Latest news with #InnerHebridean
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Part of remote Scottish isle once home to famed shark hunter goes up for sale
The former home of shark hunter Tex Geddes, who bought Soay with his wife Jeanne, is now up for sale along with much of the island The former home of Scotland's most famous shark hunter, along with much of the island he once ruled, has hit the market, offering a rare chance to own a piece of Hebridean legend. The property, which belonged to the late Tex Geddes, is now being sold by his family. The sale includes the house itself as well as around 1,500 acres of croftland, roughly 60 per cent of the island of Soay, located off the coast of Skye. Offers over £975,000 are being sought. Geddes, a colourful figure known as much for his exploits at sea as on land, bought the island in 1952 from naturalist Gavin Maxwell, with whom he had previously hunted basking sharks across the Hebrides. The pair operated a shark oil processing plant on Soay, harvesting the prized liver oil of the massive creatures. For over two centuries, these gentle giants were hunted in west coast waters for the commodity. Agents Strutt & Parker described the listing as an 'extremely rare opportunity', noting the property includes a 'large portion' of the island in one of the most dramatic settings in the western Highlands. 'The Island of Soay is located in one of the most dramatic settings in the western highlands, located in the middle of Loch Scavaig,' the listing reads. 'Lying in the shadow of the iconic Black Cuillin mountains of Skye to the north, the island also enjoys panoramic views to the mountains of Knoydart and Ardnamurchan in the east. The other Inner Hebridean islands of Eigg, Muck, Rhum and Canna also provide an interesting seascape to the west.' The house, a traditional stone and slate building set on the shore of Camus nan Gall, includes two public rooms downstairs and two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. A former meeting hall has been added to the southern gable. While the property is in need of full renovation, it sits near a cluster of buildings owned by other parties. Access to Soay is by boat from Elgol on Skye. Geddes, who died in 1998, was no ordinary islander. A former boxer, knife thrower and rum runner, he once trained at Meoble Lodge near Lochailort, a Second World War special operations base, where he met Maxwell. Their shark-hunting adventures later became the stuff of legend. In his autobiography Hebridean Sharker, Geddes recounted how they initially hunted using little more than hand harpoons: 'In retrospect some of our early hand harpoons appeared ridiculously inadequate; we might as well have tried to catch a shark with a kitchen fork.' He added: 'Should I live to be a hundred, I will never forget the sight of towing my first shark into Mallaig harbour.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Life on the island also inspired others. Island on the Edge, a memoir by Anne Cholawo, chronicles her decision to move to Soay from London, revealing the unique challenges and magic of life on the edge of civilisation. The land for sale includes a rich mix of pasture, rough grazing, woodland and eight named hill lochs. Agents say it offers outstanding potential for environmental and woodland schemes, as well as opportunities to enjoy the area's 'natural capital'. 'There is also a population of red deer on Soay which offers some stalking for sport and management purposes,' they added. Sailing enthusiasts may also find themselves drawn to the site, thanks to an 'extremely sheltered natural harbour' to the north east of the house.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Calum Beattie to return to Tiree Music Festival stage where he was 'emerging talent' six years ago
The Tiree Music Festival will take place in July across three days. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Singer songwriter Callum Beattie is set to return to the island music festival where he first made his name as 'emerging talent'. Edinburgh-born Mr Beattie will perform at the Tiree Music Festival (TMF) – six years after his first performance on the festival's platform for emerging talent, the Elevate Stage. The singer has described the location as one of his 'favourite places on Earth'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Beattie is the final headliner to be announced for this year's Inner Hebridean festival. He said: 'Tiree is one of my favourite places on earth and it's the only Scottish festival we are playing this year, before our Hydro show in November. I love it there – great music and great people.' The Elevate Stage will welcome up-and-coming talent in pop, indie, folk and trad to play across three days. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Singer songwriter Callum Beattie. Much-loved folk supergroup Mànran will also take to the Big Top on Sunday in their first visit to Tiree in six years, alongside the Scott Wood Band. Daniel Gillespie, artistic director for Tiree Music Festival, said: 'Callum Beattie is the perfect example of why it's so important to invest in and showcase home-grown talent. 'TMF is all about providing a platform for independent artists who capture the hearts and imaginations of our audiences and we know how beloved Callum is among Tiree audiences, having risen to incredible heights since his first visit to the island.' Acts already announced for TMF's 13th edition include award-winning songbird Julie Fowlis, Tiree legends Skerryvore, Celtic rockers Skipinnish, folk fusion duo The Laurettes and singer songwriter Kirsteen Harvey. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Times
