TOP 10 REMOTE PLACES IN THE UK

There's something aweinspiring about a place that's remained untamed. Dixe Wills picks his favourite wild sites

- Dixie Wills

1. Foula, Shetland

When it comes to Britain's inhabited islands, it'd be hard to beat Foula if you're looking for isolation. Bobbing about in the Atlantic, it's a full 15 nautical miles off the west coast of the Mainland of Shetland. With phone reception exceedingly patchy, it's appreciatively cut off from the world and its myriad troubles.

The little isle was first inhabited five millennia ago and today is home to fewer than 40 hardy souls. There are three cottages let to visitors (check out the 'General Information' section at foulaheritage.​com for more information) but, as you might expect, further facilities are somewhat thin on the ground. A post office is open six hours a week but there's no shop. And while the island does have a short airstrip, by far the more exciting way to arrive is to take the twiceweekly 12-passenger ferry (bkmarine.co.uk) for the two-hour voyage from Shetland. Astonishingly, a ticket will set you back a mere £2.80. If you're bringing your car with you, that rises to a whopping £16.50.

Fellow visitors to the island include puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes and seals, and you'll see Shetland ponies and the island's very own breed of sheep too. However, do be warned - in contrast to most of Great Britain, humans are not the apex predator on Foula. You'll discover this as soon as you venture too close to the nest of one of the Arctic skuas or bonxies (great skuas) who inhabit the island. Large and well armed, these feisty birds attack the heads of intruders, so you'd be advised to hold a stick above yours (so that they dive bomb and attack the top of that instead) and beat a hasty retreat.

2. Berney Arms railway station, Norfolk