La Bastide de Moustiers
PROVENCE, FRANCE
Best known for haute cuisine at his Michelinstarred restaurants in Monte Carlo and London, Alain Ducasse showcases a different side to his culinary repertoire at La Bastide de Moustiers. Surrounded by fragrant Provençal herbs and flowers, with olive trees providing shade, this was Ducasse’s home before it became a restaurant with rooms. While the atmosphere is homely, the menu of hearty French dishes prepared by chef Adrien De Crignis, such as local venison with vegetables from the garden, is more than worthy of its Michelin star. In the morning, baskets overflow with perfectly flaky, butter y croissants. Five-course menu: €95 (£84). bastide-moustiers.com
WHERE ELSE TO EAT: Moustiers is in a rural area, so dining options are limited, but the main village — roughly a 20 -minute walk away along hilly country lanes — has a clutch of restaurants catering mainly to tourists visiting the Verdon Gorge. Of these, La Part des Anges Moustiers, with enviable views downhill, and La Grignotière, in the heart of the village, both serve Provençal favourites in casual surroundings.
IN THE AREA: Tourists have long made pilgrimages to Moustiers to admire the large gold star that hangs on a 443ft chain between the two cliffs that bookend the village. Local legend says it dates back to the Crusades, although the iteration we see today is 50 years old. The headliner, however, is Verdon Gorge, where active travellers come to hike, climb and raft. For those with a head for heights, paragliding and bungee jumping are also popular. QX
HOW TO DO IT: Eurostar connects London St Pancras with Paris, from where you can catch a train onwards to Marseille. Ryanair, Vueling and British Airways fly from the UK to Marseille, around 90 minutes’ drive from Moustiers. La Bastide’s doubles start at €225 (£198), room only.
Slippurinn
VESTMANNAEYJAR, ICELAND
Slippurinn opens for just four months a year, during summer on the island of Heimaey in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. During this time, head chef Gísli Matt picks, pickles and preser ves foraged ingredients from the land and sea, from lemony sorrel to umami-rich seaweed, pairing them with the catch of the day and whatever else he can source locally. Seven-course tasting menu: ISK 11,490 (£67). slippurinn.com
IN THE AREA: Heimaey is a summer nesting ground for puffins, and orcas and dolphins swim off the coast. On the mainland are the black-sand beaches of Reynisfjara and Vik.
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HOW TO DO IT: EasyJet, Icelandair and Wizzair serve Reykjavík, a two-and-a-halfhour drive to the ferry at Landeyjahöfn. Doubles at Hotel Vestmannaeyjar from ISK 22,050 (£129), B&B. hotelvestmannaeyjar.is
The Three Chimneys
ISLE OF SKYE
This legendary restaurant with rooms sits in a lochside spot on the Isle of
