Our walks this month Ian Battersby 1 ...

Over the stippled swell of the Firth of Clyde soars a gannet. A pair of long, black-tipped wings catches the late-August light as the bird tilts on the breeze. It’s on fish patrol – curving low then r

If you’re travelling from southern England, the Caledonian Sleeper runs direct overnight train journeys to and from London Euston and Glasgow Central, with seats from £50 and classic rooms from £190 (

It’s the busiest time of year for Britain’s beautiful places. Yet as these locations prove, you can find silence, sensational scenery and space to breathe.

ULTIMATE WEEKEND ▲ 3 ROUTES

SCENIC LINEAR ROUTE