieces, including the spectacular Sgwd Y Eira on the River Hepste (visitwales.com).

There's a tree-laden corner on the Hampshire/Wiltshire boundary that is home to some of the rarest butterfly species in the UK.

Just south-east of Salisbury, Bentley Wood is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and home to more than 36 species, including the Duke of Burgundy, pearl-bordered fritillary and the purple emperor.

The summer months are the most rewarding time to visit as clouds of rhopalocera - to give butterflies their scientific name - zip around to keep cool.

An easy two-mile circular walk, signposted and starting from the main car park, takes 40 minutes and winds through some of the butterflies' favourite woodland spots, including the Eastern Clearing and Switchback. GPS: 51.053729, -1.634879.

WHERE TO EAT: Book a table at the Chesil Rectory in Winchester, which serves up modern British grub (01962 851 555, chesilrectory.co.uk).

WHERE TO STAY: The Hotel Du Vin chain has a stylish town house property in Winchester. Doubles from around £130 (08447 489 267, hotelduvin.com).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Catch the Magna Carta exhibition, which runs at Winchester Cathedral until September 12 (01962 857 200, winchester- cathedral.org.uk).

PORTHTOWAN TIDAL POOL (CORNWALL)

The north Cornish coast is garlanded by tidal pools; natural concaves of water adored by wild swimming fans.

At Porthtowan, the pool opens for business when the tide decides. East of the main beach, this imperfect circle of turquoise blue water is a short walk down the coastal path from Beach Road (where there's a car park), or via a makeshift path from the beach.

The pool is fringed by barnacled grey rocks on one side and a steep grey cliff face on the other.

Like an oversized bathtub, it fills quickly with crystal-clear sea water, then the Celtic Sea's wave machine kicks in, pummelling those brave enough to wade in with roaring white punches of water. Even for bystanders, it's exhilarating.

WHERE TO EAT: Brunch on baked eggs at the Blue Bar on Porthtowan Beach (01209 890 329).

WHERE TO STAY: Nearby Anemone holiday cottage offers self-catering for eight people from £564 for a week (01736 754 242, porthtowanholiday cottages.co.uk).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Surfers will love Porthtowan Beach which even has a build-your-own surfboard workshop (porthtowanbeach.com).

DUNCANSBY STACKS (CAITHNESS, SCOTLAND)

The North Atlantic has carved out some prize exhibits on the Scottish Highlands' red sandstone coastline over the past 380 million years.

Like huge snaggled teeth, Duncansby Stacks, just east of John o' Groats and accessible via a coastal path, shows erosion at its most artistic... and on a quiet day, you're more likely to encounter a puffin than you are a fellow human.

Watch as kittihawks, fulmars and razorbills swoop in and out, landing on the layered stacks, which rise up to around 200 ft. Also look out for Thirle Door, a natural arch in the rocks. GPS: 58.644066, -3.025146.

WHERE TO EAT: The highly-rated Bord de L'eau in Wick serves up a mean crepe suzette on a blustery day (01955 604 400).

WHERE TO STAY: Natural retreats, a series of colourful luxury apartments in John o' Groats, have four-bed apartments from £161 a night (01625 839 387 natural retreats.com).

WHAT'S NEARBY? The Queen Mother's beloved holiday home, the Castle of Mey, in Thurso (01847 851 473, castleofmey.org.uk).

THE BLEAN (CANTERBURY, KENT)

A woodland idyll for more than 1,000 years, The Blean acts as a perfect bucolic foil to the nearby seaside resorts of Whitstable and Herne Bay. Centuries of careful coppicing have made this the largest broad-leaf ancient woodland in England's South.

Carving through the forest are 120 miles of pathways for walkers, cyclists and horse riders but the wildlife is the biggest draw with some 30 species of butterfly in among the glades and heathland. Stroll along one of four trails highlighted on the woodland's website, which range in distance from 3½ miles to 8½ miles.

For the full sensory experience, pin back your ears; you'll hear nightingales trilling, woodpeckers drumming and willows warbling. GPS: 51.306118, 1.036193.

WHERE TO EAT: Try the seasonal menu at Rafael's Restaurant, The Goods Shed in the shadow of Canterbury West station (01227 459 153, thegoodsshed.co.uk).

