Take me there: John O'Groats, Caithness
It has been described as a "seedy tourist trap" by Lonely Planet and received a Carbuncle Award for being "Scotland's most dismal town", but John O'Groats is about to reinvent itself as an upmarket base for outdoor adventures. Luxury self-catering specialists Natural Retreats will unveil 23 contemporary eco-lodges at the iconic site on the northern edge of mainland Britain. The £6m revamp will also see the opening of an Outfitters store, offering whale watching, wildlife safaris, fishing and guided hikes and a co-operative storehouse selling local produce. The first phase opens on 1 August. For more information, go to naturalretreats.com
Joanne's travel clinic: The Italian lakes
The dilemma We want to go abroad with our three-year-old twins after the schools go back. Our essential checklist is: short flight, warm pool, kid friendly, nice scenery. Amina, by email
The Italian Lakes tick all those boxes. By mid-September the crowds have gone, but the weather should still be balmy enough to make the most of the gorgeous lakeside towns and mountain scenery. For a good choice of family-friendly accommodation, Lake Garda is hard to beat.
Fly to Verona (with BA, Ryanair or Easyjet) and then it's just a short transfer to the south of the lake, where you have a choice of well-equipped campsites with swimming pools and heaps of activities for children, from crazy golf to indoor cinemas.
A seven-night break in a two-bedroom mobile home at Bella Italia, a large site on the lakefront, costs £308 with Eurocamp (eurocamp.co.uk) arriving on 14 September, excluding flights, or you could stay at the Altomincio Family Park for £282 with Canvas Holidays, arriving on 7 September (canvasholidays.co.uk).
Take boat trips across the lake to charming towns, such as Riva and Limone, enjoy a day trip to Verona or catch a shuttle bus to Gardaland, Italy's biggest theme park.
Three of the best: student lodgings for summer
Forget dingy bedsits. Ensuite bathrooms, gyms and wi-fi are the norm in university halls of residence – and when the students have left for summer, they make a great base for a cheap holiday
St Andrews A cut above your typical student digs, New Hall offers B&B accommodation in smart ensuite double rooms. From £28 a night (discoverstandrews.com)
Oxford Who cares if you flunked your A levels? For just £30 a night the hallowed colleges and quads of Oxford University are all yours (oxfordrooms.co.uk)
Falmouth More holiday camp than campus: modern flats with access to gym, bar and beaches. From £19 per night (tremoughaccommodationfalmouth.co.uk)
