Getting the flavour of…

A Greek ghost village lives again

Perched in forest near the top of Corfu’s highest peak is the island’s oldest village, Old Perithia. It was abandoned in the 1960s, but has come back to life in the past 12 years, and is now utterly “spellbinding”, says Alex Sakalis in The Guardian. The revival began when a visiting couple, Mark and Saskia Hendriksen, opened a “luxurious” b&b, The Merchant’s House, in the village; since then, their success has encouraged former inhabitants to return. Now one-third of the village’s “elegant” medieval mansions have been faithfully restored, along with the church and five tavernas. It is a wonderful retreat from Corfu’s “packed and gaudy” coastal resorts (though only a 15-minute drive from the unspoilt beach of Agios Spyridon), and a great base for mountain hikes. Visit themerchantshousecorfu.com for more information.

City and country in Finland

Helsinki has many charms of its own – including fabulous art nouveau architecture, “trendy” harbourside saunas and quirky Moomin memorabilia – but what makes the Finnish capital particularly appealing is that it also offers easy access to the wilds. After a few days exploring the city, you could head to the Nuuksio National Park, a compact wilderness of forests and lakes just 45 minutes’ drive away, says Sarah Marshall in The Sunday Times. The recently opened Haltia Lake Lodge has striking upcycled furnishings (lampshades made from soup tins, and so on), five “glamping domes” with lake views, and an enticing programme of “nature-embracing” activities. On a birdwatching walk you might spot ospreys and white-tailed eagles; equally rewarding is foraging for mushrooms, with more than 200 edible varieties to discover. Where the Wild Is has a five-night trip from £2,195pp (wherethewildis.co.uk).

A bibliophile’s break in Scotland

Known as Scotland’s National Book Town since 1998, Wigtown is the Caledonian answer to Hay-on-Wye, says Jini Reddy in The Times – and an ideal destination for a “literary long weekend”. Set in “mintygreen” hills overlooking beautiful Wigtown Bay in Dumfries and Galloway, it is a pretty place that is home to an annual book festival and no fewer than 13 bookshops. Among them are The Book Shop (Scotland’s largest second-hand bookseller) and The Open Book (where you’re left in charge if you rent the Airbnb apartment overhead). There are “cheery” cafés, lovely walks all around, and intriguing sights within easy reach, including the beautiful gardens of Galloway House, and Torhouse Stone Circle – a Neolithic (or perhaps Bronze Age) site commanding panoramic views.