Doune Knoydart

There is nowhere quite like Doune. You arrive by boat – there’s no road in – a ferry across to Knoydart, the last great wilderness in Britain. You’ll find mountain, sea and sky – a thrilling landscape of boundless peace and ever-changing light. It’s a haven for wildlife – killer whales, Golden eagles, red grouse, otters and badgers – 120 species live here. As for Doune, it sits on the Sound of Sleat with views across to Skye. It’s a tiny community of happily shipwrecked souls and Martin, Jane and Liz look after you with great generosity. The dining room is the hub, pine-clad from top to toe, with a stove to keep you warm and games in case it rains. The food is delicious – crab from the bay, roast lamb from the hill, chocolate tart with homemade ice-cream. Bedrooms along the veranda are delightfully simple; pine-clad cabins with mezzanine bunks for children, hooks for clothes, sparkling showers, armchairs for watching the weather. The walking is magnificent, boat trips can be arranged, the night sky astounds. There’s a lodge for groups, too. A very special place, miss it at your peril.