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UK HOTSPOTS ▲

ISLE OF ARRAN
BEST FOR: ISLAND-HOPPING... WITHOUT GOING
ANYWHERE NEAR GREECE

THE STUNNING
JURASSIC
COAST

During the summer, you can be forgiven for forgetting
you're in the glittering Scottish Hebrides and not the
Aegean, as stylish boats sail past and you devour homemade
ice cream from Arran Creamery under cloudless, blue skies.
The beaches feature endless white sands and a turquoisetinged sea, but the backdrop is distinctly Scottish; think
ancient monoliths, caves, castles (Brodick Castle, www.nts.
org.uk) and deeply rugged hills and mountains.
Situated in the Gulf Stream, palm trees flank the south
tip, while the north is full of granite mountains and seaside
villages that can be explored in a single day. It's often
referred to as 'Scotland in miniature' as you're able
to experience pretty much all of Scotland's
cinematic landscapes, from the expansive
moorlands and rocky clifftops to desolate
areas full of unique biodiversity.
THE JURASSIC COAST
Spend a week walking sheep-studded
WAS DESIGNATED
hiking paths - bring binoculars as you'll
ENGLAND'S FIRST
surely come across fascinating wildlife
NATURAL WORLD
such as the golden eagle and red squirrel.
HERITAGE SITE
When you're ready for some action, there's
IN 2001.
plenty to do, from mountain archery and
canyoning to sea kayaking and paragliding.
DORSET
You can also try one of seven golf courses or spend
BEST FOR: LAID-BACK
the day cycling and low-level hiking.
WANDERLUST
Be sure to book a table at the Kildonan Hotel restaurant,
Deep in Dorset, at Studland Beach,
which has spectacular views from the dining room, and
you'll find the same charms as any
head for a wee dram at the distillery (www.arranwhisky.
beach in Mykonos. It's a four-mile
com). For more information, visit www.visitarran.com.
stretch of golden sand, near Poole
Harbour, teeming with wildlife, great
for hiking and with boats available for
STAY: The five-star Auchrannie Resort (www.auchrannie.
hire. Make like one of Enid Blyton's
co.uk) is great for families with teenagers. It has gorge
Famous Five and go on a bona fide
walking, abseiling and other outdoor pursuits, plus two
wild adventure, hunting for fossils
pools, a games hall and a soft play area for little ones - as
on Dorset's Unesco World Heritage
well as two four-star hotels and 30 luxury self-catering
Jurassic Coast - location for 2015 film
cottages that sleep up to eight people. Bunkbeds in kids'
Far From The Madding Crowd.
rooms have built-in lights and TVs. The Brambles is the
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre
island's first seafood restaurant and serves up the freshest
(www.charmouth.org) offers organised
salmon, crab and sea bass you'll taste anywhere in Scotland.
hunts for fossilised ammonite, reptiles
and fish, or you can get old-school and
ARRAN:
GORGEOUSLY
introduce the children to crabbing
ISOLATED
in Swanage, a Victorian seaside town
and popular diving site. Just be sure
to pack a picnic for a scenic lunch spot
in one of the remote bays. Hix (www.
hixoysterandfishhouse.co.uk) in Lyme
Regis is one of the friendliest - and
coolest - places for locally sourced
seafood cooked to perfection. Try the
cuttlefish, crab and sea bass.
Likewise, you won't want oysters
anywhere else after you've sampled
Crabhouse Café's fare in Portland's
peninsula (www.crabhousecafe.co.uk).
Mudeford Quay is famous for housing
some of the prettiest - and priciest
- beach huts in the UK, but is worth
a visit for rock pooling and ferry rides
across to Mudeford Spit. For details,
visit www.visit-dorset.com.

WORDS: WERSHA BHARADWA, IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

White cliffs

camping and caravan sites on the
Jurrassic Coast, Wood Farm (www.
woodfarm.co.uk) is situated only two
miles from Lyme Regis and offers
back-to-nature living with plenty of
activities for the kids, too. The open
space takes away all the stresses out
of deciding where to pitch, and offers
a heated indoor pool, tennis courts,
children's play area and a games room.
There's also a fully licensed café, plus
toilets, showers and a laundry.
Hire caravans and chalets are
spaced apart, and all have electricity
hook-up and hot water facilities,
or you can bring your own tent and
touring motor. Spend your evenings
toasting marshmallows and watching
the kids play as the sun sets.
PLENTY IN DORSET
TO KEEP THE WHOLE
FAMILY HAPPY

STAY: Blessed with scenic views
of the lakes and Marshwood Vale,
and arguably one of the best family
www.athomemagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2016 | 263

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