A breath of fresh air, literally. The UK's only independent family-run motorway service stations (north and south-bound on the M6 just on the edge of Lakeland) was built in 1971 by a local farmer and a baker on a site that used to be a farm and with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Howgill Fen. In summer, picnic tables overlook the ponds. Proper food, too, (I had steak pie) sourced from the farm and freshly-made sandwiches; there's even a farm shop to buy supplies if you're going self-catering. Eat your heart out Moto.

M6 Junction 38

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Lochbuie is the wilder side of the island, at the other end from the bright houses and fairytale location of Tobermory. A memorable walk up and over the hills, included narrowly avoiding a couple of basking adders, and we ended up skinny dipping in Loch Scridian and watching an otter playing on the shore.

Afterwards, we supped long and late in the unreconstructed, but utterly brilliant Craignure Inn.

www.craignure-inn.co.uk/
Tel: 01680 812305

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A sweeping, swooping rollercoaster of a drive that that hugs the coast and takes you through everchanging scenery: deep valleys, rugged headlands, gentle coves and tooth-achingly pretty villages. You take in the Giant's Causeway, the swinging, swaying Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, the beaches of Port Ballantrae and White Park Bay, and the Clough William-Ellis houses of Cushendun. Start at Portrush Strand, stop for lunch in the Londonderry Arms (once owned by Churchill), but turn off for Ballymena (instead of staying on the road to Larne), and plough through the deep Glens of Antrim.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends