Spending time in the countryside can be rejuvenating and an escape from the rat race. Here are my top 5 rural places to unwind and enjoy the natural beauty….
Number 1: Switzerland
Switzerland has rolling valleys of the greenest of grass, grazed by doe-eyed cows with bells round their necks, in front of snow-capped mountains. There are even glaciers, which I was very excited about!
Number 2:Â Yellowstone, USA
Yellowstone is a vast expanse of protected National Park in the USA. If you want to hike or get away from it all, this is a good place to go! The most extraordinary thing about Yellowstone is it’s geothermal features – geysers, bubbling mud pools, and multi-coloured pools like the Grand Prismatic Spring and the Morning Glory Pool. It really is other-worldly and will make you forget all about the existence of the real world.
Number 3:Â Burgh Island, Devon, UK
Burgh Island is a special island off the coast of Devon. At high-tide it is cut off from the mainland, but a specially adapted tractor can carry you across. At low tide you can walk across the sand. It feels like somewhere out of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five, and is a good place to cut yourself off (literally!) from the rest of the UK.
Number 4:Â Finland
Finland has swathes of un-spoilt countryside, all covered with a generous blanket of snow all winter. Good for a quiet visit and hot chocolate, but if you prefer a more extreme experience there is Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowmobiling, and Dog-Sledding to keep you busy and active!
Number 5:Â Franz-Joseph Glacier, New Zealand
Our visit to Franz-Joseph Glacier definitely left an impression, but it was a rather mixed day; a challenging hike through the bush involving scaling waterfalls, followed by an enchanting stroll over the glacier itself. The glacier was amazing, and my BF said it was the best day of his life! It was certainly worth the effort getting there!
Runner Up:Â France
I will always have a place in my heart for the French countryside – it’s where I spent many a holiday while IÂ was growing up so I have fond memories for the endless sun-baked cornfields, merging with cliff walks or wide sandy beaches.
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Big Fat Tourist 
I love this post. Excellent text and wonderful photos. I leave my attention about Finland.
Well. I think that this experience is most awesome in Finland:
Reindeer race.
Open for everybody, free of charge – sounds good.
Happy and safe travels!
Thanks so much 🙂 And thank you for the recommendation – that sounds like an amazing experience! 🙂