Sardinia’s shining beaches and coastal resorts have made it the summer escape of choice for rich Milanese and those in search of a lazy time by the sea. In the off season, flights are more scarce and many of the seaside spots close down, but inland, life goes on as it has for thousands of years. If you make the effort, the people, not yet jaded by over tourism, will explain their history and culture with an infectious passion, while filling you full of local Mitro and introducing you to the paletes of several cultures. On our visit, we were told how people used to feel embarrassed to say they were from Sardinia, but now they’re proud of the blossoming of small-scale producers making fine fabrics and cheeses as a young generation take up ancient crafts. In spring, the island is carpeted with wildflowers and the uninhabited mountains, while terrifying to drive, are a joy to walk in as you experience Sardinia beyond the white sand and turquoise waters.
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We’ve always loved Ireland for the blend of beautiful landscape and warm community, and we were reminded just how incredible wildlife is there when we saw the BBC series Wild Ireland: The Edge of the World. Our owners can happily confirm that bottlenose dolphins are resident in the waters off the southern coast of Cork and that on boat trips to the Blasket Islands you can watch the huge seal colony there coming ashore to fight, mate and moult. A red deer herd surviving from prehistoric times still grazes in the mountains and in late autumn, majestic humpback whales pass the coast on their annual migration. Though the whales are a little too elusive to plan a trip around, Ireland’s sheer wildness and beauty are enough to make us want to explore more.
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Ease of access has made this area of the Spanish coast popular with British sun seekers for years, but away from hectic Benidorm are smaller towns and quieter bays that give you the beaches, the weather and a little more of the real Spain. The coastal towns of Moraira and Xàbia are both gentle and picturesque, with mazes of narrow winding streets and idyllic fishing ports. For something more active, head south to the rocky Penyal d’Ifac – a huge limestone outcrop that rises up at the end of a thin peninsula and gives you incredible views of the bay. Half an hour inland are the spectacular Algar Waterfalls, whose deep pools and roaring cascades are an atmospheric alternative to the calm coastal waters.
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