01-05-2025
- Times
Scotland's coolest island — where Kate and Will are celebrating their anniversary
With its beautiful wild Fairy Pools, its behemoth of a mountain the Old Man of Storr, its distilleries and fine dining, and its crags and hikes, the Isle of Skye has become a must-visit for half the world in recent years. This summer was busier than ever, with the honeypot sites experiencing a rise in visitor numbers, up some 9 per cent on last year, and queues of camper vans cataclysmically long. According to a recent Highland Council report, an estimated 300,000 tourists will cross the Skye Bridge to the island from the mainland this year. And still there is no tourist tax in place to ease pressure on the island's infrastructure. If Edinburgh intends to start charging visitors next summer, surely Skye must follow? While the local authority still procrastinates on that (stupidly, in my opinion, as someone who lives nearby), those in the know, fed up of the crowds, are looking elsewhere. When their attention turns to alternative Inner Hebridean islands, to seek an approximation of what Skye offers — lovely artisan food spots, chic places to stay, awesome scenery — they often find that the place that best ticks the box as a worthy alternative is Mull. As the second largest island in the group after Skye, and lying to the south, Mull rivals its more famous counterpart in all regards. Creating a similarly dramatic impression, it possesses its own powerful feeling of strangeness and remoteness, especially at this time of year when the late-summer light deepens along its ferociously scooped and carved 300-mile coastline, and the 966m peak of Ben More, occluded by mist, has a vaporous magnificence. Right now the swallows are lining up to leave, twisting over dunes as white as the cotton grass that fringes them, and sea lochs are giving way to tracts of russet moorland. Across the island many stylish things continue to appear. No wonder the Prince and Princess of Wales have picked it as the place to spend their 14th wedding anniversary. I was there in July with my boyfriend, Paul, and our dog. Our first stop was the island's capital, Tobermory, where a new restaurant, An Cala Ciuin, occupies the first floor of the Mishnish Hotel. There I found the chef Ross Caithness with his face pressed up against the window, watching the fisherman Alan make his way back across the bay with a full creel. Happily, today's menu would include langoustine tartare; it tastes of everything you have ever loved about seafood, plus hits of citrus and anise, as clear and lucid as the island air (two courses £43pp; The best place to stay in town remains the landmark Western Isles Hotel (est 1883). Positioned on a cliff above Tobermory, it was the location for scenes from Powell and Pressburger's 1945 masterpiece I Know Where I'm Going! — about a young woman trapped on Mull by bad weather and falling in love — which were filmed inside a bar called the Kiloran Room. It's just been reworked by the interior designer and presenter of BBC TV show Designing The Hebrides Banjo Beale, who's from Australia but is a dedicated Mull obsessive, and it now feels like a decadent whisky snug, with walls drenched in an inky, silky blue and velvet chairs orange as the island's sea buckthorn. I adore the relaxed, kindly hotel. It's the perfect autumn destination — a radio playing somewhere, springer spaniels prone in the conservatory. Looking through its windows on a grey day, the Morvern peninsula across the Sound of Mull looks as vague as an etching, as though the very possibility of a mainland were literally receding in the mind (B&B doubles from £100; One muggy day we drove west out of Tobermory, passing 'otters crossing' signs and the occasional car with a fishing rod sticking out of its window. At a bus stop in the middle of nowhere a lone hiker sat on a heavy rucksack engrossed in a book. All the way to Calgary Bay on the northwest shore, the sky was the colour of sardines — a metallic grey seamed with pink and lapis — and we heard plovers piping in the bladderwrack of the bay's white sand. There are several lovely beaches on Mull. Laggan Sands, on the southeast coast alongside Loch Buie, by the remains of the 15th-century Moy Castle, is reached through a path of old oaks and beyond a Bronze Age stone circle. • 17 of the best hotels in Scotland The day was turning clear and hot when we got there (too hot for midges, which now, in autumn, should be gone anyway). We walked past an old lodge house on the way to Moy Castle, and outside there were three pairs of pink children's Crocs, lined up neatly in the garden beside a chalkboard marking recent wildlife spottings: wild goat, mink, porpoise, sea eagle, adder, willow warbler. Fine and soft, the sand was pearly grey, dotted with massive boulders and tiny white shells, and we were the only people on it, the dog nosing the rockpools. At the Old Post Office tearoom nearby, a small crowd of hikers and campers ate black pudding on toast (mains from £4.50; When I stepped for a moment into the austere St Kilda's Church, there was just the low murmuring wind and afternoon light coming through small windows, illuminating a Victorian frieze of New Testament verse. We drove next to stay at a gorgeous shepherd's hut at Treshnish