![]() Never a few moments away from a 'what's over the ridge?" moment, this Yorkshire Moors-looking playing field is dirt racing heaven. Still authentically British, this open area of heather-filled hills is where off-road enthusiasts will want to drive. Moving east from the lakes, the Astmoor region provides a completely different gameplay experience. The Ambleside boat docks at the tip of Lake Windermere in August. The Forza Horizon 4 version of the lovely pub I visited at Ambleside Pier. There, I visited a popular lakeside pub on a rather blustery August day - the very same pub that can be found in-game at the boat docks, just south of Ambleside. In fact, after playing Horizon 4 I had to visit Ambleside, so I took a little trip last summer. The narrow, village streets become home to some tight driving manoeuvres, and the various pubs, homes and hotels are thematically spot on. What's particularly inviting about this location is how true to English village life it is. The sunflower meadows player house is a useful early-game base for all your Lake District travels, or to simply fulfil a dream of owning an idyllic, countryside cottage. Another gem of the lakes, this popular holiday destination provides some twisty-turny road racing circuits in Forza Horizon 4. Head a little farther south and you'll come across the peaceful village of Ambleside. I particularly love the area around Derwent Water, with the brilliant mountain vista and the bluebells from the surrounding forest generously spreading out onto the sides of the roads." The beautiful surroundings of Derwent Water in Forza Horizon 4. In fact, any location in spring is pretty idyllic in my opinion, the dramatic stormy weather coupled with the uplifting palette from the blossoming foliage is so inviting. When I spoke with Conar Cross, associate lead concept artist at Playground Games, he had a little more to say about The Lakes in spring. However, it's certainly worth a visit in the spring season too, if only to catch a glimpse of The Lakes in a more natural light. The frozen expanse becomes a playground for drifting, drag racing and general off-roading, and those mountains to the north aren't a bad view either. Derwent Water, a vast lake situated in the north west of the Lake District is depicted in-game and is a must visit, especially during Horizon's winter season. Its beautiful mountainous landscape is deemed to be of "Outstanding Universal Value", and the team at Playground did quite a job at showing that off. In 2017, The English Lake District was granted status as a Unesco World Heritage site. A new Forza set in a far-flung location will likely be on the horizon very soon, but before we move on, let's celebrate the stunning locations presented in Horizon 4. It's not often anywhere north of the Watford Gap is represented in video games, yet here we are, on modern tech, barrelling around Bamburgh Castle with reckless abandon. When fans were treated to a first glimpse at Horizon 4's "Historic Britain", I was inclined to agree. By the time the Forza Horizon series had powered through Southern France and Australia though, British studio Playground Games thought it might be best to do things a little differently. Need for Speed typically opted for fictional, neon-soaked cities, while the likes of Test Drive Unlimited and Forza Horizon threw players towards epic, sun-drenched road trips in Oahu and Colorado. When considering ideal locations for open world racers, I'm not sure Britain would top many lists.
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