Welcome to Off the Beaten World

Duke’s Pass

Name: Duke’s Pass

Country: Scotland

Town: Road between Callander and Aberfoyle

Description: Duke’s Pass is the steep and winding road which links Aberfoyle to the Trossachs and Brig O’Turk. It is a drive with spectacular scenery which offers a superb view across the forest.

How to get there: Duke’s Pass is in Achray Forest which is part of Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, in the Trossachs.

From Glasgow: Leave the M8 at Junction 16, and follow the signs for the A81 towards Aberfoyle. Always follow ‘The Trossachs’ signs. Pass Milngavie and continue to follow the A81 up to Aberfoyle. Drive into Aberfoyle, at the far end of the main street, the road turns right and uphill onto the Duke’s Pass.

Ideas: Near the highest point, you will see a sign for the ‘Three Lochs Forest Drive’ viewpoint. Stop at the carpark to walk to the top of the hill, from where you can enjoy a superb view over the heart of the Trossachs, across the Lochs and the Mountains towards the Highlands.

NB: The Forest Drive closes over the winter months between September and April.

North Coast [Thurso-Durness]

Name: North Coast

Country: Scotland

Town: Road from Thurso to Durness

Description: Far too often the Isle of Skye has been regarded as the top spot to go in Scotland. Without denial, it is a very cool, impressing place. The Northern Coast, however… is far more impressive: more desolate, more raw, and nature that will please your mind’s eyes for weeks after seeing it.

How to get there: Drive from Thurso (the way up to Thurso from the South is lovely as well, but don’t forget to get some petrol before) to Durness or vice versa. You will meet paradisiacal beaches surrounded by steep cliffs and arctic blue water and a silence that caresses the beauty.

Ideas: If you are in Durness, you can stop at the Smoo Cave to speak in your own language to the guide. During his twenty years of being a guide he has managed to learn his tour in every language imaginable, even English!

Simon says: The thing with Scotland is that you can not drive more than ten minutes without seeing some sort of lake. Small one-lane tracks with passing places take you through Lord of the Rings types of landscapes, or rather wastelands. You pass towns with less people than in your appartment block at home and the most exciting living creatures you meet are sheep.

Calblanque

Name: Calblanque

Country: Spain

Town: Near to Murcia

Description: One of the most magical beaches of the Costa Calida is Calblanque (South East of Murcia). This almost untouched coastline stretches along 13 km and harbours a beautiful National Park. The golden beaches and the turquoise waters make you feel tropical. The park consists of mysterious coves, ancient pine forests which are crossed by nice walking trails. You might see some naked people walking or fooling around, but don’t let that bother you.

How to get there: Since it is not spoiled by man’s fetish for concrete, the road up to Calblanque is dusty and bumpy. Take the MU 312 and head south for La Manga. Right after passing Los Belones you will see at your right hand side a small, white sign for Calblanque. The unpaved road will take you to a junction. Turn left and you will get at the largest beach and the salt beds: turn to the right and you will get to two smaller beaches and the centre of the park.

Ideas: At night, there is noboby so it makes the perfect spot to camp with a nice fire, although this is not really allowed. Just clean up the mess afterwards.

Furthermore, it is a top spot to hike. If you search your way up to the highest summit of the park, you will see at one side the airportstrip of La Manga where hotels are built on top of other hotels, as well a hyperbourgeois golf court, while at the other the slow paced beauty of the languorous hills and pure beaches which unfolds in front of your eyes.

Simon says: I am totally in love with this place, and probably it is the best spot at the South East coast of Spain. It is seldomly visited by tourists. Only locals and Erasmus students who know locals go there. ¡¡¡Top Spot!!!

Coral Beach

Name: Coral Beach

Country: Scotland

Town: Near to Dunvegan

Description: A beach white as snow with clear blue waters which will make you believe you are sitting on the Caribean. A serene surrounding for a peaceful day at the beach.

How to get there: The Coral Beach is located at the north west tip of the Dunvegan peninsula.

Take the road to Dunvegan Castle but carry on past the Castle on the left and the parking area. At this point the road becomes narrow, as it winds across moorland to a signposted parking area just beyond Claigan.

From here a country path leads along the coast before turning inland. At this point you need to be wary, as the actual path departs from the roadway and follows the line of the coast over a rise and down to the first of the coral beaches, which is very small. Carry on over the next small hill to the proper coral beach.