6 Of My Favourite Views From The Top

Thoroughly inspired by the stunning photographs in Sara from Big World, Small Me's View From The Top series, I thought I'd share my own favourite views from the top with you today.

I have been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to travel to some of the world's most beautiful places, and despite being a tad terrified by heights, I am a sucker for a panoramic view over a pretty landscape or stunning city. I even think that a little fear during my climb makes the contrasting utter relief I feel once I reach my view at the top all so worth it!

Here are my top six in no particular order:

1. Pedra Da Gavea, Rio De Janeiro

For anyone that is yet to visit the city of Rio in Brazil, I urge you to make the trip at least once in your lifetime. This is one of the few cities I've visited where you can almost feel the soul and vibrancy of the place as soon as you step off the plane. My best guy mate Elliot was working in Brazil for a while, and when I came to visit he dragged me (almost literally in parts) along with his brother up the mountain of Pedra Da Gavea.

The view from the top was quite literally breathtaking.

We sat and looked out over the undulating landscape below us and marvelled at how the city seemed to nestle naturally between the mountains and amongst the trees, as if it had always been there somehow. A very special experience with two very special people.

2. The Top of the Rock, New York City

Angie evoked quite a few memories for me in her post about New York earlier this week.

Rich and I took the elevator up to the viewing platform on the 70th floor on the day that he bought my engagement ring, and this place has since become pretty special to us.

With the iconic skyscrapers of Manhattan on one side...

And the neat, green rectangle of Central Park on the other, we could have gawped at this view for hours.

3. Stanage Edge, The Peak District

I am lucky enough to call one of the most beautiful National Parks in the world home. Many a cold and windy day has been spent clambering to the top of rocks and hills with my family, with a warm thermos of tea tucked under the arm, ready to enjoy at the top with the view.

My very favourite of these is the view from Stanage Edge, where come sunshine or snow, there is always a perfect sight to behold.

It's no wonder that this landscape was the inspiration for many a love story, including Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, and that scenes from the film adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, The Other Boleyn Girl and Wuthering Heights were filmed from this very outcrop of rock.

4. The grassy mound at the Museum of Islamic Art Park, Doha

We head to my 'other home' now, and my very favourite view in the whole of the city. I remember the first time we came across this hill, and I ran up it like an excited child (having been in the desert for a few weeks at this point, I hadn't seen real green grass in far too long). Imagine then, how excited I was when I reached the top and saw the view on the other side!

When my friend Lottie came to stay from London, I brought her up here and we basked in the sun with icy drinks as we caught up on everything we'd missed of each others' lives. Perfection.

5. Duck and Waffle, London

40 floors above the city in the skyscraper Heron Tower, sits a very special restaurant which serves some of the best food in London town. But my favourite thing about it is the view you are privy to from your seat.

I brought Rich up here on his last night in the country before he left me for Doha (for the full back story to this, have a read of this post on Dream Days). We ate delicious desserts while looking out over the city. But alas, even that view wasn't enough to convince him to stay.

6. Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

Last but not least is one of my very favourite views from the top of one of my favourite buildings in one of my favourite cities and one photograph that I am incredibly proud of myself for taking.

Is this the most romantic scene you have ever laid eyes on?

What's your favourite view from the top?