Crowds cramping your holiday style? Even on a small-ish island chain like Britain, it’s still possible to experience true remoteness. These far-flung locations are, quite simply, some of the most beautiful you’ll ever visit - and even getting there is an adventure.
The beach so exotic it made a Thai tourism brochure. The pub that makes you walk 16 miles for a pint. The Rough Bounds (need we say more?) With miles of marvellous scenery to explore and no crowds to cramp your style, Britain’s far-flung corners are an escapists’ ultimate fantasy.
Stay tuned for the second instalment of this 2-part blog, where we’ll be zoning into British islands, beaches, villages and mountain ranges far from the maddening crowds.
Cape Wrath and the Northwest Highlands
Suilven, Lochinver (Steve Bittinger on Unsplash)
Remote, wild and accessible only via boat across the Kyle of Durness and a long off-road bike / hike, Cape Wrath is a destination you have to work at to reach. It's worth it when you do (and the cafe will open whenever you arrive). John O'Groats it ain't. The name has nothing to do with anger - it's old Norse for "turning point". To the east and south are two NSAs: North-West Sutherland (prime peak-bagging territory) and the Kyle of Tongue (top for wildlife spotting). The coastline has a winning combination of crazily-contoured cliffs and paradise beaches (like Sandwood Bay, Kearvaig and Pocan Smoo). Further south, the Assynt-Coigach NSA possesses some of Britain's very best landscapes, including possibly our most iconic mountain, Suilven. Also the stunning Summer Isles, a paddling paradise.
Isles of Scilly
Cromwell Castle, Tresco, Isles of Scilly (Shutterstock)
A low-lying archipelago of 140 islands casually relaxing in the Atlantic, 28 miles from Land's End. Only 5 of the islands are inhabited - Bryher is the smallest and wildest, Tresco has the famous Abbey Gardens. All in all, a totally tropical ambience with its white sand beaches, palm trees, clear blue waters and a fun-sounding name - also many wonderful watery adventures to get stuck into. Snorkelling with seals, deep sea diving, swimming, SUPing… Get your timing right and at super-low tides it's even possible to walk between some of the islands.
Knoydart
Inverie, Knoydart (Guy Prince)
A wild peninsula sandwiched between lochs Nevis and Hourn, Knoydart is the northern part of an area known (rather excitingly) as the Rough Bounds. Only accessible by boat (there's a ferry from Mallaig), or by a hilly 16-mile hike, its roads aren't connected to those of the rest of the country. The remote, beautiful, mountainous terrain includes the Munros of Ladhar Bheinn (1020 m), Luinne Bheinn (939 m), Meall Buidhe (946 m) and Sgurr na Cìche (1040 m). Oh, and Britain's most remote pub. A classic wilderness destination.
Outer Hebrides
Uig Beach, Harris and Lewis, Outer Hebrides (Shutterstock)
An utterly alluring island chain joined by causeways and ferries, the Outer Hebrides are home to some of the world's finest beaches. So much so that in 2009 a photo of one of them (Berneray) was used by a Thai tourist resort for an advertising campaign (whoops!). The 150 mile walk / drive / cycle to the Butt of Lewis (yup, you read that right) is one of Britain's great journeys. Other highlights include the Callanish Stones on Lewis, the Golden Road on Harris, and ludicrous beaches like Scarista, Luskentyre, Hosta and those on Vatersay and Barra. The latter is also the site of the world's only scheduled flight whose runway is a beach. Further to the west, St. Kilda beckons.
Shetland
Puffin at Esha Ness, Shetland (Shutterstock)
Around 100 islands, of which 16 are populated, halfway to Scandinavia both geographically and culturally. Britain's northernmost point (Out Stack), Foula’s ginormous cliffs, Fair Isle (the remotest inhabited part of Britain), Papa Stour's sea-cave tunnels stretching under the island, the northern lights in winter, 1,700 miles of coastline and many golden sandy beaches: highlights all. Britain's best bus shelter is pretty tidy too. Highest point: Ronas Hill (450m).
