North Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
The scene(ry) There’s almost more nature than you can handle in the remote Claddach Valley on the island of North Uist. Forests cover great swathes of the land, Atlantic rollers crash on to miles of powdery white-sand beaches and wildlife is in-your-face. White-tailed eagles (the UK’S largest bird of prey) circle above, red deer roam, seals bask… and you might even spot an elusive otter. Natural benefits Book in for a Lady Anne boat trip, which allows you to get close to a resident pair of nesting sea eagles, other sea birds and dolphins. Salute the sun with a yoga lesson in a glass-fronted hut overlooking the beach with Judith from Yoga For Life Hebrides. Reconnect with yourself and the environment on a horse-riding lesson with
Uist Community Riding School, including a wade through the ocean shallows, and load up on your omega-3 fatty acids with a plate of freshly caught lobster (chips optional) at the seafood cafe on the pier at Kallin. Stay Treehouses at Uist Forest Retreat have elevated views of beaches, uninhabited
Vallay and the Isle of
Harris, so you’ll feel fully immersed in your surroundings. Their circular design might be based on Iron Age wheelhouses, but these secluded self-catering cabins are a bit more luxurious inside; think woodburning stoves, free-standing bathtubs with a view, fast wifi and cotton sheets. The best bit? Your payment contributes to a reforestation initiative, so you’re basically doing good even while you sleep. From £130pn (minimum stay seven nights); uistforestretreat.co.uk.