Evelix Pods

Five minutes’ drive takes you to Dornoch, an all-in-one holiday destination with a sandy beach safe for swimming, a championship golf course and a handsome 13th-century cathedral to have a nose around. Walkers can hike through woodland in Achany Glen (half an hour) to admire the fast-flowing Falls of Shin (35 minutes’ walk), and cyclists can make the most of near-deserted single-track roads to pedal to remote Loch Buidhe (three hours’ ride) – there’s bike hire in the middle of Dornoch. Nature-lovers will be pleased to hear that the mud flats and dunes of Dornoch Firth (five minutes’ drive) are rich in wildlife. You might get lucky enough to spot endangered ospreys flying over the water, while red deer, sea birds, seals and dolphins are more common sightings. Known for its rare orchids, Loch Fleet Nature Reserve (10 minutes) is also a haven for otters, and pine martens frequent the woodland bordering the loch. If you’re keen to taste some local produce, there are a number of distilleries on the local Whisky Trail, including Glenmorangie (10 minutes) and Dalmore (half an hour), which are both open for tours and tastings.