BEACH
1 Pete's Beach, Durness
The one, of many great beaches on the North coast, I've decided to call my own. The hill above it is called 'Ceannabeinne'; you find it 4.5 miles east of Durness. Coming from Tongue it's just after where Loch Eriboll comes out to the sea and the road hits the coast again. It's a perfect cove flanked by coral-pink rock and shallow turquoise sea. Splendid from above and from below.
MOUNTAIN WALK
2 Ben Venue & Ben A'An
Two celebrated tops in the Highland microcosm of the Trossachs around Loch Achray, nine miles west of Callander; strenuous but not difficult and with superb views. Ben Venue (727m) is the more serious: allow four to five hours return. Start from the Kinlochard side at Ledard or more usually from the Loch Katrine corner before the Loch Achray Hotel. Ben A'an (460m) starts with a steep climb from the main A821 along from the Tigh Mor mansions (just before the corner). There's a scramble at top. Allow two to three hours.
ATTRACTION
3 Falkirk Wheel, Falkirk
Tamfourhill, halfway between Edinburgh and Glasgow, is signposted from the M9 and M80 and locally. There is a splendid and deliberately dramatic massive boat-lift at the convergence of the (Millennium-funded) reinstated Union and Forth & Clyde canals, the world's first coast-to-coast ship canal. The 115ft lift is impressive to watch and great to go on. Boats leave the visitor centre every 30 minutes for the 45-minute journey (08700 500 208).
GETAWAY HOTEL
4 Monachyle Mhor, near Balquhidder
Not so remote, but it seems so once you've negotiated the thread of road along Loch Voil from Balquhidder (only seven miles from the A84 Callander-Crianlarich road) and Rob Roy's grave. It's a farmhouse overlooking Loch Voil from the magnificent Balquhidder Braes. Siblings Tom, Melanie and Dick grew up here then turned it into the first really cool boutique hotel in the Highlands. Refurbishment of the rooms is ongoing: contemporary, calm and sexy as hell. Tom cooks up some of the best food in the North. It's friendly, cosy and inexpensive. A very Mhor-ish experience (mhor.net; 01877 384622 13 rooms £95-235).
PLACE TO SWIM
5 Rob Roy's Bathtub - Fallach Falls, near Inverarnan
On the A82 north of Ardlui and two miles past the Drover's Inn, there's a sign on the right (picnic area) going north. Park, then follow the path. There are some pools on the rocky river course, but 500 metres from the car park you reach the main falls and, below, a perfect round natural pool 30 metres across. There's an overhanging rock face on one side and smooth slabs at the edge of the falls. It's a natural suntrap in summer, but the water is 'Baltic' at all times.
JOURNEY
6 The flight to Barra
Most of the Scottish island plane journeys are fascinating on a clear day, but BA's daily flight from Glasgow to Barra, in the Outer Hebrides, is doubly special because the island's airport is on Cockleshell Beach (seven miles from Castlebay) after a splendid approach. The 12-seater Otter lands on the beach according to the tide (0870 850 9850).
GARDEN
7 Little Sparta, near Dunsyre
In bare hill country, this is the home of conceptual artist and national treasure Ian Hamilton Finlay, who died in 2006. The gardens were lovingly created over years and are full of thought-provoking art/sculpture/perspectives; it is a privilege to visit. Head for Biggar, south west of Edinburgh off the A702 (three miles); go through village then follow the signposts. (June-September, Fridays and Sundays 2-5pm only; 01899 810252; littlesparta.org).
HOTEL THAT WELCOMES KIDS
8 Crieff Hydro, Crieff
A national institution, this hotel regards your family as part of theirs. It's a vast Victorian pile with activities for all. Still run by the Leckie family from hydropathic beginnings, its continuous refurbishments, including the fabulous winter gardens, have moved graciously with the times (fine coffee shop, freshly squeezed OJ and big doughnuts). There's a new sports hall, a cafe, kids' centre, tennis courts, a riding school, and a lagoon pool. The tiny cinema shows family movies, and there are nature talks and donkey rides. Chalets are among the best in Scotland. It has 213 rooms plus self-catering; prices from £38 (01764 655555; crieffhydro.com).
