ISLES BETTER
Travel guide says rugged landscapes, wildlife and super seafood help make northern beauty spots a top destination
Top travel guide Lonely Planet names Highlands and Islands among top places in world to visit
The wild landscapes offer the ultimate escape TOM HALL ON HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS
THE Highlands and Islands has been named by a leading travel guide as one of the top regions in the world to visit next year.
The region’s natural beauty, wildlife and fine seafood helped earn its place in the top 10 of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2019.
The guide said that the whisky boom, which has seen a swathe of new distilleries open in the region, helped secure its place.
It said they offer “a great introduction to one of the wildest, least inhabited and most scenic parts of Europe”.
The area’s “innovative and fast-developing” accommodation sector is also highlighted.
Lonely Planet experts recommend “unmissable experiences”, including joining a nature-watching trip to discover the wealth of wildlife, from red deer, golden eagles and otters to whales, dolphins and basking sharks. They also advise readers to savour seafood at restaurants including the Kylesku Hotel, Skye’s Oyster Shed or the Scallop Shack on Lewis.
Tom Hall, Lonely Planet’s editorial director, said: “The wild landscapes of Scotland’s Highlands and islands offer the ultimate escape.
“And visiting the region’s remote areas is now easier than ever thanks to impressive developments in accommodation.
“This is a stunning area with so much to offer travellers, from its glorious natural landscape and rich history to enviable local food and drink.”
The guide highlights the range of accommodation on offer, from purpose-built campervan parking spots to designer cottages modelled on ancient buildings, which, it said, makes visiting remote areas “easier than ever”.
It also suggests experiences such as climbing Suilven in Sutherland following the repair and upgrade of its footpath.
The Highlands and islands feature fifth on the list of top regions for 2019, ahead of Gujarat in India, Manitoba in Canada and Elqui Valley in Chile. Piedmont in Italy was in first place.
Sri Lanka was named the No1 one country to visit in 2019, while Denmark’s capital Copenhagen was said to be the top city destination.