Falmouth has one of the deepest natural harbours in the world, and you can learn about the town’s seafaring heritage at the excellent National Maritime Museum. There are some lovely pubs, cafés and seafood restaurants here, and it’s also a good base for exploring Cornwall’s south coast.

The attractive town of Cobh is situated on an island in Cork Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world. It’s a colourful place with an interesting history; Cobh was the main exit point for thousands who fled Ireland during the famine years, and it was also the final port of call for the ill-fated Titanic.

Galway is known as the ‘city of festivals’, home to a cosmopolitan mix of artists, musicians and students. Buskers and folk bands provide the soundtrack as you explore the city’s fantastic pubs and pedestrianised streets, and Galway is also a useful base for visiting sights such as the Cliffs of Moher and Connemara National Park.

The famous Norse explorer Erik the Red chose the area around Narsaq to establish his first settlements in Greenland, and you can still see Norse ruins dating back over 1,000 years. You can learn more at the town’s museum, which also includes exhibits on kayaks and traditional clothing.

Greenland’s capital and largest town, Nuuk is positively cosmopolitan compared to the rest of this remote and isolated country. The setting amongst mountains and fjords is striking, and attractions include the Greenland National Museum and the picturesque Old Harbour.

Capital of Iceland and gateway to this extraordinary volcanic island, modern Reykjavík is home to an impressive collection of interesting attractions and places of historic significance. Visit the impressive Hallgrímskirkja church, relax in a thermal pool, potter around the old harbour, and enjoy 24 hour daylight in the summer months.

Ísafjörður is the largest town in Iceland’s wild Westfjords, dramatically located on a spit of sand hemmed in by mountains on three sides. The town itself is fairly low key, and the main attraction is exploring the surrounding landscapes, such as the spectacular Hornstrandir Peninsula.

The little town of Húsavík, on Iceland’s north coast, enjoys a picturesque setting just across the bay from the imposing Húsavíkurfjall mountain, and is known as Iceland’s whale watching capital. It’s also not far from the fascinating Lake Mývatn if you would prefer to take a land-based excursion.

Tórshavn, named after the Norse god Thor, is one of the world’s smallest capitals, with a population of just 20,000. The brightly coloured facades and turfed roofs lend the harbour an attractive, storybook quality, and the narrow streets are home to some atmospheric pubs and cafés.

The flat, windswept Orkney Islands, just off the northeast coast of Scotland, have a distinctive Scandinavian heritage that’s discernible in everything from the unusual place names to the ancient Norse architecture of the capital, Kirkwall. Don’t miss the Ring of Brodgar, a fascinating Neolithic stone circle.