Cottages, which has a white wooden interior that's been delicately painted freehand with a floral design by the local artist Martha Mazur. It's like sleeping inside a jewel box (one night's self-catering for two from £130; From the big orange wood-fired bathtub in the hut's garden, the islands of Coll, Canna, Rum and Skye were smudges in the lilacky distance, giving the impression that they were floating or perpetually in the process of some kind of divine descent. The road south along the coast from the shepherd's hut takes you past the Gribun rocks — sea stacks, fissures and cliffs made of metamorphosed sandstone, jagged into by glaciers 100 million years ago. Later, when I was walking past, they appeared so glowering and dreadful that when I saw that a little wooden boat pulled up on the shore was named 'Rumpus' I just laughed at its nerve. There is a small catch to visiting Mull, or perhaps it's a benefit, as it keeps crowds at bay for now. Due to ageing vessels and cancellations, the intermittent unpredictability of the 40-minute CalMac ferry service there from Oban, where I live, can make arrangements tricky. A modernised fleet is promised by 2026, but in the meantime it's worth persisting. Once there, life is easy. Your only delays are likely to be caused by temptation. You can't drive two minutes in any direction along Mull's single-tracked roads without seeing a homemade 'for sale' sign. Eggs, jam, watercolours — everybody's making something, and many of the pop-up stalls and honesty boxes offer shop-grade produce. The new Isle of Mull Candles at Pennyghael has hand-poured candles so aromatic you scarcely need to light them (@isleofmullcandles); the Piece Box, a micro-bakery and takeaway in the village of Dervaig, sells crab flatbreads with chilli butter and, for the next couple of weeks in the season, pastries made with the last of Dervaig's rhubarb ( Nothing about any of these enterprises on the island feels remotely generic. The shepherd's hut comes with a wood-fired bathtub in the garden TRESHNISH HOLIDAY COTTAGES COPYRIGHT 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED My boyfriend — raised in Oban — used to spend his summers as a young teenager helping on a farm on Mull, readying the sheep for sale with two old farmers. One time we were walking up a road on the island and he suddenly pointed to a field and said: 'That's where I stood and wished I was one year older.' A year older and he could leave school and feel as free as this all the time. I could see that for Paul the memory, this elation of being on Mull, had real intensity. I thought of it when we stopped into Ardalanish Weavers on the southwest coast. It produces handsome tweed blankets on a loom powered by wind and solar and then dyed with plants from the island: nettle and woad, ragwort and daffodil. Its Sea Pinks shawl, dyed with madder root and camomile, ought to be on everyone's Christmas list ( • 11 of the best Scottish islands to visit We walked towards Ardalanish Beach below, where out to sea, beyond pink granite boulders and pink-silver sand, lay the isle of Colonsay. The Paps of Jura lie further south, and to the east the Slate Islands of Luing and Scarba. Behind us was a near-empty campsite in a large meadow full of buttercups and red clover (pitches £15 a night; Pulling slowly up past us came a car with a dad and three daughters inside, the youngest kicking the door open with her bare feet and doing a series of cartwheels directly from the back seat onto the flowers: pure joy. As her sisters dragged the tent from the boot to a good pitch, their father rested his head back on his seat, and closed his eyes. Whichever ferry they had caught, it was the right one. Antonia Quirke travelled independently. Return ferries from Oban cost from £49 for two people with a car ( This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Where else to stay and eat on Mull Craigaig Bothy, Ulva Craigaig Bothy is fantastically off-grid ALEX MACLEOD Another fabulous place to stay requires a shorter, more reliable ferry hop from Mull to the community-owned Isle of Ulva, population 16. Here, after a two-mile hike — or a paddle round the coast in a kayak — you'll find the most fantastic off-grid stone bothy to rent, its old stone interior softly remodelled by Banjo Beale, with croft beds, and a front door painted yellow as a flame so it might be seen through any storm. Details Where to eat Croft 3 Croft 3 on the west coast serves exceptional food in an uplifting building like a Nordic chapel. No wonder it recently won an architectural award. Order the gorse flower negroni, and focaccia with haggis (mains from £8; Mull Bread Box At Ballygown, the Mull Bread Box does a sourdough loaf that's meltingly light rather than the usual chewy chore (from £5; @mullbreadbox). The Glass Barn Just outside Tobermory, the Glass Barn café uses its own Isle of Mull cheese in its dishes, served in a conservatory slung with vines. It also sells a delicious powerful spirit made from whey and steeped in botanicals, called Elixir of Sage, with a sweet undertow of eucalyptus (mains from £8.50;
Telegraph
23-04-2025
- Telegraph
Why you should follow Kate and William to the Scottish island of Mull
