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From the ramparts of this huge prehistoric hill fort, the view opens up to the Somerset Levels below - mile upon mile of fields and hedges, and twelve miles away, the isolated shape of Glastonbury Tor. Whether in golden sunlight or winter mist, this is a magical view. This may or may not be King Arthur's Camelot, but it does sometimes feel as if it's on the frontiers of another world.
Five miles north west of Yeovil
The line between the High- and Low- lands is amazingly beautiful. You look down into a river valley with massive hills on either side. Green as I've only experienced in Scotland with a train going by on the ridge. Breathtaking.
walking.visitscotland.com/walks/perthangusfife/loch-faskally-pass-killiecrankie
New breakfast brunch cafe along Park View, next to a great selection of shops and boutiques. It has great coffee and wonderful eggs benedict.
Lovely place to relax and meet friends. Open every day!
203 park view
whitley bay
NE26 3RD
Perfect for visiting Liverpool on a shoestring or going to the football.
Located in the city centre near the cathedrals and universities, there's a mixture of en-suite dorms and private twin rooms as well as useful kitchen facilities. Helpful and friendly staff can point out what to do and see and also help arrange tours of the city.
Also has serviced apartments and the only internet cafe in the city centre is next door.
On South Hunter Street just off Hardman Street. Telephone number is 0151 709 8135 whilst the webpage is www.internationalinn.co.uk
Much like the magical mystery tour but more intimate and with greater depth. Conducted by the Blue Badge-accredited Phil Hughes, you'll see all the famous Beatles sites in his eight seater mini-bus.
It's a much more personal experience plus there's the added bonus of Phil fitting round your schedule. He's got a great write up in the current Lonely Planet too.
You'll need to book with him in advance. The hostels and tourist information in Liverpool can do that for you, or you can call him yourself on 0151 228 4565.
Ty Derw is a fantastic five-star B&B set in a breathtaking valley in Snowdonia. It's both stylish and really homely, the room we stayed in had a beautiful bathroom and was spotlessly clean.
The breakfast was great and they also offer a daily dinner menu with locally sourced food and an interesting and well-priced wine list.
The couple who run Ty Derw did everything they could to make us feel welcome and at home, it was a truly relaxing and luxurious break, I'd strongly recommend it.
Ty Derw B&B
01650 531318
www.tyderw.co.uk
One of the best restaurants in the world, tucked away in the far corner of Skye. Great food in a stunning location. I was slightly concerned that the service would be stuffy or too formal, but it was a relaxed place to eat dinner.
Not cheap but well worth splashing out for a special occasion. Bring your big chief i-spy book of celebs - you may spot a few in here.
THE THREE CHIMNEYS
COLBOST, DUNVEGAN, ISLE OF SKYE, IV55 8ZT
Tel: 01470 511258
Fax: 01470 511358
Email: eatandstay@threechimneys.co.uk
Tidal islands cut off from the land for 5 of every 12 hours. Check your tides and make your way across the sands (preferably barefoot) with beautiful views in all directions. Great wildlife, birdwatching etc too.
Parkgate is close, and lovely too.
Hilbre, West Kirby, Wirral
www.wirral.gov.uk/er/hilbre.htm
Glencoe valley would surely fill anyone with awe. Choose a spring summer day and get a bus which stops off at the Information Centre. From there just explore into the hills and the springy heather, get as high up as you can. The noise from the road disappears, and you become aware of the sheer vastness of the scenery. Watch the clouds rush over the hills and dream about living in one of the tiny number of cottages that sprinkle the hills. Stunning place.
Glencoe, Scotland.
There are lots of choices on the Isle of Skye; hotels, B&B, hostels and camping sites.
Our family stayed in a camping site called Torvaig near Pontree for two nights. It was cheaper than the one we had stayed at near Ben Nevis. The services were the same; showers, bathrooms, clean drinking water for free, although at Ben Nevis there was a shop. The ground was hard, but there was a beautiful view at sunset.
We liked cooking so we didn’t eat out much. But when we did there were big portions. The food was similar to Irish food; haggis is just like a mix of black puddings and mince meat. If you asked for an apple pie you would expect to get a slice but there you get a whole pie. The Pike Hotel had particularly big portions.
When we cooked it was easy to find the supplies to cook on our own in any supermarket. There are also shops on the Isle of Skye so don’t fret.
We didn’t stay long, so we only got one trip done; a boat trip.
We saw a brochure in the campsite and my dad thought it would be a good thing to do. The boat left Armadale and got to Mallaig in 45 minutes. When you get there you can stay or you can walk back to the pier. It takes a couple of hours to get back on foot. It was a great boat ride. I even got to drive the boat. The view was spectacular. It was so spectacular - that I had a dream about it. When we pulled into the bay, it was lovely and calm. To the left of me there was a mountain sheltered under a beautiful white cloud. The bay had lovely turquoise water, warmer than the sea because of the surrounding rocks and big boulders. Just right for swimming. If you don’t like salt water there is a river up beside it.
