DESTINATIONS UK & IRELAND | SECRET RETREATS


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Atlantic puffins, Farne Islands, Northumberland; Ouaisne Bay, Jersey; The Wood Norton; Karma St Martin’s PICTURES: Shutterstock; Paul Willetts Photography; ADJ Brown


remains, with Neolithic and Bronze Age stones jutting up from the landscapes, delineating a history stretching back more than 6,000 years. Most impressive is its rock art, with 5,000-year-old carvings covering the rocks in spirals and other shapes whose meanings remain a mystery. Andante Travels offers a four-day tour taking in the best of them in the company of expert archaeologist Dr Tertia Barnett, with prices from £975 including accommodation, entry fees, coach travel and some meals. andantetravels.co.uk Elan Valley, mid-Wales: Its windswept coastline and wild national parks get the limelight, but don’t overlook the Elan Valley, a collection of man-made dams, reservoirs and waterfalls known as the Welsh Lake District. Red kites and migrating birds attract wildlife watchers, while its designation as a Dark Sky Park draws those after some serious stargazing. For clients wanting to capture it all from behind the lens, Wildlife Worldwide has a


34 27 AUGUST 2020


33St Martin’s in the Isles of Scilly offers diving, snorkelling and other adventures in seal-studded waters


new four-day photography-themed trip combining visits to Gigrin Farm – where red kites come to feed – with a dolphin and seal-spotting trip around the Ceredigion coast, plus daily night-sky photography classes. The three-night tour costs from £675, departing May 2021 and including most meals, transfers and guides. wildlifeworldwide.com


BEST FOR . . . QUIET ESCAPES Karma St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly: If you didn’t think you could get white-sand beaches and cerulean seas this side of the Channel, think again. The pint-sized isle of St Martin’s, 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, offers both in abundance,


as well as diving, snorkelling and other adventures in seal-studded waters warmed by the Gulf Stream. For a standout base on the island, look to dog-friendly estate Karma St Martin’s, where a series of traditional stone buildings sit right in front of the beach, alongside a spa and organic vegetable farm. Three nights with Prestige Holidays starts at £582 per person, based on two sharing a deluxe room with breakfast and flights from Land’s End. ukprestigeholidays.co.uk The Wood Norton, Worcestershire: From its biscuit- hued stone to those lush-green hills, the Cotswolds knows how to turn heads – but go just beyond its borders and you’ll find plenty of other charms too. The Wood Norton is a Grade II-listed boutique hideaway set in the Vale of Evesham and built by the French Duc d’Orléans in 1897. Today, it offers family-friendly rooms, manicured gardens and a French-inspired brasserie, with hot-air balloon rides and visits to the


Cotswolds, the Malverns, Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon all on the table for those wanting to explore. Great Little Breaks offers a one-night break from £99, including dinner, bottle of prosecco and full English breakfast. greatlittlebreaks.com Greenhills Country House Hotel, Jersey: For an island escape that packs in sandy beaches and scenic coastal trails with excellent food and friendly people, few places beat Jersey – and away from the busier spots you’ll find a handful of rural retreats. Among them is Greenhills, a 17th-century house- turned-hotel with 33 characterful bedrooms designed to feel like an English country home. There’s a peaceful garden, elegant restaurant and a lounge with a log fire, plus an emphasis on local produce such as Jersey royals and locally-made gins. Airways Holidays offers four nights’ B&B from £399, based on two sharing and flying from Gatwick on October 4. airwaysholidays.com


² travelweekly.co.uk


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