It's no surprise that the Prince and Princess of Wales chose to spend their 14th wedding anniversary in Scotland. They met at university in St Andrews – the town named after the county's patron saint – and their burning love of Scotland is clear; a passion that runs deep in British Royal blood. So deep that in Scotland we've even bestowed William and Catherine their own distinct title: the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. But why Mull? Again the heritage surges strong as the Royal Family spent many a happy summer cruising the mesmerising Hebrides on the Royal Yacht Britannia. When Britannia was retired in 1997 the late Queen Elizabeth chartered Scotland's finest luxury heritage cruise ship, the Hebridean Princess, to continue the Hebridean adventures in 2006 and again in 2010. Scotland's fourth largest island is a less showy – and less campervan-infested – Skye, a large Inner Hebridean isle more than double the size of the Isle of Wight, but with just a fraction of the population. There are only 3,000 human inhabitants. Much of this deeply dramatic island remains gloriously wild. Here on the edge of the Atlantic vastness, man plays demonstrably second fiddle to nature, but enjoys her bounty with fine produce and epic wildlife viewing. I've travelled all over Mull over three decades and it's an isle – if you choose to follow in the Royal footsteps – where you will encounter infinite richness, whether you hike Scotland's toughest island route across its roughest terrain, or tackle the only island Munro outside Skye, head out in search of encounters with our marine mammal cousins, or just enjoy the artisan shops of Tobermory. And then there's the famous whisky, Caribbean-esque beaches that dazzle in the sun and spirit-soaring sunsets to melt a monarch's heart. Here are five reasons that you too should choose Mull: 1. Scenery fit for a Hollywood movie Mull is the Scotland of Hollywood movies: hulking Highland massifs soar like leviathans from the Atlantic, nature only pausing her ruggedness to sprinkle white sands along stretches of the coast that Skye can only dream of. There are rich and vibrant ancient woodlands too, which made it into a Royal itinerary strong on appreciation both of the natural world and our place alongside it. Whether it's your first or 50th time on Mull, count on losing whole tracts of time just standing around staring in awe. If you do just want to take stock and drink in the views, stay at the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa and enjoy the grandeur from an outdoor hot tub. 2. World-class wildlife Home to four of Scotland's Big Five (Arran remains the only isle with the lot, as it has red squirrels too), Mull is a David Attenborough documentary playing in high definition all around you. I've even seen otters as I arrived on the ferry and too many eagles – both golden eagles and sea eagles – to count; the same goes for red deer on an island where they easily outnumber people. Nature Scotland runs excellent guided wildlife tours. Mull is also Scotland's cetacean fulcrum. Sea Life Mull pioneered whale watching in the UK as far back as 1982. On your boat trip you can encounter everything from porpoises and all manner of dolphin, through to minke and humpback whales; even orcas patrol these nutrient-rich waters. 3. A treasure trove of bountiful produce Skye boasts fancy Michelin restaurants; Mull is content to offer up great value, immaculately sourced local produce served with no fuss. Seafood that makes Brittany seem second rate is the star. One of my favourite foodie memories anywhere is cooking up a massive £6 sack of mussels fresh from Loch Spelve at Tobermory Youth Hostel for a dozen good pals. At the aforementioned Isle of Mull Hotel, tuck into boat-fresh king scallops followed by equally fresh white fish. Restaurants like Café Fish are on first-name terms with their suppliers – you won't forget gorging on a seafood platter as the gulls swoop above and the Atlantic salt fills the air. Just along the road Mishdish at the Mishnish dishes up superb seafood too, with the eponymous pub a shock if you've never heard two bands play simultaneously in the same venue. Legendary, deservedly so. As is Tobermory Distillery, which conjures up delicious sweet and peaty single malt whiskies; excellent gin too. 4. Outdoor adventure Mull offers myriad adventures. The well-equipped and experienced can tackle mighty Ben More, at 3,852ft (1,174m) the only island Munro outside Skye. My favourite hill is Dun da Ghaoithe, which towers 2,513ft (766m) over the ferry port of Craignure and is still a fair old challenge you must be prepared for. You can see swathes of isles and Ben Nevis from here on a decent day. I once spent a week tackling the Mull section of the seriously rough Stevenson Way wilderness hike, if you crave a serious challenge. In the water there is surfing, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding and sea kayaking. Superb wild swimming spots abound too, though on straight-talking Mull they just call it swimming. 5. The bonniest village in the Hebrides Tobermory trumps Skye again – and arguably any other of Scotland's nigh 100 inhabited islands – for the honour of the prettiest island village. Tobermory is a pastel-hued beauty that strides from postcards looking like it has been touched up by AI. This was the memorable setting for children's BBC television series Balamory, which is currently slated for a reboot. Ease along the waterfront nosing into the wee shops and cafes. If you get hungry, a trailer by the pier serves king scallop suppers. It's worth getting up for sunrise and planning to linger here for sunset too; this is when you'll get the best photos of the sun glinting off Tobermory's shortbread tin-pretty main street.
