Luxury self-catering accommodation on Luskentyre Beach

If there was ever a place to pause from the responsibilities of everyday life, this is it. So far from bustling streets that one needs to travel by plane, boat and automobile for several hours to get back to one, Luskentyre Beach is Scotland's ultimate retreat into nature. Dip into the cool waters with giddy screams, float by kayak to discover hidden caves or simply watch the waters merge from cornflower to charcoal as the clouds above rumble with the Outer Hebrides' often temperamental weather.

Beyond the beach, moody mountains punctuate the sky, historic dwellings tempt exploration and the island's distillery promises the very finest of local tipples. Hikers really are spoilt for choice here with miles upon miles of coast path to trundle on the island's peripheries, while inland it's all big summits and bigger views. Fresh seafood is the crème de la crème of cuisine on this Western Isle; source some scallops straight from the boat, light up the barbecue and settle down for an evening on the sand.