WHERE TO STAY: Crescent Turner, Whitstable, Kent. This JMW Turner-themed hotel has doubles B&B from £82 a night (01227 263 506, crescentturner.co.uk).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Mingle with students and tourists aplenty in historic, Unesco-listed Canterbury, ten minutes away.

GAPING GILL (YORKSHIRE DALES)

You may have heard the name, but surprisingly few people have been to this huge chasm amid the limestone splendour of the Yorkshire Dales, the result of centuries of gentle lapping by the waters of nearby Fell Beck.

Inside this 300,000 million-year-old rock lies a huge chamber, home to a 350 ft-high subterranean waterfall and a sprawling 42-mile cave system. Book in for a 'winch-meet' where, twice a year, experienced cavers lower a metal cage laden with visitors into the abyss... or enjoy the views on a walk from nearby Clapham to the cave entrance (GPS: 54.149666, -2.382589).

WHERE TO EAT: Brookhouse Restaurant, in Clapham, has locally sourced food at decent prices (01524 251580, brookhouse-clapham.co.uk).

WHERE TO STAY: Try the grey-stoned Bridge Cottage, a tiny B&B in Clapham. Doubles from £40 (01524 251 506, bridgecottageclapham.co.uk).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Tick off smaller, but perfectly hewn, Ingleborough Cave, too. With a lattice of concrete paths inside, it's easy to explore, even with pushchairs and pets (01524 251 242 ingleboroughcave.co.uk)

LLECHWEDD SLATE CAVERNS (GWYNEDD, N. WALES)

Burrowed deep in Snowdonia's heart, Llechwedd has played an important part in the history of slate mining town Blaenau Ffestiniog, dubbed 'the town that roofed the world', such was its abundance of the grey stuff.

The particular charm of Llechwedd (01766 830 306, llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk) is that it's a natural phenomenon with a deeply ingrained social history.

Board the steepest cable railway in Britain and you'll drop 660 ft below into what was, in Victorian times, a hugely industrious workplace. The chambers, caverns and lakes are all lit up, there's a high-octane zip-wire ride, and children will adore Bounce Below, a trampoline-based underground attraction. GPS: 53.004826, -3.942353.

WHERE TO EAT: Dine on a fish-and-chip supper at local favourite Ian's Fish Restaurant in Blaenau Ffestiniog (01766 832 095).

WHERE TO STAY: The 17th-century Ty Gwyn coaching inn with rooms lies in Betws-y-Coed, just 20 minutes' drive away. Doubles with breakfast from around £40 (01690 710 383, tygwynhotel.co.uk).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Take a steam-fired trundle on the historic narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway (01766 516 024, festrail.co.uk).

BLACKMOSS POT (STONETHWAITE, CUMBRIA)

This isn't a beauty spot that asks visitors simply to stand and stare; Blackmoss Pot invites physical interaction.

Bring decent walking shoes and a wetsuit for what is essentially a trek to Langstrath Valley's very own natural spa.

An hour-long gentle hike uphill from the tiny village of Stonethwaite and Blackmoss Pot is in sight, tempting you to join the brown trout darting around in the clear waters below.

Alongside the rock-clad pool, there's also a glistening waterfall and a decent channel of water where you can enjoy a morning workout, Cumbrian-style. GPS: 54.528903, -3.155801.

WHERE TO EAT: Langstrath Country Inn in Borrowdale serves up classic pub fare (01768 777 239, thelangstrath.com).

WHERE TO STAY: A wild campsite springs up here in summer. Facilities are almost nil, but that's all part of the charm (or check into the Langstrath above for £100 a night).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Visit 50 ft-deep Stickle Tarn, a lake set in a dramatic location with lovely views of the Langdale valley. It's a relatively short (2½ mile), but steep, walk from the National Trust car park on the Great Langdale Road.

WORMS HEAD (GOWER PENINSULA, WALES)

The risk of being marooned only adds to the thrill of visiting Worms Head.

This mile-long limestone promontory, literally meaning 'dragon' in old English, lies at the westernmost point of the Gower peninsula, Wales's most beautiful sweep of coastline.

