What is the countryside?
The countryside is a rural area of land situated away from towns and cities.
The countryside is less populated with people spread out more, living in smaller villages or hamlets rather than built up areas like towns and cities. Life in the countryside is often quieter and more peaceful than living in the middle of a busy city.
It is also home to lots of different animals and plants which have space to grow and develop.
Watch: Explore the countryside of the UK
Learn more about the activities that can be done in the UK countryside.
Most of us live in cities and towns. But did you know most of the UK is rural or countryside?
Hi, I'm Seren and today I'm exploring the countryside around Hay-on-Wye in rural Wales.
Well there are wide, open fields, farmland, forests, hills and rivers. Let's go and have a look around.
Areas of the countryside that are as lovely as here attract tourists. Tourism is often vital. It provides wellbeing for visitors, and they spend money, which can help people living here.
People go biking, animal spotting, fishing, horse riding, canoeing and of course walking.
While some of those activities are free, visitors spend money at nearby restaurants, cafes, pubs and all kinds of shops, usually selling local goods. But for some locals, tourists can be a bit of a problem.
Large parts of the countryside are needed for agriculture, which means farming, and that can be affected by tourists. Organisations and the local government made up of employees and volunteers, work with landowners like farmers to balance tourism and agriculture.
A lot of farmers have boundaries between the land they need to use and the land we get to explore for leisure. But bring a map in case you get lost.
The further into the countryside you go, the further away you are from cities. But in places like the Pentland Hills Regional Park in Scotland, there are different kinds of settlements to be found nearby.
Surrounding the striking scenery of the Pentland Hills, you'll find these different types of settlements, which go in order from smallest to biggest.
Isolated dwellings where a single person or a very small group live together.Hamlets like Silverburn.Villages like Milton Bridge.Small towns like Penicuik.Big towns.And finally cities such as Edinburgh.
How close are you to the countryside? What kind of settlement do you live in?
Which reminds me, I need to get back to mine. But it's a long walk from here.
Countryside of the UK
Most of the UK is countryside, which means there are lots of areas to explore.
Tourism
A lot of people go to the countryside for Activities done for enjoyment when not at school or work., whether for exercising, such as walking or cycling, or visiting to soak up the culture of the area.
Take a look at the two case studies below to see why tourists visit Hay-on-Wye and The Pentland Hills.
Case Study 1 : Hay-on-Wye
Image caption, Historical Buildings
Hay-on-Wye has a number of historical landmarks to see. One of them is Hay Castle, which was built in stone in the 13th century.
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Case Study 2: The Pentland Hills
Image caption, To see different wildlife
The Pentland Hills is home to lots of different wildlife, such as otters, roe deer and badgers. Birdwatching is also very popular in the Pentland Hills.
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Activities
Quiz: Who's down at the lake?
Quiz: UK countryside
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