Europe and Middle East

Exclusive guide to the best holiday destinations in Europe and Middle East. independent reviews from award-winning travel writers

Andy Mossack eats at the Isle of Eriska Restaurant.near Oban on 300 acres of private island. The big house in spring 2011 3 MB

Isle of Eriska Restaurant. Discover a excellent restaurant on its own Scottish Island

Head chef Ross Stovold has a lot to answer for as far as I am concerned. The former top man at Michelin-starred Alimentum in Cambridge has brought his Michelin magic to the Isle of Eriska restaurant, within the family owned hotel sitting on its very own Scottish island.

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Andy Mossack reviews Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club, and finds a real beauty. Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club10th Green

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club, Discover a wonderful golf course in Argyle.

Andy Mossack reviews Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club, and finds a real beauty.

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Inspector Montalbano Sicily

Inspector Montalbano Sicily

“Il Commissario” has done for south-east Sicily what “Bergerac” did for Jersey, Steve McGarrett for Hawaii, “Wallender” for south Sweden and what “Shetland” is doing for Shetland.TV detectives have become ambassadors. And travel agents. And are bringing in the tourists to visit Inspector Montalbano’s Sicily locations. The New Year sees a new ten-part series of BBC4’s “Inspector Montalbano”, starring the Bruce Willis- headed Luca Zingaretti and based on Andrea Camilleri’s books which have sold 15m worldwide.

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Andy Mossack stays at the Isle of Eriska Hotel and discovers it's not everyday a hotel as its own island.

Isle of Eriska Hotel. Discover a luxury hotel on its own Island in Argyll.

It was late, and we were sitting in the bar with a night cap when a waiter walked by armed with a jug of milk and some bread crumbs. Strange after dinner order I thought, so I followed him. He opened the back door and left them out on the step. Even stranger, must be for a very special guest. “For our badgers” the waiter told me after seeing my perplexed stare. It seems at the Isle of Eriska Hotel even the badgers are well looked after.

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Brilliant Edinburgh festivals and other fancies Edinburgh Festival Fringe credit Janeanne Gilchrist gallery detail

Brilliant Edinburgh festivals and other fancies

When my friends say they’re going to the ‘Edinburgh Festival’ I’m tempted to ask – which one? These days there’s a whole host of them year round – 12, in fact, from the Jazz and Blues fest to the Storytelling to the famous Fringe.

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West coast Scotland 001

The Ugadale Hotel

The famous first tee at Machrihanish Golf Club is looking impossibly perfect from my bedroom window at the Ugadale Hotel, framed as it is by the morning sun and the Atlantic rollers behind. Old Tom Morris, the designer of St. Andrews’ Old Course would be so proud his other baby is looking so good after all these years. The same could be said for the Ugadale Hotel, the once proud dame of Machrihanish saved from abandoned ruin by her new American owners, Southworth Development.

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