Ten weird and wonderful days out in the UK

<p> This folly is the tallest in the world, standing at over 250 feet. Inside its octagonal tower are 403 stairs leading to a viewing platform that affords a spectacular panorama of the town of Halifax below. The tower was originally built as a chimney for an adjacent dye works, but when the owner, a Mr John Wainhouse, sold his factory to his works manager in 1874, the latter refused to pay for the chimney, so Wainhouse kept it for himself and converted it into an observatory. Access to the tower is via the A646, and cars can be parked on Skircoat Moor Road.</p>

<p> You''ll never entirely trust your senses again after visiting the quirky interactive exhibits in this museum in Keswick. The Anti-Gravity Room will throw you off balance, you can watch water dripping upwards, and even see your own skin crawl. To preserve your sanity, explanations are on hand as to how the illusions work, and you can come away babbling about motion parallax to your friends. Keswick itself is easily reached at the convergence of the A66 and A591.</p>

<p> Alongside the A12, just north of Colchester, are five acres of verdant gardens and woodland - a fitting home for over 800 gnomes. As well as spotting gnomes engaged in conventional gnome activities such as pushing wheelbarrows or fishing, visitors can also enjoy the wildlife: ponds teeming with frogs and newts (and even some terrapins), birdlife and deer, and, in spring, a woodland floor awash with daffodils. Indoors, there's a tea room, a museum, and even the opportunity to paint your own gnome.</p>

<p> Like a tree bent by the constant onslaught of the wind, this sound sculpture is set high above the town of Burnley on Crown Point, from where you can enjoy magnificent views over the Pennines. As the wind blows over the moors, it produces eerie chords from the sculpture's steel pipes. To get there, follow the signs for Rawtenstall on the A682 and look out for the turning for Crown Point opposite The Bull pub. Then follow the signposts marked 'Tree Panopticon' up to the car park.</p>

<p> This cabinet of curiosities is the oldest purpose-built museum in Norfolk. It was established by a certain Sir Alfred Jodrell to house his collection of seashells, which he spent 60 years accumulating. On completion in 1915, Sir Alfred and his sisters arranged the shells in their cases, and the museum has remained pretty much the same ever since. Visitors can also see displays of fossils, sharks' teeth, decorated emus' eggs and even a sugar bowl used by Queen Elizabeth I. To find the museum, head north from the A148 on the Blakeney Road to the village of Glandford. The museum is off the right.</p>

<p> Chocoholics flock to this Welsh Willy Wonkas. The converted hill farm offers chocolate-making demonstrations followed by tastings and the opportunity to have a go yourself (no licking of fingers allowed). Then there's the chocolate fountain, the chocolate cinema and chocolate museum;and finally, if you haven't already indulged enough, there's the cafe, shop and delicatessen. The Chocolate Farm is located about 8 miles off the A40 from St Clears, Whitland or Narberth. Brown tourist signs point the way.</p>

<p> While Gateshead received Anthony Gormley's The Angel of the North, the same artist gave Liverpool Bay 100 cast-iron, life-size figures known collectively as Another Place. Dotted along three kilometers of the coastline, the figures (all cast from the artist's own body) are positioned staring out to sea, their feet and legs buried in the sand to varying depths. The sight of these lonely figures is particular poignant at sunset. To find Crosby Beach by car, drive five miles north of Liverpool along the A565 and keep an eye out for brown tourist sign marked, 'Antony Gormley's Another Place'. The beach is five-minute walk from the car park.</p>

<p> There are no roads in this tiny fishing village, nor even a pavement that's worthy of the name. Squeezed between the cliffs behind and the sea in front is a single row of cottages, and residents have to use wheelbarrows to navigate along the footpath instead of cars. To reach this little community, take the B9031, which runs parallel to the north Aberdeenshire coast, and look out for signs to Crovie. Visitors can leave their vehicles at the car park on top of the cliffs before walking down to the village.</p>

<p> In the village of Rolvenden on the A28 is the C.M. Booth Collection of Morgan three-wheeled cars. The earliest of these magnificent machines dates from 1909, and most of them are maintained in full working order. In fact, you may be lucky enough to see their eccentric owner taking one for a spin round the village. Other vehicles on display include a 1904 Humber tri-car, a 1936 Bampton Caravan and a gaggle of early motorcycles, bicycles and tricycles. At the front of the museum is an antiques shop, which sells all kinds of auto-related gubbins.</p>

<p> The 'Run What Ya Brung' events are among the most popular at this motor-racing track - and a great opportunity to borrow your dad'scar and push it to the limit. Other events feature drag racing, monster trucks crushing cars underwheel, extreme performance bikes, wheelie competitions and stuntfests. The track is located just to the southeast of Wellingborough, midway between the A509 and the A6.</p>