Isle of Man

Just 32 miles long and 14 miles wide, nestling in the choppy Irish Sea, the Isle of Man is named after Celtic sea god Manannán, who conjured mists to hide it from invaders. Perhaps divine intervention accounts for the surprising lack of tourists; those who do make it to this Crown Dependency, though, are rewarded with quirky nostalgia and a pick ’ n’ mix of all the best bits of Britain’s scenery.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO Watch the sun set behind the Point of Ayre Lighthouse. Built by Robert Louis Stevenson’s father, this red-and-white banded beacon is on the remote northernmost edge of the island (nlb.org.uk). Keen to get your heart rate up? Hike to the summit of Snaefell, 2,036 feet above sea level, to glimpse the ‘Six Kingdoms of Man’ – England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man and Heaven. For a more genteel journey, take the Snaefell Mountain Railway for tea, cake and panoramic views (iombusandrail.im). Or you could book a boat trip with Manx Basking Shark Watch (shown top right). From mid-may, the southern waters are one of the best places in Britain to see these gentle giants (manxbaskingsharkwatch).

WHERE TO STAY The island’s only four-star hotel, The Claremont in Douglas has airy rooms and an award-winning brasserie (B&B from £149; claremonthotel douglas.com). Alternatively, check into one of the many bed and breakfasts – Georgian Mount Auldyn House in Ramsey features four-poster beds and a five-acre woodland garden (B&B from £100; visitisleofman.com).