Eye On Travel: Controlled Remote: When you need to get away from it all

Stuck in the middle with you?

There are times when you wish you could escape to the middle of nowhere. It would appear 2016 is one of those. A remote location can cleanse the mind, make technology redundant and vastly improve your pub quiz geography answers.

George Mallory was asked why he wanted to climb Mt Everest before starting his ill fated attempt. His answer? ‘Because it’s there’. That’s good enough for us so let’s consider these bolt holes that are just there.

Gobi Won-der:The Desert Star

First port of call is Mongolia and a tent in the middle of the Gobi desert. What could be more fun than that? Actually if it's at the Three Camel Lodge then it is quite a comfortable tent so this is a luxury eco lodge to enjoy.

Inspired and staffed by welcoming local Nomadic people who will feed and entertain you in between excursions into the desert. Just remember to bring plenty of warm clothes.

HOW: Fly to the Mongolian capital Ulaan Baatar with Aeroflot from Heathrow or Gatwick via Moscow (12h) then an onward flight to Dalanzadgat (1.5h) and it’s 1.5h by 4x4 to the Lodge.

Alaska: Baked or chilled?

If the USA seems an unlikely choice, then you have probably forgotten the northern most part - Alaska. The Winterlake Lodge is around 200 miles north east of state capital Anchorage and situated on a 2 mile lake close to the Alaska mountain range.

Go in summer for kayaking, fishing and hiking or go in winter for dog sledding and winter sports. Whatever you choose it will be about as far from Times Square as possible.

HOW: Fly to Anchorage from Heathrow with Virgin/Delta via Seattle (16h). From there it’s a 50min water plane (summer) or ski plane (winter) to the Lodge’s aquatic runway.

Newfoundland: Labrador #bounce

If you are looking for a more rugged experience then head next door to the soon to be very popular Canada but keep going until you reach the top of Newfoundland and the tiny offshore island of Fogo which is home to the stylish Fogo Island Inn.

With the Labrador current creating Iceberg alley this makes for a dramatic, if chilly, trip to one of the corners of the earth. At least according to the Flat Earth Society (which bit don’t they get?). Flora and Fauna is a major attraction with birds, caribou and whales in their respective habitats.

HOW: Fly to Gander from Heathrow or Gatwick via Toronto or St Johns with Air Canada or WestJet (13h). Then it’s 1.5h by road to the ‘Farewell Ferry’ (45min) and a final 35min drive.

Caribbean: PSV Mind haven

If all that cold just doesn’t do it for you then perhaps survival on a desert island would be better. I say survival but actually the 113 acre private island of Petit St Vincent (PSV) with 2 miles of beaches looks manageable.

Located in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (which sounds like a sci-fi film), there are no keys, no TVs and no mobile phone reception. Just the Caribbean to keep you entertained. And Room Service for which you need to raise a flag outside your guesthouse.

HOW: Fly from Gatwick to Bridgetown with BA or Virgin (9h) then it’s a 30min flight to Union Island and 20mins by boat to PSV which is between the islands of St Vincent & St Georges.

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