Telegraph
14-04-2025
- Telegraph
10 European paradise islands you probably haven't heard of
There are few stresses in modern life that can't be soothed by the feeling of soft sand underfoot and the sound of waves breaking gently on a shore. Across Europe, there are spectacularly beautiful islands that seem a world apart from emails, meetings and deadlines. The problem, though, in many cases – you could call it 'trouble in paradise' – is that the cat's well out of the bag, with the likes of Santorini, Mykonos and Capri buckling under the weight of over-tourism, often angering locals, putting pressure on infrastructure, and creating a less-than-idyllic atmosphere for shoulder-to-shoulder tourists. But dig a little deeper and there are little-known islands where mass tourism hasn't yet taken over, places where you can take in a sunset without selfie-sticks obscuring the view, explore a village without barging your way through crowds, and easily find a spot to put your towel down on a wide-open stretch of sand. Here are 10 European paradise islands you probably haven't heard of, along with packages to book for 2025. 1. Alonissos, Greece Up in the north of the Sporades archipelago, far from the hubbub of Mykonos, Zante and Santorini, pristine Alonnisos is proof that a little extra time and effort pays off. The hidden gem is covered with fragrant pine forests, olive groves and wildflowers, with charming towns and villages, including hilltop Chora (the old capital), and pebble beaches. The island is surrounded by the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades, home to turtles, dolphins and the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. There are opportunities for hiking, kayaking, snorkelling and scuba diving, where highlights include a shipwreck from around 425 BC. Olympic Holidays ( offer seven nights on Alonnisos from £1,090pp all-inclusive, including return flights from Stansted to Skiathos, ferries and ground transfers. 2. El Hierro, Spain You'll have heard of Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. But few people know about El Hierro, the smallest and least visited of the Canary Islands. This underrated island was once considered the edge of the known world. Now a peaceful Unesco Biosphere Reserve, it's great for mountain biking, paragliding and surfing, with hiking trails taking in lunar-like landscapes, woodland, natural swimming pools, and picturesque fishing villages. The basalt coastline features jagged cliffs, caves, arches, secluded coves and uncrowded beaches. El Hierro is also popular among divers, with chances to see turtles, angel sharks and seahorses. Headwater ( offers seven nights on El Hierro from £1,639pp half board, including return flights from Gatwick to Tenerife, transfers, ferries and car hire. 3. Coll, Scotland When Skye's hotspots are overrun and even renowned Luskentyre beach on the Isle of Harris is busy with tourists, you've got to search a little harder in the Hebrides to get your hit of solitude. The tiny, fish-shaped Inner Hebridean island of Coll has outstanding stretches of creamy sand, including windswept Toraston beach, where you can watch seals lazing on wave-battered rocks, and sweeping Feall Bay. You'll find shaggy golden Highland cows across the island, with chances of spotting golden eagles and corncrakes. Far from any light pollution, Coll's also an excellent spot for stargazing. Ferries depart once a day (twice per day in July and August) from Oban for Coll, with return fares for a car and two people from £166.90 ( Coll Hotel ( has rooms from £145 per night. 4. Elba, Italy When Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to go into exile, he probably didn't have too tough a time on Elba, the largest island in what's now the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, off the west coast of Italy. The mountainous island has attractive and often quiet beaches, some golden, others pebbled and a few with eye-catching black sand. In the northern town of Portoferraio, the National Museum of Napoleonic Residences recounts the French ruler's time (1814-1815) here. The towering Volterraio Castle is also worth visiting, not least for its vantage point over the coast and the Gulf of Portoferraio. HF Holidays ( offers seven nights on its Idyllic Elba & the Southern Tuscan Coast trip, including five nights on Elba, from £1,929pp half-board, including return flights from Heathrow to Pisa, transfers and ferries. 