A firm favourite in Portree and Inverness, Birch Coffee is a micro-roastery and bakery where serious beans meet Scandi-inspired calm. Sip single-origin espresso in soft-hued ceramics and watch the daily rhythm unfold – roasters humming, bakers folding buttery dough, locals lingering over pour-overs. Thoughtful and design-forward without trying too hard, Birch’s sleek interiors are designed by owner Niall Munro and brought to life with hand-crafted furniture using Scottish native timber.  

Snuggled at the foot of Ben Tianavaig, The Crofter’s House is a dreamy little hideaway just a two-minute stroll from Camustianavaig Bay, where seals, otters, and even sea eagles might pop by to say hello. The self-catering cottage is stylishly minimalist with a wood-burning stove, kitchen, and bike storage, yet Portree’s shops and restaurants are just five miles away.

Raasay’s Dùn Caan is everything a Highland hike should be – wild and utterly rewarding. The 15-kilometre trail winds over moorland, past hidden lochans, and up rocky ridges to the island’s highest point. From the flat-topped summit, the views are ridiculous – never-ending panoramas of Skye, the Inner Hebrides, and the Atlantic stretching to the horizon. Keep an eye out for buzzards circling above, and maybe even a red deer or two in the heather. Pack a picnic and soak it all in – it’s worth every huff and puff.

The Old Man of Storr is very old indeed, part of the 2.8-billion-year-old Trotternish Ridge. Basalt pinnacles rise from rolling green slopes, perfect for a (moderately challenging) hike that’s equal parts heart-pumping and eye-widening. Legend has it the ‘Old Man’ is the thumb of a giant who once lived on the island, frozen forever in rock. As you wind your way up, sheep nibble nearby and the views over the Sound of Raasay just keep getting better.