9. Cornwall, UK
Why it’s hot? Where the film cameras go, we follow
With the BBC’s Poldark shining a brooding light on England’s south-western tip, Cornwall has rarely looked so ripped, its windswept coastal flanks bared in glorious high definition. The St Agnes cliffs and the coves of Gunwalloe – key locations in the show – have already seen a spike in footfall, and with the county’s castles further north getting the cinematic treatment in 2017’s gritty King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, it’s left us drooling for more soft-core Cornwall.
The deep west is true Poldark country though. Delve into its mining past at the steam-powered Levant mine, near St Just; embrace its salty present in Penzance, taking a boat to spy dolphins and seals offshore; or simply soak up the striking coastline on the 22km Lizard Point-to-Porthleven trail, wandering desolate coves, isolated beaches and wildflower-strewn cliff tops. Finish further north, unpicking Arthurian legends at Tintagel Abbey (King Arthur’s alleged birthplace) and Bodmin Moor, where legend has it Arthur received – and returned – his mythical sword Excalibur. A truly legendary escape.
10. Fiji
Why it’s hot? Because sometimes a place just deserves a second look
Perennial backpacker and honeymooner favourite Fiji tends to suffer from ‘been-there-done-that’ syndrome. Visitors breeze through on RTW tickets or on romantic packages, polishing off island cliches like so many pool-bar cocktails. But you can’t explore300 islands on a flyby.
The Yasawa Islands are less off-the-radar than it used to be, but this lush, remote archipelago threads an enticing seam west of Fiji’s mainland. Sparsely populated, its waters teem with manta rays (in season), while exploring its limestone Sawailau caves – only accessible via a submerged tunnel – are a rite of passage.
But Fiji’s hidden gem is the main island of Viti Levu, with its lesser-seen interior seemingly lost to travellers. Raft into the protected wetlands of Upper Navua, climb Mount Tomaniivi (1,323m), or stay in the community-run Stone Bowl Lodge, a former colonial summer house (dating from the 1870s) in Nadarivatu. Talanoa Treks are a good start for inland hikes, with cross-highland treks and stays in villages en route. Just leave some time for hitting the beach afterwards…
