Forget the Caribbean: the best beaches in Orkney and the Outer Hebrides
"There’s a strong case to be made for the UK’s top 10 beaches all being located in the Outer Hebrides or Orkney.In the right light, they can pose for the Caribbean or an Indian Ocean idyll (indeed, in 2009 the Thai tourist board notoriously tried to pass off an image of West Beach on Berneray as one of its own)."
So says Mark Rowe, author of our guidebooks to both destinations. These Scottish isles offer what many of us are looking for this summer: gorgeous white-sand beaches away from the crowds.
We asked Mark to choose his favourites from across the islands, so click here to view his top 20,.
The best farm shops in England Boasting yurt cafes, on-site champagne bars and nature trails, these are more than just shops: they are days out for the whole family.
Walk of the Week: exploring one of Suffolk’s finest villages This circular walk explores a landscape that has attracted football stars and Impressionist painters alike.
Stars, sands and seas: how to reconnect with nature in Britain Award-winning nature writer Brian Jackman's shares his favourite experiences in the wild in this poetic ode to the country's wildlife.
‘Remember: you cannot just walk off a mountain’ Nicola Chester got more than she bargained for on a family holiday in the Scottish wilderness, including witnessing one of life's great wildlife spectacles.
Elizabeth Gowing visits one of Albania's most brutal Communist memorials Hilary Bradt gets lost (again) in the Peruvian mountains Discover the best of July's wildlife with James Lowen
Plus the latest special MEMBERS-ONLY DISCOUNTS that will save you money! Click here to join – it's the club for people who are serious about travel.
