Take me there: Svalbard, Norway
Why go?
The end of winter is always a cause for celebration in Svalbard, and never more so than this year when the sun’s first reappearance above the horizon – after a long, dark absence of six months – will coincide with a total eclipse (20 March, svalbard2015.no). The archipelago, halfway between Norway and the North Pole, offers unspoiled Arctic wilderness, but doesn’t come cheap. Though airfares are lower since Norwegian Air started flying there (norwegian.com) the cost of living is high. But for many, a trip to this glacial outpost, where polar bears outnumber people, is worth saving up for.
What to do
Activities are determined by the seasons: hiking, kayaking and glacier cruises in summer, and dogsledding and snowmobiling in winter. Extreme conditions and the risk of polar bear encounters make an organised trip the safest option. Most operators are based in Longyearbyen, a former mining settlement which is the inspiration for the fictional town of Fortitude, Sky Atlantic’s new crime blockbuster. Be sure to visit the Spitsbergen Airship Museum, which tells the story of polar exploration (spitsbergenairshipmuseum.com). Basecamp Spitsbergen offers several unusual excursions, including the chance to spend a night on a Dutch sailing vessel frozen into the fjord ice (basecampspitsbergen.com).
Where to eat
Huset is something of a local institution, offering everything from pizza to reindeer stew (huset.com).
Where to stay
Basecamp Hotel (previously known as Trapper’s Hotel) in Longyearbyen is a cosy and atmospheric retreat kitted out with furs, seal skins and driftwood (from £90 per night, basecampspitsbergen.com).
Insider tip
Wilderness guide Stefano Poli (poliarctici.com) suggests a snowmobile safari to Storfjorden. “In winter it’s the best place to see polar bears. We offer overnight stays in heated tents as the best time to see bears is in the morning and evening.”
Give me a break
Weekends in historic landmarks The Landmark Trust will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with free open days at 25 of its restored historic buildings. The “Golden Weekend” will run from 16-17 May, offering people a peek inside some of the charity’s most unusual properties, from castles to cottages. The weekend includes a musical performance and the unveiling of new Antony Gormley sculptures at five Landmarks (landmarktrust.org.uk).
Sun, sea and Sardinia A family-friendly hotel on the south coast of Sardinia is one of several new properties making their debut in Sardinian Places’ 2015 brochure. The Hotel Villas Resort in Castiadas is set in leafy gardens a short walk from a sandy beach. A children’s club runs from June to September. A week in a classic room, which sleeps up to three, is from £746pp including flights and car hire, departing 30 May (sardinianplaces.co.uk).