Wester Ross
Coire Valley, Achnashellach, Wester Ross (Gavin Tyte on Unsplash)
The northern half of Wester Ross between Little Loch Broom and Loch Maree (called by Wainwright "the last great wilderness of Scotland") has no permanent human settlement and contains Britain's most remote spot (no name, just coordinates). It does however boast the Dundonnell and Fisherfield forests (not many trees), some good lochs and Munros galore, including the impressive peaks of Slioch, An Teallach and the Fisherfield Five. The few bothies dotted around make for some good multi-day hikes. Applecross, also nicely remote, accessed via Britain's biggest road climb at Bealach na Ba (the "pass of the cattle"), is a great destination with top views of Raasay and Skye.
the small isles
Isle of Eigg (Shutterstock)
Rum, Eigg, Canna and Muck - worth visiting for their names alone, but also for their wonderfully varied scenery and wildlife. Rum is the largest, a National Nature Reserve with a cluster of volcanic peaks, Eigg has the most vibrant vibe and some imposingly impressive cliffs, Canna might be the prettiest, run by NTS. Muck is the small one. High point: Askival (on Rum) 812m.
Anglesey & Lleyn Peninsula
Trwyn Du Lighthouse, Penmon, Anglesey (Neil Mark Thomas on Unsplash)
Anglesey is Wales largest island - and it’s pretty big in the adventure stakes too. With glorious beaches sprinkled along a coastline that's almost entirely AONB, this alluring outpost is a hub for pretty much all the watersports you’ve ever heard of (and some of the ones you haven’t - spot of ‘sea level traversing’, anyone?). Two great long-distance cycling routes also start / finish here. Highest point: Holyhead Mountain (220m). Across the Menai Strait, heading south, you come to the luscious Lleyn peninsula. It’s another classy coastal AONB, with sandy beaches aplenty, fine surf and the wild, enigmatic Bardsey Island teasingly close to the south-west tip.
Orkney
70 islands, of which 20 are inhabited (by Orcadians). Loads of lovely sandy beaches, pre-history galore and legendarily good names for things like Skara Brae, the Dwarfie Stane, the Old Man of Hoy and the Ship of Death. Mostly low-lying islands, except Hoy and its ginormous cliffs. There is also the world's shortest scheduled flight - which has been done in less than a minute - from Westray to Papa Westray. Fine diving at Scapa Flow, thanks to all the vessels scuttled there in the last century. And of course, the Ba’, a mass football game that takes over the streets of Kirkwall over Christmas / New Year.
Northumberland
Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland (Bruce Edwards on Unsplash)
Labelled by some as ‘England’s last great wilderness’, Northumberland is mostly wide open moorland - a ‘black moor’ of heather and a ‘white moor’ of grassland, bounded by Hadrian's Wall to the south and stretching to the Scottish borders. Very tranquil - it's the least populated area of the country, and the largest area of protected night sky in Europe. Highest point: The Cheviot (815m). Other highlights: Hangingstone Hill, Steel Rigg, Whin Sill, the waterfall at Linhope Spout, the views of Coquetdale from Lordenshaws hill fort, College Valley's views, and two national trails - St. Cuthbert's Way cutting through the northern reaches and the Pennine Way running its entire length.
And that’s not all…
It’s all very well reading about Britain’s furthest-flung corners - but what to do if you actually want to visit them? Well, the next step might just be to pick up a copy of Joyously Busy Great British Adventure Map. It features 2,500 of Britain’s great wild places, mountains, islands, beaches, waterways, viewpoints, eccentric events and long-distance routes, peppered with some randomly inspiring trivia and amusingly quirky touches.
Other good places to start if you’re burning to escape the beaten track include the various local tourism boards, the National Parks website, the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland - which manage plenty of remote gems - and walker-centric websites such as Walk Highlands and the Long Distance Walkers Association. For pure escapist inspiration, have a flick through Christopher Somerville’s Britain’s and Ireland’s Best Wild Places: 500 Essential Journeys… and a scroll through Ordnance Survey’s GetOutside blog.
Been to the back of beyond recently? Let us share your adventures by tagging Marvellous Maps on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or email hello@marvellousmaps.com.
