If you’re the kind of holidaymaker who believes less is more and yearns for an escape where you can’t see the people for the trees, then a “stillcation” is probably the dream.

Unlike a staycation ­– which involves enjoying a break at or near home – a stillcation may require you to travel.

The pay-off is that once you reach your destination you will ideally be far removed from the hustle of daily life, high-rises and to-do lists, instead getting to revel in stillness, nature and the art of doing nothing.

Except perhaps taking a walk in a forest, stargazing or listening to birds.

While there are plenty of places in Australia well-suited to such a sojourn, those looking further afield can find inspiration in a new list of the “stillest” places in Europe compiled by UK-based travel company Inghams Walking.

Citing research on the neurological benefits of doing less (or nothing), it came up with six environmental factors believed to help the brain reach its natural resting state:

• Stargazing quality (based on a dark-sky scale measuring light pollution)
• Human density (population per square kilometre)
• Birdsong (number of bird species)
• Forest cover
• Air quality
• Walking trail density (total listed trails divided by area)

Topping a list of 100 European destinations awarded scores based on these factors was the Scottish Highlands – specifically an area in the north-west known as Wester Ross.

Inghams’ top 15 “stillest” destinations also included Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, three places each in Sweden and Austria, two in Slovenia and France, and one each in Switzerland, Italy and Spain.

The top five stillcation destinations:

Wester Ross, Scotland

Designated a Biosphere Region by UNESCO, this breathtaking part of the Scottish Highlands has both dramatic scenery and a sparse population – making it perfect for a stillcation.

“Wester Ross is dominated by wild, rugged mountains, remote glens and long, steep-sided straths or valleys which extend down to the sea,” says UNESCO.

“Fast-flowing rivers empty into sheltered bays and sea lochs, or inlets. The indented coastline is long, varied and beautiful, ranging from exposed headlands to well-sheltered sea lochs.”

There’s plenty of stillness to be found in the famous lochside Inverewe Garden, as well as ample opportunity for stargazing thanks to Wester Ross’s dark skies.

And here’s a handy tip: The region includes the small coastal village of Ullapool, where you can catch a ferry to the Outer Hebrides, which came seventh on the stillcation destinations list.

French Pyrenees

Straddling the border between France and Spain, the Pyrenees mountains are a veritable playground for nature lovers and adventure seekers, offering myriad hiking and cycling trails as well as activities like canyoning, climbing and skiing.

Or you could just find a quiet sport and listen to some of the more than 300 bird species.

“Simply being here will help you drift off into that state of stillness without doing any of the work,” promises Inghams.

Explore France website offers its own “slow tourism” suggestions for relaxing in the Pyrenees, including wildlife watching in Pyrenees National Park, drinking in the view from the banks of picturesque Gaube Lake, and “gentle walking” in the Azun Valley.

Abisko, Sweden

Abisko’s dark skies make it ideal for viewing the Northern Lights. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

This small Swedish village about 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle has the most listed walking trails per square kilometre of any destination analysed in the stillness survey, but its real claim to fame is as one of Scandinavia’s best places to see the Northern Lights.

The lights can be seen between September and early April, with “aurora chasing” tours offering unique viewing opportunities.

“While you are in the Abisko National Park or the surrounding Kiruna Mountains you have a very high likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights dance in green over your head,” according to Visit Abisko.

“If you’re lucky you will get to witness them take on colours ranging through purple, blue, yellow or even red.”

Outside of aurora season, stillness hunters can try their luck at ice fishing or get up close with a reindeer at an open-air museum run by the Indigenous Sami in nearby Kiruna.

Engadin Valley, Switzerland

A panoramic train trip on the Bernina Express. Photo: Unsplash

Described as an “ethereal wonderland” by National Geographic, Engadin Valley is overlooked by the highest peak in the Eastern Alps and boasts a natural landscape full of beautiful lakes, mountains and glaciers.

It is also home to the popular alpine resort town of St Moritz, which doesn’t immediately conjure thoughts of stillness, but there are opportunities elsewhere to “rest and digest”.

You could visit the Samedan Mineral Baths & Spa in the historical village of Samedan, take a hike along the “smugglers’ trail” in Maloja, or enjoy a panoramic train trip through the alps on the Bernina Express.

The Dolomites, Italy

A slower pace beckons in Alpe di Siusi. Photo: Flavio Spugna / Flickr

There is more breathtaking scenery to explore in this UNESCO World Heritage-listed mountain range, which is home to 18 peaks that rise about 3000 metres and covers nearly 142,000 hectares.

Inghams acknowledges that the Dolomites’ growing popularity means some areas can be “lively”, especially in peak season.

“To embrace the true natural stillness that this destination has to offer, head to Alpe di Siusi, where the atmosphere is much more soothing and slow-paced than the popular hub of Cortina,” it advises.