Travel writer Simon Heptinstall picks his favourite places to stay....

Scarista House, Sgarasta Bheag, The Isle of Harris, Western Isles, Scotland

Walk across the huge empty sands at Scarista Bay on the island of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Then look back to the shore beyond the grassy dunes where hardy sheep graze in the salty spray.

Alone in the centre of the bay with heather-covered mountains rising behind is this sturdy whitewashed Georgian manse gazing out to sea. Scarista House.

This lonely little hotel is one of the most beautiful and remote places to stay in Britain. Yet Scarista House is like a cosy miniature country house hotel, with open fires in antique fireplaces, big squashy sofas and old books, antiques and framed prints everywhere.

That's why I chose to spend the night before and the night after my wedding at Scarista House. Oh and the fact that I was getting married on the next island.

Anyway, there are plenty of cushions and a cuddly cat called Max. Classical music often rings out before dinner or when the owners are practising on their instruments. Guests hardly notice the absence of television.

Instead they lounge around the house eating and drinking or take walks across the spectacular three-mile beach strewn with shells trying to find otter footprints.

Days fill with boat trips around the wiggling coast of Harris or as far as the deserted island of St Kilda on the horizon. Others visit local artists and craftspeople in their studios, discover the formidable standing stones at Callanaish or simply tour the island’s coast and mountains in their car. All return in time to snuggle in front of the fire with Max before dinner.

Scarista is particularly acclaimed for its food - no mean feat when the larder is so far from the rest of the world. Many of the staples are made in the kitchen, including bread, yoghurt, cakes, jam, marmalade, museli and ice cream.

There’s ample use of local ingredients: scallops and lobsters are served fresh from the bay outside the window and the Highland lamb once roamed the surrounding hills - diners often see the owner trying to chase sheep away when they nibble his flowerbeds.



Contact Scarista House here: www.scaristahouse.com