The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
WHY I LOVE... GOTHENBURG ISLANDS
overlooking the Melfjorden, where mountains rise from the water.
A five-day Islands and Fjords of Northern Norway holiday costs from £850pp, including B&B accommodation and car hire. Departures June 14 to Aug 30. Artisan Travel (artisantravel.co.uk; 01670 785085).
19 LOVUND
BEST FOR… BIRD WATCHING
Few humans live on this mosscovered isle but it’s an avian metropolis in summer. From April, 200,000 puffins nest in the scree. Watch the couples, who mate for life, showing their mutual affection by rubbing beaks.
An 11-day Norwegian Fjords in Depth – Tromso to Bergen trip costs from £2,274pp, including meals. Flights extra. Departs May 21 2018 and May 20 2019. G Adventures (gadventures.co.uk; 0344 272 2060).
20 SMOLA
BEST FOR… OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Smola’s flatter moorland and lakes are a contrast with the mainland. Sea eagles hover above the fishing village of Veiholmen and sheltered islets lend themselves to canoe trips. Oddly, there’s a museum dedicated to the Sweden’s second city has a semi-secret offshoot – the islands scattered to its southwest. The likes of Styrso and Donso are easy to reach
– tram 11 from the centre goes to the ferry terminal – but they feel very removed from any urban context. This is slow tourism. history of marshland cultivation.
A seven-night Hidden Gems of the Northern Fjords holiday costs from £1,482pp, including flights, car hire and B&B accommodation. Sunvil (sunvil.co.uk; 020 8758 4722).
BEST FOR… FOODIES
Every June, top chefs using local produce cook off in the Sol over Gudhjem competition. At other times, dine at Michelin-starred Kadeau or have an open sandwich on rye bread at one of many smokehouses. Bornholm sits between Denmark and Poland, a 40-minute flight from Copenhagen.
A five-day Bornholm Island holiday costs from £925pp, including B&B accommodation, bike hire and flights. Departs May 1 to Sept 14. Baltic Travel Company (baltictravelcompany.com;
08456 800642).
BEST FOR… ECO TRAVELLERS
Heating plants and wind turbines make this green island 100 per cent carbon neutral, with fully renewable energy. There’s a thriving arts and culture scene; from July 23-25, Opera in Unlikely Places features arias in lighthouses and on rickshaws rolling through the countryside.
Samso Ferie seaview apartments cost from 4,500DKK/£532 per week. Samso Ferie (vesborgfyr.dk; +45
2685 8683). Ferry takes 75 minutes from Kalundborg on Zealand.
23 FUNEN
BEST FOR…CYCLING
With its fairytale castles and cobbled streets, the island where Hans Christian Andersen spent his childhood inspired many of his stories. Now Denmark’s “garden island” wants to be a destination for cyclists, with heavy investment in new trails. The lack of traffic makes this a pleasant place to be on two wheels.
An eight-day Funen – Fairytale Island holiday costs from £909pp, including B&B accommodation and bike hire. Flights extra. Freewheel Holidays (freewheelholidays. co.uk; 0800 755 5385).
24 MON
BEST FOR… STARGAZING
A lack of light pollution has earned this island International Dark Sky Park status. In daylight, the chalk cliffs and GeoCentre Mons Klint geology museum are also impressive sights.
A three-night stay at the Mons Klint Resort Lodge costs from 3,400DKK/£402. Mons Klint
Resort (moensklintresort.dk;
+45 5581 2025).
25 FANO
BEST FOR… SUNBATHING
Almost 10 miles of powdery beaches over half a mile wide offer plenty of room for towels. At low tide, seabirds and seals claim their own spots.
Doubles at Sonderho KRO, an inn built in 1722, cost from 850DKK/£100 with breakfast. Sonderho KRO (sonderhokro.dk; +45 75 16 40 09). Take a 12-minute ferry ride from Esbjerg.