The World From Above

This journey begins on the Severn Estuary and Berkeley Castle, where a king was brutally murdered in 1327. Further up the River Severn is the city of Gloucester and its glorious cathedral, built over centuries in different Gothic styles. Ten miles to the northeast is the magnificent Sudeley Castle and the burial place of Henry VIII's last wife.

This journey begins at the Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra guarding the entrance to Guanabara Bay. On the north side of the bay is Niteroi and a futuristic art museum, designed by one of Brazil's greatest architects. More than 130 islands dot the inner bay and Paqueta is one of the most popular, home to 4,000 people.

This journey begins at Epping Forest, once a royal hunting ground. From there we travel northeast and explore several beautiful houses, including the Tudor gatehouse at Layer Marney Tower. Heading into East Anglia we discover the medieval towns of Long Melford and Lavenham, made rich with the wool trade.

This journey across four Italian lakes begins at Lake Garda and the peninsula town of Sirmione, with its ancient castle and Roman remains. We then head north to the magnificent hilltop fortress at Beseno before crossing the mountains and flying down Lake Garda to the extraordinary Villa Vittoriale.

This journey begins at Chorin Abbey, one of the finest examples of the Brick Gothic style in northern Germany. We then head for the coast and its seaside resorts before exploring Peenmunde and its wartime role in rocket development. Further north is Rugen Island and Cape Arkona, with its dramatic white cliffs and historic lighthouses.

We begin at Stellenbosch in the heart of the Cape Wineland district. From here we explore several vineyards before heading south to the coast and Hermanus, one of the best places to see right whales during the mating season. At L'Agulhas we find the southernmost point of the African peninsula. Along the coast at Pinnacle Point are caves, where early man once lived thousands of years ago.

This journey begins at the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, one of the top sites on the west coast of Ireland. From there we head south to the city of Limerick, famous for giving its name to humorous short poems. On the southern shore of the Shannon Estuary is Glin Castle, with a history stretching back hundreds of years.

This journey begins at the vineyards around the town of Chablis, one of the best known names in French wine. Ten miles to the east is the Chateau de Tanlay, one of the finest examples of renaissance architecture in the Burgundy region. Our journey then heads south to one of the oldest and most complete Cistercian monasteries in Europe, Fontenay Abbey, once home to over 300 monks.

This journey begins at Chimney Rock, one of Nebraska's best known natural wonders. From there we follow the North Platte River to Lake McConaughy with its sandy shores, a popular place for holiday makers. Following the river east we come to the city of North Platte and one of biggest railroad yards in the world.

We begin at Plettenberg, which lies on the Eastern Cape, and is one of the country's main resorts. We then follow the garden route and Otter Trail along the coast to Port Elizabeth, one of the country's oldest cities. One of the most dramatic sites along the coast is the Hole in a Wall, where the sea has carved a hole in a rock island. When the waves crash through, it sounds of thunder.

This journey begins at Vermont's State Capital, Montpelier, with its golden domed state house. From there we travel northwest to Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory. We then fly to Middlebury College, founded over two centuries ago in 1800. Near the little town of Ripton is the farmstead of the world renowned poet Robert Frost, who lived and wrote in it during the summer months.

This journey begins at Augusta on the Savannah River before heading northwest to the city of Athens and home to the University of Georgia. From there we head across the vast Chattahoochee National Forest before turning south towards Atlanta, the State capital of Georgia, burnt down during the Civil war and in the last century, home to Martin Luther King Jr.

This journey in central Spain begins at the historic city of Morella. From there we head west and discover Valdelinares, the highest settlement in mainland Spain. Continuing west into the mountains is the remote town of Albarracin, once a stronghold of the Moors in the 12th century. In this central area of Spain are many interesting and dramatic castles.

This journey begins in the northwest corner of the state at Lime Rock Park, one of the earliest motor racing circuits in America. From there we head south past Lake Lillanonah and the sad legend of an Indian princess. On the coast at Belle Haven is a peninsula with some of the most expensive and exclusive properties in the state.