Outer Hebrides

Arran may be 'Scotland in miniature', but the Outer Hebrides is something else something other, because this chain of islands off Britain's far northwest offers the most remote and un-British cycling you can enjoy without needing a passport (the language may be unfamiliar, too: Gaelic is widely spoken).

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Starkly beautiful and dramatic, the Outer Hebrides' quiet roads are best enjoyed on two wheels

 No wonder it was so popular when the pandemic prevented many riders from jaunts abroad. But never mind 'abroad': sometimes the Hebrides' empty singletrack roads picking their way through the treeless wastes - home to some of the world's oldest masses of rock - can feel more lunar than earthlike. Rather windier than the moon, of course: gales are frequent, and however you structure the ride, you might have all-day headwinds.

It's not all exoplanetary sparseness. Cosy villages and hamlets offer cafes, pubs and lodgings with a vibrant community feel, and the sugar-white beaches with clear turquoise waters can look positively Caribbean on a sunny day... albeit 20 Celsius cooler. At least the chill won't be obvious on Instagram. You may well spot unusual wildlife, and not just on the 'otters crossing' road signs. For the adventurer, wild camping here is easy, and special.