Flybe / September 2018

26 / 116

26 / Flight Time / SEPTEMBER 2018
Take-off / Hotels
Every aspect of the QO Hotel in
Amsterdam’s up-and-coming
Amstelkwartier district has
been designed to reduce
environmental impact, from
its rooftop greenhouse and
fish farm to its energy-saving
features, including shower water
recycled for the loos and geo-
thermal energy for heating.
Rooms, which are
decorated in shades of off-
white, grey and deep blue
with natural wood, feature
individual automatic insulating
shutters and recycled fishing
nets for carpets. Sleek
bathrooms are open-plan and
fitted in black stone.
Natural light fills the
building, with calming pink
and green colourways in
public areas and recycled,
patterned concrete walls.
Eat at the hotel’s Persijn
restaurant which uses local
ingredients (much from
the rooftop greenhouse) in
deliciously-fresh dishes. The
Juniper & Kin bar on the 21st
floor has great views and even
better cocktails.
E X E T E R
Devon delight
NORTH DEVON’S COASTLINE IS BEAUTIFUL
AND BREATHTAKING, AND HOLIDAY HOME
CHALET SAUNTON PROVIDES A PICTURE-
PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO ADMIRE ITS
GLORY, AS TIM HEAP DISCOVERED…
Dunalastair Hotel Suites is
a Highland Perthshire hotel
in Kinloch Rannoch, one of
Scotland’s most popular jet-
setting destinations. It began
life as a village inn more
than 200 years ago, and has
recently undergone a multi-
million-pound makeover,
creating an oasis of luxury,
combining the building’s
historic features with on-trend
modern interiors. Visitors can
stay in one of 32 suites and
enjoy fine dining in the hotel’s
restaurant, Edina’s Kitchen,
which uses local ingredients
to prepare traditional Scottish
dishes. As well as being a
prime destination for hiking,
hill-walking, fishing and
cycling, Kinloch Rannoch is
becoming a hot-spot for
film tourism. The area’s
Just before summer officially kicked
off I set off with a friend for a weekend
break at Chalet Saunton in north Devon,
which had just launched in time for
the 2018 season. When we arrived, our
lovely host Lisa showed us around the
spacious two-bedroom penthouse
which had breathtaking views over the
spectacular Braunton Burrows, a UNESCO-
designated Biosphere Reserve and Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and was
kitted out with everything you could need
for your stay, including a very welcome
breakfast hamper of local deli produce.
The vast couch is made for sprawling and
a turntable with a big collection of vinyl
is a nice touch, as is the main bedroom’s
metal roll-top bath.
Chalet Saunton also features six
three-bedroom apartments below the
penthouse that are perfect for families,
all sharing access to a terraced garden
leading to a short path down to the
beach.
The next morning we set off to
explore the area, and for fans of north
Devon’s beautiful coastal villages, this is
a perfect starting point with short drives
to the picturesque nearby villages of
Georgeham and Croyde (with its famous
ice-cream parlour), and slightly further
along, Woolacombe.
We stopped at Croyde for a walk
around the headland at Baggy Point,
featuring coastal views to rival those from
our balcony. Then it was on to Lynton
for a belly-busting afternoon tea before
returning to cook ourselves a feast in the
well-equipped kitchen.
Two nights felt all too short, but
fortunately the chalet offers longer
stays so you can get the most out of this
beautiful part of the country.
breathtaking scenery has led
to its appearance in Harry
Potter, Trainspotting, Rob Roy
and TV series Outlander.
The hotel makes a great
base from which to explore a
beautiful part of Scotland and
is perfect for those looking to
escape the hustle and bustle
of city life for a few days, with
plenty to see and do.
E D I N B U R G H , G L A S G O W , A B E R D E E N
Highland luxury
A M S T E R D A M
Eco-friendly
and fabulous