‘£20 a night in one of the world’s quietest locations’: readers’ favorite remote stays | Europe Holidays
Winning Tip: Spend a day away in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides
I advise you to visit the outer island of Bernerai to experience the real dimension. Here you can walk through the rare grasslands called mashir to the three-mile-long white patch Western beachOverlooking the North Atlantic Ocean, marvel at the vast expanse of the sea and the color of the sea. We stayed in a Gatliff Hebridean Innwhich consists of two converted bungalows where you’ll stay for around £20 a night for a bunk bed in one of the quietest locations in the world. Berneray lies between North Uist and Harris.
Nick Verney
Ancient and modern excavations in the highlands
It is located above the sea in the remote area of Achiltibuie Quigach brooch Two stunning stone residences that blend ancient design with modern luxury. With panoramic views of the Summer Islands, red deer grazing nearby and sea eagles soaring overhead, it’s a true escape into the wilderness. Visit in the fall to enjoy fiery sunsets, crisp air, and a chance to see the northern lights. The ledges are gone, the beach below is perfect for evening walks and the silence is unforgettable.
dean
A Greek island without the crowds
Astypalea has the same pretty whitewashed houses you see on the famous Greek islands, but it’s much less crowded. The main town, Chora, is beautiful, with buildings leading up the hill to an old castle. We rented a small apartment and spent our days on the quiet, pebbled beaches that we had almost to ourselves. It is a really quiet place where you can properly get away from the noise of modern life. This Dodecanese island is the focus of a zero-emission transport scheme, with generous grants to replace petrol and diesel vehicles with electric ones.
Roy
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Guardian Travel reader advice
Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the Reader Tips home page
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Under the stars of Carmarthenshire
We woke up to the sounds of birdsong and the sounds of the flowing river and had breakfast as the morning light streamed through the windows of the house. Y CabanNear the village of Loughin in Carmarthenshire. Hearing the story of its origin from the local woods was as fascinating as walking through the tall forests surrounding it. We watched red kites soar over the valley before gazing at the stars under a sky free of light pollution. It’s hard to find such peace and connection with nature in the UK these days, but the benefits are clear – we left more relaxed and refreshed than on any recent holiday.
Hannah
Magic Irish Castle
We stayed in Anne’s Grove miniature castle In Castletownroche, County Cork, near the ruined Augustinian Temple Bridgetown Priory And Blackwater Castle, in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. It was magical. The Irish Landmark Trust has renovated it so people can stay in it, with a wood-burning stove and comfortable Gothic bed. I’ve found that there’s nothing quite like sipping whiskey by the fire surrounded by beautiful nature – and being able to say you spent the weekend in a castle, how wonderful!
Lot
Delta “At the Edge of the World”, Romania
Romania’s Danube Delta feels like it’s on the edge of the world on the eastern border of the European Union. Accessible by boat from the port of Tulcea, it is one of the largest and most vibrant wetland ecosystems in Europe and full of wildlife. We stayed in Delta Boutique and Carmen Silva Resort In Krian, an old working fishing village where quiet evenings are only broken by the lively chorus of frogs. Guided boat safaris, including pelican viewing, can be arranged through the hotel.
Josh
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“Shrouded in fog and empty space” in the Faroe Islands
A few years ago, after reading “The Interrupted Girl,” Susanna Kaysen’s beautiful, melancholy novel about an anthropologist’s sojourn in the Faroe Islands (away), I took myself to what is now Djurhus Hotel On the outskirts of the capital Torshavn, to experience the archipelago for myself. Expertly guided by Tura Tours, I endured a harrowing but fortunately short sea crossing to Mycenes to see the puffins, visited the pretty Saxon villages (population: eight) and Geogv (town, population: 31) and explored Tinganes, the site of the islands’ parliament. It was the most gorgeous, wild and remote August week, surrounded by fog and empty space.
Abigail
Off the grid in Northumberland
Last October, we spent a wonderful week in a remote part of Northumberland – the Upper Coquet Valley. Our accommodation was a simple off-the-grid bunk barn called the Nightfold at the top of the valley. We spent a week living like woodland creatures in the fall, eating voraciously, keeping ourselves warm (thanks to the wood stove), and sleeping. During the day, we walked long distances where we didn’t see anyone else – just sheep, deer, birds and squirrels. At night there were endless stars, the Milky Way, and reading by candlelight. bliss.
son
Free camping in the mountains of Portugal
The sleepy villages nestled high in Portugal’s highest mountain range, Serra da Estrela, are a world away from the coastal attractions of Lisbon and Porto. Vila Cova à Coelheira has a free campsite on the banks of the Alva River, accessed via an ancient Roman bridge that you can swim under (or jump off if you’re feeling brave). Better yet, there’s a riverside bar that serves excellent pika paw pork braised in wine with onions and pickles. During my stay there I never encountered more than one or two others in the camp.
David
The Croatian island of Mljet is not suitable for the jet set
Far from the cruise ship crowds of Dubrovnik, the island of Mljet seems otherworldly: pine forests nestled in turquoise bays, an ancient monastery on a small island in the middle of a salt lake, and hardly a sound above the cicadas and the wind. I stayed in a simple, family-run hut just outside the national park gates, where evenings meant grilled fish on the balcony and nights under starry skies. I spent days paddling through still waters and walking through pine-scented paths where I rarely encountered another soul. It felt like you were entering a slower pace of life, a corner of Europe that the 21st century has politely passed over.
Mark Adamson