Islay is renowned for its peaty, smoky whiskies, and the island is home to nine different distilleries, including the famous Laphroaig. Other highlights include the RSPB Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve and the ruins at Finlaggan, former seat of the Lords of the Isles.

Disagreements over the correct name for Northern Ireland’s second city date back to 1613, and are unlikely to be resolved any time soon, so let’s focus instead on what the city has to offer. Highlights include the 17th century city walls, a vibrant live music scene and a city centre rejuvenated by Derry’s stint as UK Capital of Culture in 2013.

The seaside resort town of Ballycastle is just a short drive from the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and highlight of the Antrim coast. The town also has a lovely mile-long beach and a number of attractive 18th-century buildings, and a regular ferry service operates between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island.

Sparsely populated Rathlin Island, off the coast of Northern Ireland, is home to thousands of seabirds, including puffins, kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots. This is also where Robert the Bruce famously took refuge in a cave when he was driven out of Scotland by the English.

The 1998 Good Friday Agreement was a watershed moment for Northern Ireland, and its rejuvenated capital is enjoying a surge in popularity. The new Titanic Belfast museum is the star attraction, while the city centre boasts some handsome Victorian architecture and a lively pub scene.

Bangor is a seaside resort town on County Down’s north coast with an attractive marina, and it’s also a popular base for commuters working in nearby Belfast. Points of interest include Bangor Abbey, with its history dating back to the 6th century, the North Down Museum, and the 19th-century Bangor Castle.