The overall view from the high rock over looking the bay was really pretty, and one you don’t see everyday.
I would recommend the holiday to outgoing people and families with teenage kids.
I had a wicked time.
Excellent fish restaurant in local area of Marchmont, just 15 minutes' walk from city centre through the lovely Meadows.
The local fish shop is next door so you know whatever's on the menu is as fresh as it's going to get. We had the salt and pepper squid to start with which I would happily eat again and again and the Thai chicken soup which was flavoured to perfection and contained an abundance of chicken. There are other fish, meat and vegetarian starters.
For mains we chose roast fillets of red snapper, sea bass with cockles, mussels and fennel and pernod sauce and also a grilled duck-breast with a jus of wine and blackcurrant sauce. Both outstanding with fantastic flavours and succulent flesh.
Make sure you leave room for pudding, especially the warm hazelnut and chocolate pudding and also a scrumptious sticky toffee pudding.
Staff are friendly and efficient and the cooking in the kitchen is some of the best you will experience in Edinburgh.
Starters are about £5 and mains about £13.
11 Roseneath Street, Marchmont
Edinburgh, tel: 0131-229 7953
Quaint and quirky with a 650-year- old account of the French-Scots alliance exhibition.
Six by four paintings of William Wallace from etchings at his memorials in Smithfield london and birthplace Elderslie Renfrewshire, two stops from central station and a fair sample of Charles Rennie Makintosh's work and the Burrell collection. This is no run of the mill youth hostel.
Also has a super location opposite the city's Mitchell library and its 100 free computer/internet facilities and around the corner from the exhibition centre.
Attracts an international crowd and has plentiful showers and comfy lounges. Best to book at weekends.
www.glasgowhostels.com,0141 221 7880 ,nearest station Charing cross,at 56 Berkeley street
Great restuarant on Dumbarton Road in the West End, just a little further down the road from the Partick railway bridge. Fantastic, honest and well-prepared Scottish food with an interesting, ever-changing menu.
Friendly, non-pretentious service. Always busy and lively. Bring-your-own wine policy means that this is always a cheap place to visit.
The neighbourhood isn't the greatest but don't let that put you off. We have returned and returned and returned and returned!
Roastit Bubbly Jocks
450 Dumbarton Road
Glasgow
G11 6SE
Tel: 0141 339 3355
The Lion Inn is tucked away in a small village in North Wales. It's a small country pub, recently refurbished, with rooms and a restaurant. It's an incredibly relaxing place to stay. The rooms are tastefully decorated and very comfortable. There's a DVD player but no TV reception so make sure you bring a film that suits your mood! We woke up on Saturday morning to total peace and tranquility. All the food is locally sourced, well prepared and presented. The bar has a roaring open fire and a good selection of beers. Very friendly dogs live in the farm over the road. Well placed for walking, climbing or mountain biking around Betws-y-coed. Reasonably priced. We'd definitely return.
The Lion Inn
Gwytherin
Nr Llanwrst
Conwy
LL22 8UU
Tel: 01745 860123
www.thelioninn.net/index.htm
The single track road to Achiltibuie in the Coigach area of north west Scotland is full of spectacular scenery - the views of the Gormenghastian Stac Polliadh take the breath away. But the jewel in this particular crown comes on the road that veers off to the tiny hamlet of Reiff. You top the brow of a hill and there before you lies the most beautiful view of the myriad tiny specks that are the Summer Isles - with, on a clear day, the mountains of Torridon in the distance.
15 miles north west of Ullapool
From the ramparts of this huge prehistoric hill fort, the view opens up to the Somerset Levels below - mile upon mile of fields and hedges, and twelve miles away, the isolated shape of Glastonbury Tor. Whether in golden sunlight or winter mist, this is a magical view. This may or may not be King Arthur's Camelot, but it does sometimes feel as if it's on the frontiers of another world.
Five miles north west of Yeovil
The streets within the walls in the city centre are like double decker rows of shops. Walk along the upper rows for an alternative view of the streets and shops. Then take the steps up to the wall at Eastgate clock - great views of the streets and a good place to start your walking tour of the city as seen from the Roman walls.
You can pretty much circle the entire city centre by walking the wall and getting a different vantage point and contrasting views and points of interest on either side of the wall as you go round.
Eastgate
A cool restaurant and bar tucked down an alley. Lovely laid back atmosphere, fantastic burgers, and really on-the-ball, friendly staff. They also have a lobster tank if you fancy something a bit upmarket!
5 Ridgefield, Manchester, M2 6EG
The best and most beautiful B&B you will ever stay in! Fantastic rooms, amazing food and wonderful owners.
Ty Derw, Dinas Mawddwy, Machynlleth, SY20 9LR 01650 531318
The perfect place for a family holiday. Unless you've been there, it's hard to understand why, but so many people return again and again.
Mossyard, Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway; www.geograph.org.uk/photo/271874
www.geograph.org.uk/photo/270379
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