12 Best Beaches to Visit in Mallorca This Summer

British summer is here, bringing the much-anticipated sunshine and the promise of long days tanning in beer gardens, enjoying open-air BBQs, and having picnics in the park. At least, this is the expectation—nay, the dream—of every hot-blooded creature living in our beloved Blighty.

This is why we take no pleasure in informing you that, according to a briefing from the Met Office to the government, we could be in for the wettest summer since 1912, with as many as 50 wet days between June and September and a “greater risk of localised heavy downpours and thunderstorms.” We see the effects of global warming all over the globe, with unusual weather patterns causing flooding in popular summer destinations like Majorca and even a rare snowfall across a 10,000-hectare safari reserve in Cape Town.

But not all is gloom and doom. In a bid to show that it is still possible to make the most of our wet British summer while staying relatively local, we set off to explore one of the most stunning places in the United Kingdom: Scotland.

Our adventure began in the West Midlands, with a six-hour drive to the shores of Loch Tay in the central Highlands of Scotland, an area surrounded by mountains, lochs, and rivers, and within a two-hour drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Admittedly, we were quite nervous about the trip once we checked the weather forecast, which promised storms and rain all week. Nonetheless, we were excited about spending a week away from civilization in a geodesic dome in the middle of nowhere. The nearest McDonald’s was 48 miles away, illustrating just how remote our destination was. We were eager to soak up the scenery from our own private wood-fired hot tub, even if it meant doing so in the rain.

So we packed a teenager, a cat, and a dog in the car, along with our inflatable kayak and mountain bikes, and headed north looking for adventure.

To our delight, as soon as we crossed the border into Scotland, it seemed we left the bad weather behind. The beautiful—and superbly well-maintained—roads amazed us at every curve and turn, from picturesque sleepy villages to mountains, lochs, and raw nature. This sense of awe persisted all the way to our accommodation: the award-winning glamping site at Loch Tay Highland Lodges.

We fell in love with our geodesic dome. Not only was it located in a lush, elevated field with views of the forest and loch below, but it also had many amenities and luxuries we didn’t expect, from rustic wooden furniture, including a queen-size bed, to seating that allowed us to enjoy the view from the panoramic window, and even a log burner to keep us warm after the heat retained by the dome dissipated at night. Cozy doesn’t begin to cover it.

The first thing we did was light up the wood-fired hot tub just outside the dome for a late-night soak under the stars after our BBQ dinner on arrival. We may or may not have left the hot tub close to 3 am, but we won’t confirm or deny this information.

Day two began with a surprise: two of our bikes had tire punctures, necessitating a trip to Killin, the nearest village. At the local outdoor shop, the owner fixed our bikes and gave us the lay of the land for our first adventure: a ride in the rain from Loch Tay to the Falls of Dochart Inn & Smokehouse, a family-owned restaurant at the head of Loch Tay. There, we enjoyed fabulous Scottish tapas, complete with haggis fritter, Dochart skink, rollmop herring, Falls of Dochart smoked cheddar, smoked salmon pate, and both cold and hot smoked salmon with oatcakes. All local fresh produce.

Of course, day two ended with another late night in the hot tub—this time in the rain—which didn’t diminish the experience in the slightest.

The next few days were spent kayaking on Loch Tay and hiking up Ben Lawers, the 1,214-meter Highland summit and 10th highest Munro, offering stunning panoramic views of the surrounding woods, mountains, and lochs.

We also drove to The Drovers Inn, reputedly one of the most haunted pubs in Britain, where guests have reported seeing the ghosts of a family who froze to death during one of Scotland’s fierce winters. Naturally, we had to check it out (and try some more amazing local food, which I have been trying to replicate since we returned home with varying degrees of success).

There are several whisky distilleries in the area, and if, like me, you are a fan, I recommend the short drive to Oban, the seafood capital of Scotland and home to one of the oldest and smallest distilleries in the country. You can join a tour to peek at the ins and outs of a working distillery, complete with a guided tasting. Just remember to be responsible and pass the car keys to someone else if you plan to indulge.

The trip wouldn’t have been complete without stopping at the Trossachs Woollen Mill in Kilmahog, where the famous Hamish the Highland Coo used to live. Of course, we just had to make a quick stop in Glasgow on the way back for some of their famous battered deep-fried Mars bars.

The cost for the whole trip for three people (and two furry friends) was just shy of £700, including fuel and dining out. The biggest expense was the accommodation at £444, which included four nights in the dome (which accommodates up to four people), a private wood-fired hot tub with four packs of wood, an outside dining area with a fire pit, access to the amenities block and kitchen, and a plethora of activities you can book in advance at an extra cost, such as archery, boat rides, SUP hire, and frisbee golf—a novel experience for us! The site also has a bistro, which we have vowed to try next time we visit (yes, we loved it so much we decided we’re going again).

One thing is for sure: this trip taught us two things. First, there is nothing like leaving the rat race behind to immerse yourself in nature, and no matter what you are looking for, you can find it north of the (Hadrian’s) Wall. Second, five days were not enough to see everything the Highlands have to offer.

But believe me when I say: we’ll keep trying! 12 out of 10 stars.