HIKE THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Scotland

The iconic landscapes of Scotland’s glorious Highlands attract more than a million visitors every year — luckily there’s plenty of room — and have long provided inspiration for filmmakers, writers, poets, photographers and playwrights. Think wild, empty expanses, craggy mountain peaks, calm lochs and low-lying mist.

Walking holidays through the region are a popular way to experience its beauty and there are tracks and trails to suit all levels of fitness. As well as adventure-seekers who have Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain, in their sights, the Highlands are ideal for history lovers with lots of castles and forts to explore. A particular highlight are the 5000-year-old Neolithic Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis.

Hit the beaches in Cornwall

England

Swimming is not the first thing that springs to mind when you think of England but on the country’s rugged southwestern tip are some really beautiful beaches where surfing is part of everyday life and the water is a gorgeous blue.

The county of Cornwall can boast more than 400 beaches on its shores that are surrounded by the English Channel and the Celtic Sea. The must-sees include St Ives, Porthcurno, Newquay, Kynance Cove (a favourite of Lord Alfred Tennyson), Gyllyngvase and Pendower.

While you’re in the area, it’s also worth checking out the Eden Project, the world’s largest indoor rainforest set inside two enormous biomes, with outdoor gardens on site. Continues p6