Short break on the Isle of Skye, Scotland

Start your day in the colourful harbour town of Portree, where Bonnie Prince Charlie said his final goodbye to Flora MacDonald after she smuggled him across to Skye en route to escaping Scotland. Framed by cliffs, its natural harbour is beautiful. Café Arriba on Quay Brae is a great place to take in the views and watch the fishing boats come and go while you fuel up for the day ahead.

After breakfast, head north along the western side of the Trotternish peninsula to magical Faerie Glen. It’s not signposted – the fairies know where they’re going – but you’ll find it on an Ordnance Survey map (Explorer 408, Skye – Trotternish & The Storr). It’s an easy, though sometimes slippery, hike of a couple of kilometres from the Uig Hotel, about 20km north of Portree, though you could happily spend a couple of hours exploring the glen and climbing the many hillocks.

Finish your day with a sing and a jig at Edinbane Inn, a warm and welcoming bar offering hearty meals, ales from the Isle of Skye Brewery, and live music sessions on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday nights.