Seeking somewhere low-key – geotagged anywhere from France to Malta – to spend a couple of weeks this summer? Gilly Hopper rounds up some lesser known destinations where you can truly switch off …
Believe it or not, there are other European islands besides Ibiza and Mykonos to explore and enjoy come summer. While old faithfuls have their place, this summer season we’re taken with the idea of holidaying somewhere a little more under-the-radar.
Island hopping across gin-clear waters, sans crowds, certainly has its pluses and though getting there may take you a little longer, the payoff (serenity and seclusion) is more than worth it.
Seeking somewhere low-key – geotagged anywhere from France to Malta – to spend a couple of weeks this summer? Refer to our edit below.
Île de Ré, France
Off France’s West Coast, Île de Ré is a tiny island with a laid-back sensibility. Here, on this 30km-long flat stretch, bicycles are the preferred mode of transport – a marked change for most city dwellers. Peddle your way along this unspoilt island’s many poppy-lined cycle paths (no journey is a great distance), taking the island’s capital, St-Martin-de-Ré, as your launching-off point. You’ll find a peppering of cafés and restaurants in this former fishing port, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, but the morning market is an ideal spot to stock up on provisions for a picnic on the beach at midday. The isle’s south side is where the main villages and sandy beaches are – keen surfers should paddle over to Plage de Gros Jonc. Further north, Ars-en-Ré – considered one of France’s most beautiful villages – is all charm, with wisteria-laden buildings, galleries, and antique shops aplenty.
STAY: Hotel le Toiras; www.hotel-de-toiras.com.
The Azores, Portugal
This Portuguese archipelago sits right in the middle of the Atlantic. Comprising of nine islands – São Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, Pico, Faial, Graciosa, São Jorge, Flores, and Corvo – created from volcanoes, the natural scape has become (quietly) beloved by adventurers. Their remote location keeps the masses away, leaving a select few to traverse these lands. Isles of exceptional beauty, spanning waterfalls and thermal pools to verdant forests and vertiginous cliffs, choose to climb, bike, or hike your way around. Black-sand beaches are countered with azure waters, which lend to whale watching and diving. Once here, you’ll begin to understand why the Azores are sometimes referred to as ‘the Hawaii of Europe’. Of the nonet, Pico – which claims Portugal’s highest mountain, Mount Pico – is perhaps the most popular (and second largest of the lot). After you’ve had your fill of island hopping, settle in for ocean-fresh grilled seafood, a home-cooked stew, and a glass of Azorean wine.
STAY: Santa Barbara Eco Resort; www.santabarbaraazores.com.
Andros, Greece
Hardly an odyssey from Athens, a two-hour ferry will take travellers to Andros, the northernmost island in the Cyclades. While it gets less attention than some of the other Cyclades (Mykonos, Santorini, and co), Andros wins out with its back-to-nature vibe. A rugged coastline, stooping waterfalls, and general lushness makes it a nirvana for hikers. Much like its varied landscape, the weather here is also mixed – should skies turn, make a beeline to the isle’s maritime museum or museum of contemporary art; alternatively, dip into a taverna in Chora, the island’s main village. When the sun shines, the traditional fishing village of Batsi and the north-east coast’s beaches – including Vitali, Vori, and Zorkos – prove ideal sun traps.
STAY: Mèlisses; www.melissesandros.com. Photograph via Mèlisses by Allegra Pomilio.
Isles of Scilly, UK
28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly offer many Cornish delights (minus the hordes of people). Making up the most southerly point of the UK, this collection of islands – there are approximately 140, though only five are inhabited – comes with a pleasingly mild climate. With a tropical air, the lengthy journey (which involves a train and multiple boats) proves worth it when you’re tucking into supremely fresh lobster from a beachside hut or kayaking over glass-like waters at golden hour. Take your pick from St Mary’s (the largest of the cluster), well-heeled Tresco, serene St Martin’s, St Agnes, and Bryher; you’ll easily while away a week here. Beach trips and long walks dominate your time. A visit to the sub-tropical Tresco Abbey Garden, planted around Benedictine ruins should also be on the island-hopping agenda.
STAY: The New Inn, Tresco; www.tresco.co.uk. Photograph via Tresco Island.
Gozo, Malta
A 25-minute ferry from mainland Malta, peaceful Gozo is the second largest of the Maltese islands. Rural and slow in pace, the compact isle is primed for laid-back travellers (with a fondness for the Med) and nature enthusiasts alike. Undulating hills and crystalline waters meet with russet sands, with choice diving spots, such as Wied il-Ghasri, further adding to Gozo’s appeal. Back on dry land, Gozo boasts old temples and churches, including St George’s Basilica and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu. Cultural crossover extends to the isle’s lip-smacking food offering which spans Arabic to French culinary influences.
STAY: Kempinski; www.kempinski.com.
