Magical British Landscapes

The colourful kingdom: Marvel at the splendid hues of our green (and pink, purple and golden) pleasant land By SABI PHAGURA Britain has been called the magical land and these pictures are a true testimony to that. Its' spellbinding beauty has inspired writers, poets and many others who have graced this colourful land. William Shakespeare even famously described Britain as 'this sceptred isle', a 'precious stone set in the silver sea'. But no words can possibly describe the awe inspiring beauty of this enchanted countryside. From the soft rolling hills of the South Downs to the forbidding mountains of the Scottish highlands, Britain is blessed with some of the most varied and magical landscapes in the world. And its utterly amazing beauty could hardly be better revealed than in the stunning snaps shown below. Taken as part of the 2020 Vision project, these landscapes reveal Britain's breathtaking scenery in all its impressive splendour. Each of the powerful images was taken as part of an initiative that saw 20 photographers spend 20 months in the field documenting 20 key habitats in Britain. So scroll down through the pictures and be prepared to have your breath taken away. Dawn Break: Sunrise over chalk downland viewed from Wilmington Hill, South Downs National Park, East Sussex Misty scenes: View over New Forest heathland Ling and Bell Heather with bracken at Fritham Cross, New Forest National Park, Hampshire A new dawn: View over New Forest lowland in mist at dawn. Vereley Hill, Burley, New Forest National Park, Hampshire Stunning vista: The sun sets on Forsinard Flows RSPB reserve in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands Mists and mellow fruitfulness: The hazy hills around Glastonbury Tor in Somerset The Assynt mountains from the summit of Cul mor in the Scottish Highlands Crowning sunlight: The clouds open at Ballynahone bog in County Derry, Northern Ireland Gentle countryside: Halnaker Windmill amid a wheat field on the South Downs National Park near Chichester, West Sussex Waves crashing over rocks at the coast the Point of Stoer in the Assynt Mountains A moorland pool in the Assynt Mountains and the Scottish Highlands Mystical: The view over Butermere in the Lake District at dusk Eye-catching: A flower-filled meadow and pool near Stac Colgach in Sutherland Dawn awakening: The start of the day at Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth Rugged beauty: The Old Man of Storr at dawn on the Isle of Skye Top of the world: The impressive view from the summit of Sgorr Tuath in the Assynt mountains Wild and wonderful: The view from Blackbeck Tarn towards Buttermere in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria Stark: The Suilven mountain viewed from near Lochinver in Sutherland A Scots pine tree stands proudly by Loch Maree in the northwest of Scotland Colourful: A rainbow lights up the sky surrounding Glen Affric in the Scottish Highlands Foreboding: Dark clouds surround the hills of the Lake District