It's inaccessible and physically at its most serpent-like during high tide, but canny explorers can spend up to five hours here if they get the tide timings right (they're published daily at nciwormshead.org.uk).

Get them wrong - as Welsh wordsmith Dylan Thomas once did - and you're in for a thumb-twiddling wait while the waters recede and you can walk back to the mainland beach.

Highlights? Seals basking, razorbills and kittiwakes swooping and, of course, a staggering view of Rhossili Bay. GPS: 51.568407, -4.325964.

WHERE TO EAT: The beach hut-themed Langland Bay Brasserie is right on the beach (01792 363 699, langlandbrasserie.co.uk).

WHERE TO STAY: Worm's Head Hotel in Rhossili has lovely views of the bay, with doubles from £86 per room including breakfast (01792 390 512, wormshead.co.uk).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Make for the ever-glitzy Mumbles, at the southern end of Swansea Bay, where locals come to see and be seen (visitwales.com).

SURPRISE VIEW (PEAK DISTRICT)

With a name like Surprise View, cynics might expect to be heading for disappointment. Just 20 minutes from Sheffield, however, Surprise View offers up delightful scenic rewards for minimum effort.

Stand atop the highest point between Hathersage and Grindleford and you'll find heather-topped moorland laid out as far as the eye can see . . . then unexpectedly, a steep drop down into Hope Valley, which completely alters the landscape in seconds.

If you have a few hours, start on Hathersage Moor, where the heather blooms brightest in late summer, and wander through rocky outcrops such as Owler Tor, Higger Tor and Burbage Edge. GPS: 53.317866, -1.623074.

WHERE TO EAT: The Fox House in Hathersage is perfectly placed for hungry walkers (01433 630 374, search on vintageinn.co.uk).

WHERE TO STAY: Book a double room at walkers retreat the George Hotel in Hathersage from around £195 a night (01433 650 436 george-hotel.net).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Head south to Chatsworth House, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and Derbyshire's most famous country pile (01246, 565 300, chatsworth.org).

NORFOLK LAVENDER FIELDS (HEACHAM, NORTH NORFOLK)

Norfolk's fertile earth has long-since nursed every variety of lavender, and around Caley Mill in the north of the county, growers have cultivated them into vast carpets of flowers.

Visit in summer and breathe in the heady aroma. Enhancing the flora-fest is a farm shop, tea room, animal farm and guided tour.

WHERE TO EAT: Splash out on Michelin-starred food at country-house hotel Morston Hall, near Blakeney (01524 251 242, morstonhall.com).

WHERE TO STAY: Families going en masse will love Long Meadow, a roomy, self-catering barn near Barsham. Prices from £750 for a weekend in low season (01328 821 744, barshambarns.co.uk).

WHAT'S NEAR BY?: Pristine Holkham Beach, which stretches for four miles (visitnorthnorfolk,com)

A natural attraction which has mysticism galore flowing through its crystal clear waters.

At the foot of the North Downs in Surrey, tree-lined Silent Pool boasts near-transparent waters thanks to the network of filtering springs that flow into it.

Just four miles east of Guildford, it is a place steeped in folklore, thanks to the likes of 19th-century writer Martin Tupper, who created an entire drama around it using real characters of the period.

Silent Pool was also the scene of a Twenties marital drama, when a young Agatha Christie went missing for a week amid fears she had drowned here after her husband left her for another woman.

WHERE TO EAT: Continue the folklore theme - and eat lunch - at the Stephen Langton pub in Dorking, named after one of the characters in Tupper's tale (01306 730 775, stephenlangton.pub).

WHERE TO STAY: The swish 72-room Mandolay Hotel puts you in the heart of Guildford's historic town centre, doubles from around £130 per night (01483 303 030, guildford.com).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Visit National Trust property Polesden Lacey, near Dorking, once host to some of high society's most raucous parties.

THE GREY MARE'S TAIL (DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY)

The 'tail' in this beauty spot, situated north-east of Moffat, is actually a wonderful example of a hanging valley, with multiple chutes of water gushing at different levels. Gallons gallop down a near-300 ft drop from Loch Skeen into the Moffat Water Valley.

Scramble up the occasionally perilous White Coomb (2,694 ft), the highest peak in Dumfriesshire, for the most spectacular views of the white torrent and the untouched surrounding landscape.

