United Kingdom
Pictures
Hadrian's Wall, United Kingdom ©
Fast Facts
- 244,820 square kilometres, less than half the size of Kenya
- 60.6 million people, with an average life expectancy of over 78 years
- Official language is English
- 0.2% of the adult population is HIV-positive
- 17% of the population lives below the local poverty line
- 62% of Britons are internet users
- There are more mobile phones than people in the UK
- 388,008km of roads, all of them paved
Lay of the land
Ewan and Charley will be riding through Scotland and England. Scotland has highlands in the north and west, lowlands in the south and east. England is mountainous in the north and south-west, with lowland landscapes in the south. Roads are generally good, although they should watch out for speed cameras!
And on the way...
Hadrian's Wall - a stone and turf fortification built by the Romans across the width of Britain to prevent raids from the north (now Scotland). Much of it survives to this day.
Other highlights
Angel of the North, Gateshead - a 20 metre-high sculpture of an angel overlooking the A1 road, designed by Antony Gormley and erected in 1998.
Forth Road Bridge - a kilometre-long suspension bridge spanning the River Forth, and connecting Edinburgh with Fife.
The people
The regions which now make up the United Kingdom have been subject to many invasions and migrations, including Celtic, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Norman. More recently, there has been immigration from continental Europe and Britain's former colonies, particularly in South Asia and the Caribbean.
Did you know...
The United Kingdom is to host the Olympic Games in 2012.
Comments
Comments 1 - 9 of 9
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At 11:28:29 PM on 16/05/2007, J (Skelmersdale) wrote:
Mr
Inspiring - a tough first act to follow, good times indeed!
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At 08:12:35 PM on 19/05/2007, starlin (sunderland) wrote:
going down south
best of luck boys make the trip better the the last one
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At 02:28:21 AM on 27/05/2007, Alan McBride (birmingham) wrote:
safe journey
safe riding wish i was with you and look forward to seeing the bikes at the motorcycle show at the N.E.C. goodluck to you both
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At 01:16:09 AM on 29/05/2007, holly (consett) wrote:
hi
hi i wish i had known you would be near hadrians wall and i would have visited and said hello esp as i have just studied about it in my archaeology course could have taught you the history ewan youre my fave actor hope more than anything both of you have a safe journey and would nothing more than to meet you one day come to consett/newcastle soon i miss you
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At 03:00:01 PM on 03/06/2007, Katie (Hexham, Newcastle) wrote:
Have fun!
ello. I had no idea you two were doing this! I loved the long way round and the book! I wish I knew you were going past Hadrian’s Wall cos then I could have got some autographs! Well have a fun journey
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At 06:28:32 PM on 13/06/2007, Tanya Sefton (Liverpool, England) wrote:
Make sure
...That you keep this trip as memoriable AND as safe as possible! make it a good one!
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At 02:43:53 PM on 27/06/2007, Miriam (Worcestershire) wrote:
Hi
I have the Long Way Round on DVD at have watched it loads with my children...we feel like we're with you and when it ends we wish we were all still somewhere in outer Mongolia! Have a great time on your new venture, be safe and have fun. You're special guys. xx
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At 09:39:28 AM on 31/07/2007, steve rose (grantham) wrote:
go for it!
charlie and ewan will have good memories for the rest of their lives.
At 11:03:35 AM on 12/05/2007, Emma (Ashford, Kent) wrote:
Ms
Have a fab & safe trip-Wave as you head towards the Channel Tunnel!
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