5. Mljet, Croatia There are 79 islands and around 500 islets off Croatia's Dalmatian coast, with the likes of Hvar and Brac already oversubscribed. Tranquil Mljet, though, is still flying well under the radar. One of the greenest islands in the Adriatic, the majority falls within Mljet National Park, a protected area with emerald-coloured forests of pine and oak, saltwater lakes, and immaculate beaches with crystal-clear waters. According to legend, Odysseus Cave on Mljet's south coast is where the legendary adventurer was kept captive by a nymph for seven years after being shipwrecked – you can reach it on foot or by boat. Tui ( offers seven nights to Mljet, Dubrovnik and Islands in Croatia from £595pp half-board, including flights from Gatwick to Dubrovnik, and transfers. 6. Flores, Portugal Low-key Flores is the westernmost island in the Azores archipelago and one of Europe's most remote outposts. The green island was made for nature-lovers, birdwatchers and hikers, with lush valleys, cascading waterfalls, lakes in volcanic craters, and tucked-away beaches, such as Santa Cruz. Flores and the surrounding waters are part of a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, with dolphins and sperm, fin and blue whales regularly seen on boat tours, as well as migrating visitors, such as humpbacks. Regent Holidays ( offers a 12-day Flores Island Fly-Drive holiday from £2,340pp B&B, including return flights from Heathrow to São Miguel, domestic flights, car hire and a boat trip to nearby Corvo. 7. Kythnos, Greece On the western side of the Cyclades, Kythnos makes for a serene, authentic Greek island experience. Less than two hours by ferry from Athens, its sandy beaches, such as Kolona, Apokrousi and Kanala, are more laidback than on neighbouring islands. The interior has rolling hills and olive groves, with plenty of options for nature walks. In Chora, the main town, you can find whitewashed houses, vibrant bougainvillea, traditional cafes and family-run tavernas, many selling locally produced cheeses, olives and honey. Kythnos is also known for natural thermal springs, particularly in Loutra, which has bathhouses for visitors to enjoy the therapeutic waters. Islands Of Greece ( offers seven nights in Kythnos from £1,099pp B&B, including flights from Gatwick to Athens, transfers and ferries. 8. Oléron, France Resting off the west coast of France, Île d'Oléron is a much quieter alternative to popular Île de Ré. It's known for its calming atmosphere, natural beauty and oyster farming. Criss-crossing cycling and hiking trails connect pine forests, dunes, dramatic coastline, colourful fishing villages and other sights, including the historic citadel of Château-d'Oléron. Fantastic beaches range from the family-friendly to surfing hotspots and the wild, windswept Saumonards. SmoothRed ( offers four nights in Cognac, including one night on Oléron, from £3,090pp B&B, including return flights from Gatwick to Bordeaux, transfers, guided tours, tastings at Cognac houses, visits to local oyster farms and a meal at a two-Michelin-starred restaurant. 9. Senja, Norway The temperatures on Senja aren't a match for the Caribbean, but the island's white-sand beaches, such as the mountain-framed Ersfjordstranda and Bøvær, do a pretty good impression. Positioned between the Lofoten islands and Tromsø, Norway's second-biggest island is known for rugged landscapes, with a wild and mountainous side facing the Atlantic Ocean, sandy bays, fjords, primeval forests, lakes and high moorland. Sitting well above the Arctic Circle, Senja's considered one of the best places to see the Northern Lights (from late August onwards), while summer (May to July) brings the dreamily extended daylight hours of the Midnight Sun. Discover The World ( offers a seven-night Drive and Hike Senja holiday from £1,319pp B&B, including return flights from Heathrow to Ostrom, and car hire. 10. Vulcano, Italy Named after the Roman god of fire, Vulcano is a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, around 20 kilometres north of Sicily, and the southernmost of seven Aeolian islands. The volcanic archipelago is a Unesco World Heritage Site, and there's a whiff of sulphur in the shadow of the island's smouldering volcano and across its craggy landscapes. Travellers can hike up to the summit of La Fossa to check out the main crater and fumaroles (vents), and to take in memorable views of the surrounding islands and ocean. Around the coast, black-sand beaches, such as La Baia Negra, contrast magnificently against the blue ocean hues.