Or, if you're feeling a little less adventurous, just park up at the National Trust car park off the A708 and enjoy the ten-minute wander to the marked viewing point.

WHERE TO EAT: Enjoy an afternoon tea at Brodies on Holm Street in Moffat (01683 222 870, brodiesofmoffat.co.uk).

WHERE TO STAY: Rooms at the cosy Buccleuch Hotel from £84 (01683 220 003, buccleucharmshotel,com).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Get inky fingers at Robert Smail's printing works, a living museum on Innerleithen High Street (01896 830 206, nts.org.uk).

WENLOCK EDGE (SHROPSHIRE)

Immortalised in poet A.E. Housman's A Shropshire Lad, Wenlock Edge is an awe-inspiring 16-mile escarpment and one of the most fossil-rich places in Britain.

What was a coral reef millions of years ago is now a thick band of limestone, stretching between the Shropshire towns of Ironbridge and Craven Arms, with a mixture of flowering grassland (look out for orchids and wild thyme) and ancient woodland.

Walk along the footpaths and bridleways and you'll see old quarries and limestone works, and pass through pretty villages. Don't miss the 'Major's Leap', where a Cavalier, pursued by Roundheads during the Civil War, plunged off a cliff to evade capture. His horse died, but he fell into an apple tree and survived - his ghost is said to haunt Wenlock Edge to this day! GPS: 52.500681, -2.666612.

WHERE TO EAT: The Crown Inn at Clunton, a few miles from Craven Arms, a charming country pub renowned for its excellent food (01588 660 265, crowninnclunton.co.uk).

WHERE TO STAY: The Raven Hotel in Much Wenlock is a former 17th-century coaching inn. Some rooms are in the main building, others are in converted medieval barns and an old Victorian forge. B&B from £120 (01952 727 251, ravenhotel.com).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Ironbridge is famous as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and home to no fewer than ten museums. The highlight is the Iron Bridge and Tollhouse, the world's first cast iron bridge, built by Abraham Darby in 1779 (01952 433 424, ironbridge.org.uk).

At Guernsey's most westerly point, tranquil Lihou is a small tidal island where reed beds, shingle banks and the wildlife around them thrive in their out-on-a-limb spot.

Alongside beds of ormers, a Channel Island seafood delicacy, it's a haven for nesting seabirds, including gulls and waders.

Pad over alabaster sands and dabble your feet in see-through water that's more akin to the Caribbean than the UK.

Like the aforementioned Worms Head, visitors need to keep an eye on the tide (gov.gg/lihouisland) though, the half mile-long causeway link to Lihou is only accessible for two weeks of every month . . . and a fortnight is way too long to stay.

Don't miss the ruins of the 12th- century priory, either (GPS: 49.461479, -2.667837).

WHERE TO EAT: Head inland for the best of Guernsey produce at Mint Brasserie. Booking is essential (01481 266 556, mint.ggb).

WHERE TO STAY: Chic and minimalist La Fregate, in St Peter Port, overlooks the marina and has doubles from £150 (01481 724 624, lafregatehotel.com).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Hop over to neighbouring Herm, where cars are banned and gentle charm, rocky inlets and soft white sands are the order of the day (herm-island.com).

THE DARK HEDGES (NEAR ARMOY, NORTHERN IRELAND)

Hit television series Game of Thrones saw one of Northern Ireland's most loved landmarks, the Dark Hedges, introduced to a whole new audience when they featured in the second series.

Planted in the 18th century by the Strait family, the 'hedges' are actually a parade of serpentine beech trees initially intended to impress visitors to nearby Georgian mansion Gracehill House.

Over three centuries, the gnarled branches on either side of the road have become loosely entwined in the middle, which, when the light pours through, serves as a photographer's dream.

WHERE TO EAT: Food critics' favourite Harry's Shack, on the wind-lashed northern coast at Portstewart, is the place for Northern Irish seaside food (028 7083 1783, facebook.com/HarrysShack)

WHERE TO STAY: Stay in a 19th century baronial-style house on the north Antrim coast; Magherintemple Lodge sleeps four; from £231 for a weekend (+353 1670 4733, irishlandmark.com)

WHAT'S NEARBY? Visit Northern Ireland's tourism big-hitter - the spectacular basalt columns of Giant's Causeway (028 2073 1855, national-trust.org.uk).