REALLY SPOOKY PLACE
9 Hidden or Lost Valley, Glencoe
This is the secret glen where the ill-fated MacDonalds hid the cattle they had stolen from the Lowlands and which became (with politics and power struggles) their undoing. A wooded cleft takes you between the imposing 'Three Sisters' Hills over the threshold and into the huge bowl of Coire Gabhail. The place envelops you in its tragic history, more redolent perhaps than the massacre site. Park on the A82, some three miles from the visitor centre and 300m west of two white buildings on either side of the road.Follow the path down to and across the River Coe. Ascend, keeping the burn to your left; a mile further up, it's best to ford it. Allow three hours.
MAGICAL ISLAND
10 Jura The car ferry from Port Askaig on Islay takes you to a different world. Jura is remote, scarcely populated and has an ineffable grandeur. Ideal for wild camping, but you could try the serviceable Jura Hotel and pub in the only village (Craighouse) nine miles from the ferry at Feolin. Walking guides , available at the hotel, are essential, especially for the Paps, the hills that maintain such a hold over the island. The easiest climb is from Three Arch Bridge; allow six hours. Jura House's walled garden is a hidden jewel set above the south coastline with scenic walks to the shore. The island has one road, no street lamps and over 5,000 deer. The silence is everything (theisleofjura.co.uk)
BEST FARM SHOP
11 Gloagburn Farm & Coffee Shop, Tibbermore
This family farm shop run by the Nivens has excellent fresh produce and, inside, a deli and cafe where the food is exemplary. Only 15 minutes from Perth, it sells vacuum-packed meats and frozen meals as well as fruit and veg. Off the A85 Perth-Methven and Crieff road from the A9 and ring road at Huntingtower, signposted Tibbermore. (Tibbermore also signposted off the A9 from Stirling, just before Perth). Drive through the village and it's the second farm on the right.
PUB
12 The Mishnish, Tobermory
The family-run Mishnish has always been the real Tobermory. There's often live music, from Scottish traditional to DJs and indie, especially on Saturdays. It has lots of different rooms, nooks and crannies, great pub grub and an open fire (mishnish.co.uk).
RUIN
13 Castle Tioram, near Acharacle
In this romantic ruin, you don't need the saga to sense the place, and maybe the mystery is better than the history. Some three miles from A861 just north of Acharacle there's a sign for Dorlin. After a beautiful drive of another three miles, park by Dorlin Cottage on the serenely beautiful shoreline then walk across a short causeway. The future of this ruin was still under review at the time of going to press. It's pronounced 'Cheerum'. Afterwards you can try to make the beach squeak beneath your feet at the famous 'singing sands' of nearby Kentra Bay (tioram.org).
COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
14 Pool House Hotel, Poolewe
The former Highland home of Osgood MacKenzie, who founded the gardens up the road, has been transformed by the Harrison family with immaculate style and sheer determination into a must-do stopover. Seven fabulously themed suites include a new 'Indian' suite with amazing bed and a boathouse overlooking the river mouth and the bay. Bathrooms are huge; chef John Moir offers great dining; the bar has a great malt collection. Simultaneously special and personable, with fab new ornamental and kitchen gardens, this is surely a new destination hotel. Rooms from £275 a night (01445 781272; poolhousehotel.com).
SERIOUS WALKING
15 The Cuillins, Skye
Enjoy scrambling and, if you want, serious climbing over these unforgiving peaks. The Red ones are easier, and many walks start at the Sligachan Hotel on the Portree-Broadford road. Most of the Black Cuillins, including the highest, Sgurr Alasdair (993m), and Sgurr Dearg, 'the Inaccessible Pinnacle' (986m), can be attacked from the campsite or the youth hostel in Glen Brittle. Good guides are Introductory Scrambles from Glen Brittle by Charles Rhodes, or 50 Best Routes in Skye and Raasay by Ralph Storer, both available locally. Take extreme care (isleofskye.com).
· This article was amended on December 3 2007. We gave incorrect room rates for the Monachyle Mhor hotel in Scotland. They start at £95 for B&B and go up to £235. The hotel's new website is mhor.net. This has been corrected.
