Iconic trees to visit in the UK: Tree-fic alternatives to the Sycamore Gap
Published Oct 5, 2023 by Sarah Woods
Iconic trees to visit in the UK: Tree-fic alternatives to the Sycamore Gap
We were devastated to hear that the UK had lost the iconic Sycamore Gap tree to a thoughtless act of vandalism.
Luckily for nature-loving tourists mourning the Sycamore Gap, there are plenty more picturesque spots to embrace natural wonders in the UK and Ireland.
In no way does it make up for the loss, but the British Isles does have other iconic trees to visit while the Sycamore tree grows back.
As well as being stunning to look at, trees are a wildlife sanctuary and great for mental wellbeing.
With Autumn finally here, it’s the perfect time to take a road trip to enjoy them in their full glory and experience the most colourful season of the year.
What happened to the Sycamore Gap tree?
Northumbria Police launched an investigation on the 27th of September 2023 after the legendary 300-year-old Sycamore Gap tree was cut down overnight.
The deliberate act of vandalism has caused outrage and despair from thousands of people while police investigate who was behind the criminal damage.
The tree stood on Hadrian’s Wall in the Northumberland National Park and was described as one of the most photographed in the country after featuring in a prominent scene in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Unfortunately, experts say it will take centuries for the Sycamore to grow back, but thankfully the British Isles is home to plenty of other beautiful and unique trees.
Trees in the British Isles
It is estimated that there are around 3 billion trees in the UK covering a wide variety of species including oak, hazel, birch and pine.
Amongst these are some trees with extraordinary qualities and history that have become legendary such as The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest and the Boscobel House English Oak in Stafford.
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest is a great alternative to visit after the loss of the Sycamore Gap because of its similar Robin Hood links, but there are multiple on the list that are just as picturesque and rife with history.
Some trees in the British Isles are amongst the oldest in the world, estimated to be thousands of years old, standing through centuries of history and time.
This includes the Fortingall Yew in Perthshire which is said to have survived the Roman and Viking invasions, and The Ankerwycke Yew in Berkshire where Henry VIII proposed to Anne Boleyn.
Here are StressFreeCarRental’s ten most iconic trees in the UK:
1. Major Oak, Sherwood Forest, England
Image Credit: Unsplash
The Major Oak is arguably the most famous oak tree in the UK, iconically the secret hiding place and shelter of the outlaw hero Robin Hood and his merry men. It is also the largest oak in Britain, thought to be around 1000 years old, with its twisted canopy spanning 28 meters.
2. The Horror Tree, Stowlangtoft, Suffolk, England
Image credit: Twitter @inner_lives
This 70ft spooky tree will make the perfect visit during the spooky season because of its terrifying face creepily reminiscent of Edvard Munch’s ‘Scream.’ Others say the beech tree is very similar to the Whomping Willow tree in Harry Potter. The only certain thing is that nature was not kind to this gaping-mouthed, ghastly-looking tree.
3. The Ankerwycke Yew, Berkshire, England
Image Credit: Wikimedia
Predicted to be 2,500 years old, this Yew is said to be the oldest tree in England and is steeped in history. Impressively, it is documented to be the tree that Henry VIII proposed to Anne Boleyn, so it is a historical and romantic spot, despite the tragic fate of Boleyn.
4. Boscobel House English Oak, Stafford, England
Image Credit: Wikimedia
King Charles II famously refuged in The Royal Oak Tree in Boscobel House, following the 1651 English Civil War battle to evade capture. The tree which stands today is the descendent of the iconic Royal Oak and is protected by iron railings installed back in 1817 because of the prestige and significance of the tree.
5. Birnham Oak, Dunkeld, Scotland
Image Credit: Wikimedia
This elderly tree is an ancient survivor from Shakespeare’s Birnam Wood, celebrated in the play Macbeth. Located on the outskirts of the Perthshire village, the tree is the final reminder of the former great forest which once rested on the banks and hillsides of the River Tay.
6. Ardmaddy Wishing Tree, Argyll, Scotland
Image Credit: Wikimedia
Long associated with magic and rituals, this very nearly dead fallen Hawthorn is located half a mile south of Ardmaddy Castle and has hundreds of coins embedded in the bark. The tree has a long history of being considered sacred, and thousands of people have surrendered their coins in exchange for wishes. However, the tree is now fenced to protect it.
7. Fortingall Yew, Perthshire, Scotland
Image Credit: Wikimedia
The ancient Fortingall Yew is said to be the oldest tree in the United Kingdom, and it is believed to be one of the oldest living things in Europe- thought to be as old as 3000 to 9000 years old. Located in an ancient church ground, it would have survived historical events such as the Roman and Viking invasions and the fight for the thirteenth-century fight for Scottish independence.