DEVIL'S DYKE (WEST SUSSEX)

Painter John Constable described the outlook from Devil's Dyke as 'the grandest view in the world' and this once-major tourist attraction deserves to be rediscovered.

Nearly a mile long and 328 ft deep, this is the longest, deepest and widest dry valley in the UK, yet just five miles from the hustle and bustle of Brighton.

In the 19th century the area was a big tourist destination - on one day in 1883, 30,000 people descended on Devil's Dyke, which then had a fairground, bandstands, a cable car across the valley, and a narrow-gauge funicular. Today it's a tranquil place for leisurely picnics and walking; some of the walks take in sections of the long-distance South Downs Way.

There is plenty of history here too, with the ramparts of an Iron Age hill fort, and the remains of the Victorian funfair. GPS: 50.878962, -0.216434.

WHERE TO EAT: Busby & Wilds, a popular neighbourhood pub in Brighton, serves fresh, locally-sourced food and beers from all over the world, and is both child- and dog-friendly (01273 696 135, busbyandwilds.co.uk).

WHERE TO STAY: The Granville in Brighton is a boutique hotel with 24 rooms, situated on the seafront opposite the old West Pier. Doubles from £79 (01273 326 302, granvillehotel.co.uk).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Get a taste of royal opulence with a visit to the Royal Pavilion, a seaside pleasure palace built for George IV in the heart of Brighton (03000 290 900, brightonmuseums.org.uk).

The 618-acre Calf of Man, off the south-west tip of the island, is a birder's paradise.

Some 33 species of bird breed here every year, including razorbills, shags, peregrines and kittiwakes.

The rich wildlife extends into the sea, where seals, dolphins and basking sharks, particularly on Kitterland, a tiny outcrop between the island and the mainland, happily potter around in the Irish Sea.

Book ahead with local boatmen in Port St Mary, directly opposite on the mainland, to make the short crossing (01624 648 000, manxnationalheritage.im). GPS: 54.052723, -4.813963.

WHERE TO EAT: The Sound Visitor Centre in Port St Mary has 180-degree views for wildlife watching plus everything from snacks to full meals (01624 838 123, manxnationalheritage.im).

WHERE TO STAY: Go glamping in a wigwam at Knockaloe Beg farm, near Peel; £60 per night for two people (01624 844 279, knockaloebegfarm.com).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Head north-east to Laxey where the Victorian red-and-white Laxey Wheel remains the largest working water wheel in the world (01624 628 000, visitisleofman.com).

HAMSTERLEY FOREST (COUNTY DURHAM)

Celebrity botanist David Bellamy has long since championed 5,000-acre Hamsterley Forest, a canopied catwalk of the nation's best-known tree species. On three well-worn walking trails - one marked easy, the others moderate - that leave Bedburn car park, you'll follow well-signed routes that bypass giant oaks, weeping willows, alder, hazel, beech and birches.

Dawn walkers are often rewarded with sightings of roe deer, leaping salmon in the beck or adders snaking through rocks.

There are plenty of mountain bike trails, while an adventure play area will entertain younger visitors. For details, see forestry.gov.uk. GPS: 54.659863, -1.932679.

WHERE TO EAT: Enjoy tea and cake at the Hamsterley Forest Tea Rooms (01388 488 822, forestry,gov.uk).

WHERE TO STAY: Luxurious Headlam Hall, 45 minutes away, has doubles from around £116 including breakfast (01325 730 238, headlamhall.co.uk).

WHAT'S NEARBY? Strike west and visit Northumberland tourist favourite, Barnard Castle, a market town on the River Tees (visitnorthumberland.com).

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20 stunning wonders of nature from around Britain that you MUST visit

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Mail reveals Britain's top 20 natural wonders as part of our special series They include Loch Awe in Scotland and Henrhyd Falls in Powys, Wales Our guide helps you make the most of your summer holiday in the UK All this week the Mail is revealing 100 Glories of Secret Britain: the wonderful sights across the country too few of us know about or visit.

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