FIVE PLACES TO STAY IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
The Ryder Cup rumbles into Gleneagles from next Friday, drawing the golfing world's attention to Scotland for the biennial three-day scrap between Europe and the USA. Here's five Highlands getaways worth earmarking for the future:
Eagle Brae (Struy, Beauly; eaglebrae.co.uk; weekly rentals from £867 for a two-person cabin) Seven luxury log cabins on an 8,000-acre estate between Glen Affric and Glen Strathfarrar, just north of Loch Ness. The split mezzanine cabins, built to elegant precision with western cedar red logs from Canada, have pitched ceilings and spectacular views over the Highlands. There's lots of tartan, hand-carved panels of local beasties and underfloor heating. It's a 30-minute drive from Inverness.
Fonab Castle (Pithlochry; fonabcastlehotel.com; doubles from £150) A baronial retreat built for the Sandeman family (they of sherry and port fame) in 1892, it is now a five-star hotel with 31 elegant rooms and suites split between the main house and a new wing. There's direct access to Loch Faskally.
Grange (Grange Rd, Fort William; grangefortwilliam.com; room from £140) This 19th-century villa makes for one of the most beautiful B&Bs in northern Scotland. Exquisite antiques, log fires, roll-top baths and perfect hospitality. If you can, book The Turret Room, from where you can sit in the window and stare out over Loch Linnhe.
Inn at John O'Groats (naturalretreats.com; week-long packages from £399) A multi-million pound restoration of a dilapidated 19th-century hotel has resulted in this stunning, Scandi-modern retreat complete with new self-catering apartments. Inside, it's all Scottish larch floors and trendy copper bathtubs, lobster pot light fixtures and all mod cons.
Lovat (Main Rd, Fort Augustus; thelovat.com; double from £120) At Loch Ness's southern end, this former hunting hotel has been transformed into an eco-conscious boutique hotel (bio mass wood chip boiler, active participants in Trees for Life scheme) with stylish rooms perfect for a low-key romantic getaway. The restaurant downstairs (£50 five-course dinner) is excellent.
A GAME OF INCHES
Ryanair’s announcement of an order of fuel-saving, “game-changer” Boeing 737 MAX 200 aircraft came with good news for passengers: rather than squeeze the maximum 200 seats into the aircraft, they will be fitted with 197, giving passengers that little more room. It’s still eight more seats than are on the current fleet of 737-800s, but Ryanair has said the aircraft will be equipped with new slimline seats “which will provide more legroom,” allowing for a an average pitch of 30 inches. Which is exactly the same pitch on the current fleet (32-34 in premium seats), so passengers won’t notice any difference in legroom, but there’ll be eight more of them on every full flight. Yet Ryanair’s 30 inches aren’t the tightest available – according to SeatGuru, easyJet offers a leg-cramping 29 inches, the narrowest in the business. Aer Lingus has a standard pitch of between 31-32 inches in economy.
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THE WORLD'S SCARIEST WALK
One of the world’s most testing hiking trails is to reopen in Spain following a substantial restoration. Known as the “world’s most dangerous walks”, El Caminito del Rey is a 100metre-high, 1 metre-wide path in the Guadalhorce gorge near the Malaga town of El Chorro. It was opened by King Alfonso XIII in 1921 but after five deaths in 1999 and 2000, the Andalusian government declared it illegal and introduced hefty fines for trespassers. The government has spent ¤2.2 million restoring the 4km walk and it is hoped that the recently enthroned King Felipe VI will be on hand for the inauguration in January 2015.
LOST IN THE TOWER
A tower used by one of Elizabeth I's suitors to enchant the queen has just opened to the public for the first time in 350 years. Robert Dudley built the ornate Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire in 1575, adding a tower with private chambers so that he could bestow private favour on his majesty without interruption. The castle is now managed by English Heritage, which added stairs and viewing platforms to the ruins and recreated the Elizabethan garden, complete with carved arbours, so that visitors can get a sense of what it might have been like when the Virgin Queen came to visit. Admission is £10.30; see english-heritage.org.uk
BUDAPEST BY BIKE
The Hungarian capital has become the latest city to launch a bike-share scheme. MOL Bubi was launched last week with 1,100 green bikes spread about 76 stations throughout the city. The first half hour is free, after which it's 100 forints (€0.38) per hour; users can also buy passes for 24 hours (€1.50), 72 hours (€3) and one week (€6). A special promotional offer of 100 forints for all passes runs until the end of the month. See bkk.hu
DOMESTIC DEALS
There are a lot of interesting deals to bridge the season between back-to-school and Christmas. Killarney Lakeland Cottages (killarneycottages.com), a complex of Torc-style properties just outside of town, has a three-four night midweek deal for €230 (€250 for two-three weekend nights) and seven nights for €325. The deal runs until December 20th. The Connemara Coast Hotel (connemaracoasthotel.ie) in Furbo, Co Galway, is offering three nights B&B and two dinners for a family of four for €679 midweek (€699 weekends) between October 24th and November 1st.
MICRO-GUIDE LEIPZIG
STAY
Steigenberger Grandhotel Handelshof (Salzgässchen 6; steigenberger.com; from €160) Early 20th century trading hall transformed into the top hotel.
EAT
Auerbachs Keller (Mädlerpassage;
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; mains £14-22) Celebrated restaurant founded in 1525 and features in Goethe’s Faust.
DO
Nikolaikirche (Nikolaikirchhof 3) Neoclassical church played role in fall of East Germany.