8. Charleville Castle’s King Oak Tree, Tullamore, Ireland
Image Credit: @lorraineelizab6
Stood on the grounds of Charleville Castle, this 900-year-old oak tree is thought to have a sinister past. If a branch fell off the tree, it is said that a member of the Bury family would die. In 1963, the tree was struck by lightning, and soon after the head of the family, Coronel Charles Howard-Bury, died.
9. The Hungry Tree, Dublin, Ireland
Image Credit: Wikimedia
This unique Dublin tree is in the process of swallowing a cast-iron bench in Dublin, hence the name “hungry tree.” Estimated to be about 80 years old, Dublin City Council have measures in place to protect the unique tree and bench, and it is now considered one of the capital’s heritage trees.
10. The Llangernyw Yew, Conway, Wales
Image Credit: Wikimedia
Growing in Conway, Wales, this ancient Yew is also considered one of the world’s oldest trees and is estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old, dating back to before Christianity arrived in the British Isles. The tree also has a Welsh legend intertwined with it and is associated with a spirit known as Angelystor which is said to speak a prophecy foretelling the names of parishioners destined to die.
Top American Amusement Parks Ranked
Holidaymakers have been told the best amusement parks to visit in America as millions flock to the theme park capital of the world this summer.
Holiday car rental experts at StressFreeCarRental.com have analysed the top 20 US amusement parks and ranked them based on the key ingredients that make American theme park holidays so special.
With over 400 iconic amusement parks across America it can be tricky for the millions of tourists visiting every year to choose which ones to explore.
Now, holiday experts have revealed a new comprehensive ranking of the best amusement parks across the US, based on factors such as distance from the airport, ticket prices and the total number of attractions.
With over 18 million visitors annually, it comes as little surprise that the original is still the best with Disneyland, California topping the list.
Despite not having the highest number of attractions – that award goes to Hersheypark, Pennsylvania with 75 – Disney is unmatched when it comes to catering for everyone’s needs, having by far and away the most food and drink options at 119.
Beating all the Universal parks and Florida based Disney reports in the ranking is Cedar Point, Ohio, which makes it to second place.
The self proclaimed ‘Roller Coaster Capital of the World’ ranks surprisingly high thanks to the sheer number of attractions, 72, and being the cheapest of all to visit at only $45 at peak time.
Like Hersheypark, Pennsylvania, which is the largest park on the list and boasts the most attractions, 75, Cedar Point has no hotels nearby suggesting that these parks primarily cater to American thrill seekers.
But canny tourists can enjoy these great value, highly rated theme parks if they want to explore off the beaten track and try out something new.
Florida dominates the top 20 index, with 8 amusement parks in the state making the list – including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld Orlando which both receive over four million visitors annually, despite ticket prices being over $130.
The only theme park in Tennessee to make the list was Dollywood, ranking 10th, with the second most number of water rides, affordable ticket prices and plenty of food vendors.
Three Six Flags parks are also among the top 20 – ranking 9th, 11th and 19th – in Illinois, New Jersey and California – all with high numbers of attractions despite low Instagram hashtag numbers.
Despite featuring near the bottom of the list, adrenaline junkies should head to Six Flags Magic Mountain which boasts a massive 20 roller coasters, the most of any park on the list.
John Charnock, CEO of StressFreeCarRental.com said: “Millions of tourists flock to America every year to experience some of the best amusement parks on the planet.
“With so many parks to choose from we wanted to dig deeper into what makes each of these parks special so that tourists can make sure they get to visit the right parks for their needs.
“From families with small children to hardcore thrill seekers, America’s amusement parks cater to a wide range of tastes. Our Amusement Park Index breaks down each element to show what each park has to offer.
“Focusing on categories that tourists care about, such as distance from the closest airport, number of nearby hotels and the price of a ticket at peak times gave us a comprehensive ranking of the best parks.
“It’s no surprise to see Disneyland make the top of the list, but it may be surprising to some to see lesser known parks such as Cedar Point, Knott’s Berry Farm and Dollywood make it into the top 10, beating many of the other internationally recognised Disney and Universal parks.
“Interestingly none of the amusement parks had a visitor review score of less than 4/5 confirming how many of us love having our hair blown back while riding on some of the many miles of rides America has to offer.”
To see the full comprehensive list of the top 20 amusement parks in America, please visit
Methodology
We ranked each amusement park based on the following factors, and gave each one a normalised score out of 10 for each factor, before calculating an average final score across all categories.
2019 visitor numbers
Sourced from AECOM
Instagram hashtags
The number of posts using the hashtag of each park name on Instagram, correct as of 24/02/2023.
Review Score
Each park’s overall score out of five on Tripadvisor, correct as of 24/02/2023.
Distance from the closest airport in miles
Sourced from GlobeFeed
Hotels within a 15 minute walk radius
Calculated using the number of hotels feature on Google Travel
Average cost of adult ticket at peak times
Sourced from each amusement park’s official website.
Total number of attractions
Total number of roller coasters
Total number of water rides
Total number of food & drink services
All sourced from each amusement park’s official Wikipedia page or official website.
