Travel

The quiet one

Menorca is the least developed of the Balearic Islands, and all the better for it

Unspoilt, idyllic, glistening sand, turquoise water… just about every tourist brochure cliché is actually true when you are talking about the beaches in Menorca. Outside peak season, it is still often warm enough to sit in the sun and the temperature is ideal for strolling around the coastal paths.

The island has been quietly encouraging sustainable tourism for years, long before it became fashionable. Its gentle landscapes are ideal for activities such as walking, cycling or riding – with no scary sharp inclines for those of us who are not super fit.

Stone monuments dating back thousands of years are scattered across the countryside, providing markers for a hiking holiday, while ancient coastal pathshave been restored to link the never ending series of perfect coves.

Although the season gets going in May and winds down in October, the island is beautiful in early spring when the almond blossom is out. Outside the hottest months of July and August, all the Balearics are good for activity holidays, whether easy or more challenging, with plenty to see if you are interested in plants or birds.

Menorca is all about getting out on the water, whether swimming, diving, kayaking, paddleboarding or sailing. The beaches on the northern coast (such as Cala Pilar, Cala Pregonda, Cala Presili) are wild, wide and windswept. Those in the south are sheltered, womb-like coves where the sea has a colour of almost Caribbean intensity.

Back on land, get your walking boots on hike around the coastal path or cycle through the lanes that crisscross the countryside. The Cami de Cavalls is a restored medieval bridle path which follows a coastal route for around 200 km around the island. Whether walking, cycling or riding, the path enables you to get to hidden parts of the coast and some spectacular beaches.

Spend a morning strolling around the elegant towns of Ciutadella and Mahón at opposite ends of the island, then kick back at a harbourside table to devour a platter of shellfish. No one is ever in a rush in Menorca.

In terms of where to stay the Hotel Rural Sant Ignasi is hard to beat just outside Ciutadella. This converted lloc (Menorcan country house) was once the summer home of an aristocratic family. The house, dating from 1777, is now exquisitely restored and furnished in an Anglo-Menorcan colonial style. The hotel’s restaurant, Es Lloc, serves the most glamorous haute cuisine on the island, courtesy of Barcelona-born chef Oscar Riera. Try the escupinyas de la isla, a Menorcan seafood speciality that is a cross between oysters and clams.

If you have the time, don’t fly into the island - take a ferry from either Valencia or Barcelona to add some extra travel days in two of Spain’s best cities. ●