![Orkney Islands, Scotland](https://images.suitcasemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/10201603/five-uk-destinations-for-a-blissful-bank-holiday-weekend_652e7bb7e4410.jpeg)
Mainland
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Wild, dramatic and remote, the Orkney archipelago is home to some 70 islands, only 20 of which are permanently inhabited. It's the main island, known as the Mainland, that we recommend making tracks for. Still untouched by big-name chains and hedonistic hipsters, this is the sort of place that offers a proper recharge - the kind where weekends are best spent getting lost on blustery beach walks and ploughing through a stack of books. Who said bank holidays have to look like booze-fuelled antics, anyway? Lace up your hiking boots, rope in that friend who enjoys the great outdoors and set off for a stomp along the moody sandstone cliffs of Yesnaby.
Where to stay: Standing Stones Hotel