There’s nowhere quite like Ireland, and that’s especially true when the sun shines. With beaches that belong in the Caribbean and striking scenery, it is only a short hop over the sea from UK mainland.  Sure, the Irish summer might not have the guaranteed heat of the Mediterranean, but what it lacks in scorching temperatures it more than makes up for with gorgeous countryside, an abundance of seafood and a hefty dose of 'craic'. And even if the weather isn’t in your favour, you can always be sure of a snug, cosy pub to warm the cockles.

Catch the Lake District on a fine winter’s day and you might think there could be nowhere more beautiful. Endless blue skies, glassy water, and the heather-clad hills that William Wordsworth described as ‘towering above each other, or lifting themselves in ridges like the waves of a tumultuous sea, an in the beauty and variety of their surfaces and colours, they are surpassed by none’.

Thanks to transport for London cycle hire, there is an additional way of seeing the city that is easy, healthy and fun.  There are more than 750 dockings stations throughout the capital, with more than 11,500 bikes, making it simple to collect or leave a hired bike wherever you are. Whether you want to see the sights, visit a museum or take in the atmosphere, you could combine it with a cycle ride along the river and a picnic in a park.

SKIWELT, AUSTRIA
Ninety minutes from Salzburg and Innsbruck airports, SkiWelt is a collection of eight villages, with Ellmau, Soll and Scheffau best for beginners, as they have good nursery slopes on the lower runs and efficient snow-making facilities.  For more advanced skiers and boarders, there are black runs around the Hohe Salve peak. And the Hahnenkamm, host to the treacherous downhill race, is a short shuttle bus ride away in the neighbouring resort of Kitzbuhel, which is fabulous for both intermediates and beginners. The mountains are not that steep but you still get beautiful views.

BORDEAUX (for the Stylish city Weekender) 
Bordeaux is a small city with big city ambitions, which means you have the best of both worlds. It’s an easy three-hour train ride from Paris, but feels a world away. When in Bordeaux, have stroll around its flea markets and vintage stores, a favourite is Backstage Vintage Store (backstagevintagestore.com) it stocks a really great curated selection of vintage, designer vintage and also second-hand contemporary clothing. Then, on balmy summer nights, hop on a V3 public city bike (Bordeaux has been named the fourth most bike-friendly city in the world) for a ride along the Garonne River on the Quai des Chartrons, up to the outlet stores and boutiques at Quai des Marques.

Like all Italians, the South Tyrolean’s take their food very seriously. South Tyrol’s unique blend of Italian, Tyrolean and Ladin cultures is reflected in the variety and fusion of flavours found in the region’s cuisine. As an almost inevitable result, it is home to some of Europe’s finest restaurants and award-winning wine producers.

You cannot beat the rush of adrenalin combined with muscle burn that you feel after climbing a steep hill to reach the top of the trial. But instead of the fog of fumes and crowded roads of the capital, when you cycle, run or walk in West Sussex it is often just you...reach the peak and take in the breath-taking views across the South Downs, ancient woodland, and out to sea.

Rugged, brooding Sicily crashes up through the waters of the Mediterranean, the wild and secretive ball to Italy’s slinky boot. Home to thousands of years of human history, the starkly beautiful island has fallen to the Greeks, Moors, Arabs, Romans and the French. But in the past 200 years, it has fallen to more modern conquerors, the Mafia, whose stranglehold over the island has only just begun to loosen. The Cosa Nostra (‘Our Thing’) turned Sicily into an impenetrable fortress of fear and the island is peppered with ‘relics’ of its reign of terror.

Tokyo was voted the most satisfying city in the world to visit in 2014. Despite the massive population of over 13 million, visitors said it was friendly, clean and easy to get around. Japan’s capital was also third in the world for restaurants and nightlife and fifth for shopping, according to the same Trip Advisor list.

Tourism to Iran is on the up. Combined with strengthening diplomatic relations between Iran and the West, means the country is finally opening its doors to western tourist. Western government are no longer advising their citizens not to visit this once no-go-zone. However, there are some parts that are not recommending visiting yet.  Consequently, eager tour operators are lining up to take curious travellers to the crumbling city of Persepolis, the rug-strewn bazaars of Esfahan and the stately gardens of Shiraz and see Iran’s many temples, mosques, fortresses and monuments.