A stunning island in the UK is home to lush turquoise waters and awe inspiring historical sites – but it’s often ignored in favour its more famous neighbour. Iona, an island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago off the coast of Scotland that measures just 1.5miles wide, has long been a point of pilgrimage – and is seen by many as a sacred place.

St Columba, an Irish abbot and missionary evanglist arrived on the island from Ireland with 12 companions in AD 563 and formed a one of the British Isles’ most influential monasteries, as per Historic Environment Scotland. Many historians therefore consider it to be the birthplace of Scottish Christianity, and people continue to come to the island to pay their respects and see the building.

But an i Newspaper feature on the island from last year noted how surprisingly tranquil Iona is despite having “such a famous history”.

“In summer the population of 150 swells to 300” with people visiting for the day to see the abbey, it continues.

And while a few stay overnight “in the couple of small hotels in the village” most of them “make their way back over the Sound at the end of the day” and the island “empties out.

Besides the historic abbey, tourists can also see the an Augustinian nunnery closeby, and the island’s main settlement Baile Mòr where you can find hotels and restaurants, as per The Daily Record.

The remote island is just off the coast of Mull, the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides, which has beautiful beaches and scenery, and is one of Scotland’s most visited islands.

But while Iona might not be nearly as popular, it’s got its fair share of pretty beaches too.

St. Columba’s Bay, Port Ban Beach, and the Traigh Bhan Nam Monach (White Strand of the Monks) are among the best, according to a TripAdvisor ranking based on traveller favourites.

However, it’s not easy to visit, requiring a ferry from the Scottish mainland to Mull, then another to Iona.

In a desperate attempt to manage visitor numbers, reduce traffic congestion, improve safety and ultimately improve the lives of residents in the “Spanish Machu Picchu”, a new mandatory service has been introduced. As of Friday, (April 18) visitors wishing to visit or hike through the iconic Masca Valley in Tenerife will only be able to do so via a new mandatory public transport service. 

It has been implemented by the Canary Island‘s Cabildo, in collaboration with the municipalities of Buenavista del Norte and Santiago del Teide. “This is about achieving sustainable mobility that is compatible with tourism, while protecting a natural environment as fragile and ecologically valuable as Masca,” said Rosa Dávila, President of the Tenerife Cabildo. The shuttle bus is now obligatory for anyone intending to access the trail through the gorge.

Entry will be regulated via the Masca Visitor Centre and tickets must be purchased in advance through the official website. The cost of the bus fare is automatically added to the ticket price for the hike.

The Cabildo has clarified that those arriving at the village by private vehicle or other means will not be allowed to enter the trail.

Situated in the Teno area, in northwest Tenerife, Masca is home to around 90 residents. The village lies at an altitude of 2,132 feet in the Macizo de Teno mountains, which extend up to the northwesternmost point of Tenerife, and sits at the head of the Masca Gorge.

The new service will run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between 7 am and 2 pm, with buses departing every 20 minutes from Santiago del Teide. According to Canarian Weekly, the pick-up point is the existing TITSA bus stop next to the Town Hall.

To support the scheme, a car park has been made available near the municipal cemetery, where visitors can park their cars before boarding the shuttle, which has a capacity of 18 passengers.

Non-resident adults, including holidaymakers, will be required to pay €28 (£24) for entry and €10 (£8.60) for transport, while children will be charged €14 (£12) for the entrance and €5 (£4.30) for the shuttle ride.

Tenerife residents will be able to access the gorge and use the shuttle service free of charge. Canarian residents from other islands in the archipelago, meanwhile, will pay €3 (£2.60) for entry and €4 (£3.40) for the bus, while children will be charged €1.50 (£1.30) and €2 (£1.70), respectively.

Last month, residents of the small mountain village, famous for its unique and wild beauty, raised an alarm over safety and overcrowding due to a surge in tourism and prepared a formal document which was submitted to the local council and the Cabildo.

Some locals have reportedly even started referring to the village as a “tourist theme park”. 

“There are robberies at the viewpoints practically every day,” said the president of the local residents’ association, Jorge Javier Díaz, adding that while the Guardia Civil was doing its best with limited resources, “what we need is a visible police presence”. 

The state of the only access road – a narrow single-lane road – has become a major concern, which was built by the residents themselves between the 1960s and 1980s and can no longer cope with the constant stream of vehicles.

In a recent act of protest, the village residents informed the Cabildo that they would be changing the lock to one of the access gates. Diaz said: “Two weeks ago, we sent a letter to the Cabildo saying we were going to change the lock. Now, we have the key. Until then, we didn’t”. 

With its vast golden sands, crystal-clear waters, and laid-back atmosphere, this seaside town is one of the West Country’s most spectacular coastal escapes. While the North Devon village may have one of the UK’s most highly ranked beaches that’s almost three miles long, it has still managed to keep a lower profile than Padstow.

Instead, it has a quieter family atmosphere, where rolling green hills descend onto almost three miles of golden sands and surfer’s waves, with all the rugged beauty of the North Devon countryside. It’s easy to see why Woolacombe remains a firm favourite among holidaymakers, with memorable touches such as the quintessentially British beach huts to rent over Summer, balancing natural beauty with family-friendly practicality.

One TripAdvisor reviewer, Ben C, called it the best beach in Britain, saying: “Could not fault this beach – great sand for children to play with, dog friendly, loads of pop up vans selling food and drink and big enough for everyone! Well worth a visit.”

Editor Emma Cook wrote in the Guardian: “Woolacombe itself is less gentrified than your Padstows or Polzeaths, certainly, but all the more charming for it.”

Instead of upmarket chains, the North Devon alternative is full of local charm with independent shops, restaurants and relaxed cafés serving up piping hot fish and chips or pasties. 

For panoramic views over the coastline, a rewarding circular route takes you to the rugged headland of Morte Point, where there is a fair chance of spotting seals along the rocks below.

Keen walkers can continue along the South West Coast Path, which runs in both directions—towards Croyde via Baggy Point, or north to the dramatic cliffs of Bull Point and beyond.

Inland, you can cycle or horse ride along the old railway bridle path that links Woolacombe with nearby villages, such as Ilfracombe, which has a Victorian seafront, independent cafés, and Damien Hirst’s striking 66ft sculpture, Verity.