Enjoy a dose of culture and a breath of fresh air with some art in the park with our pick of the best outdoor art venues in the UK.
Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Gloucestershire
Take the 4½-mile waymarked trail into the Forest of Dean and seek out 17 sculptures inspired by the unique heritage of this forest.
Highlights include ‘The Cathedral’ – a 15ft high stained-glass window suspended from the tree canopy (left) and ‘Iron Road’ – 20 sleepers on a former railway line carved with images of the forest.
Each sculpture has been developed and influenced by the distinctive qualities and landscape, both historically and physically, intentionally left to be reclaimed by the forest over time, naturally eroding with the weather, animals, plant growth and the footfall of the visiting public.
Keep an eye out along the way for curious deer, wild boar and other woodland wildlife that share the forest with the sculptures.
Tout Quarry Sculpture Park and Nature Reserve, Dorset
Situated on the Isle of Portland off the Dorset coast, this former quarry features a series of artworks etched into stone faces and fallen crags, creating an enchanting labyrinth of stone sculptures set above Chesil Beach and Portland Harbour.
Navigating the maze of paths, big boulders and mini valleys makes finding each artwork much like a game of hide-and-seek. There are thought to be around 60-70 sculptures in total, with new additions each year. You can also spot flora and fauna, such as the silver-studded blue butterfly. And if you fancy trying carving yourself, Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust hold summer stone carving workshops for all skill levels (www.learningstone.org)
Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh
Set over 100 acres of woodland and meadows within the grounds of the 17th Century Bonnington House, Jupiter Artland boasts an impressive permanent collection of ‘peculiar’ sculptures and visiting exhibitions for art enthusiasts and keen walkers to admire. From the entrance, visitors can spot the giant orchid ‘Love Bomb’ (top right), before finding many concrete and metal pieces that reside in between the broad leaves of trees.
Look for ‘Stone Coppice’ – where giant stones are suspended inside the limbs of trees and the stone ‘Weeping Girls’ (right).
Out in the open, huge grassy mounds with terraced slopes – called the Cells of Life – overlook giant pools of water, offering views across the rolling countryside to the Pentland hills.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Yorkshire
Set within the 500-acre, 18th Century Bretton Hall estate, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is one the of largest outdoor art spaces in the UK. Scattered among the trees and on open spaces are more than 80 sculptures featuring the work of sculptors, including Barbara Hepworth’s The Family of Man (right), Henry Moore’s huge bronzes and Damien Hirst’s The Virgin Mother. The park boasts some beautiful vistas, as well as lakeside and woodland walks with bridges, follies and interesting historical features.
Grizedale Forest, Cumbria
Rippling across the crags between Windermere and Coniston in the Lake District lies ten square miles of natural forest and woodland, laced with tracks and scattered with a series of outdoor sculptures, created by some of the leading names in contemporary art.
From giant clockwork keys attached to trees, to super-sized ferns and a giant red sandstone fox, most have been constructed from wood or stone and are gradually reclaimed by the forest.
If you’ve got a head for heights, take the trail Carron Crag, the highest point in Grizedale at 314m, offering stunning panoramic views to the Lakeland Fells, the Howgills and Morecambe Bay.
Crosby Beach, Merseyside
The sweeping sands of Crosby Beach have become the permanent home of ‘Another Place’ by the internationally acclaimed artist, Antony Gormley. Here, you’ll find 100
life-size cast iron figures, all of them staring out at the horizon where the sun meets the Irish Sea.
Each one, modelled on the artist’s own body, weighs a hefty 650 kilos. They are spread out along 3km of the foreshore, stretching almost 1km out to sea. From the shore you can enjoy views across the sea to Wirral and the North Wales hills. The beach also offers some of the finest sunsets in the UK, thanks to the opening to the Irish Sea which gives uninterrupted views as the sun seemingly melts into the ocean.
If these outdoor art venues have inspired you to get exploring, how about setting yourself the challenge of Walk1000Miles. Run by our friends at Country Walking magazine, it's a great way to get out and about in the countryside, make friends, lose weight and most of all have fun!