TRAVEL

TRAVEL

Canaries calling

Need to escape the dark, cold UK winter? The Canaries are the nearest place for some winter sun and offer a diverse choice of holidays

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS HAVE been and gone and now there are only the long, dreary days of January and February ahead of us. It barely gets light, days are short and everyone looks awful and is miserable, particularly this winter. Now is the time to forget heating bills and hop on a plane to enjoy some winter sun. And just four hours south (and in the same time zone) are the Canary Islands.

About a hundred miles west of Morocco this Spanish archipelago is made up of seven main islands located in the Atlantic that offer virtually guaranteed sunshine all year round. The largest is Tenerife and the smallest of the seven is El Hierro, all under Spanish governance.

The four largest islands Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are popular year round holiday destinations offering great beaches and fantastic, volcanic scenery. The islands appeal to all types of holidaymakers, from those wanting to party their time away, to families and retirees as well as those wanting to enjoy the fantastic scenery, National Parks and wildlife.

If quiet contemplation is what you want try El Hierro which is barely touched by tourism and quite remote. Or La Graciosa which sits north of Lanzarote and is now the eighth island having gained independence in 2018. The pace of life there is slow, there are fantastic golden beaches and no traffic as the roads are sand and can only be used by the island’s jeeps. And there are only 750 inhabitants.

La Gomera, an hour’s ferry ride or short flight from Tenerife, holds the most appeal for walkers (and me). It’s small, the population is low and there are walks galore with pretty valleys, dramatic gorges and sleepy villages. You can book walking holidays where your luggage is carried for you or you can just spend time sitting on the beach enjoying the weather and the peace and quiet.

If you require more stimulating times, family fun such as water parks and/or lively nightlife, head to one of the larger islands, particularly Tenerife and Lanzarote. Fuerteventura is the largest island but quieter when it comes to nightlife and probably better suited to families.

www.hellocanaryislands.com www.thenaturaladventure.com