A holidaymaker has shared her experience of visiting what she calls the real ‘paradise’ of Portugal many tourists ignore, where she discovered a hidden waterfall and gorgeous beaches
People were amazed to learn about the ‘hidden gem’ of Portugal (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
Despite the UK being forecast for another warm and sunny summer, the allure of jetting off abroad to unwind on a sun-drenched beach in a foreign country can prove hard to resist.
Just a two-hour flight from the UK, Portugal has long been a firm favourite among British holidaymakers, particularly given its reliably sunny and warm climate for much of the year. While cities such as Porto and the capital Lisbon remain among the most popular spots for tourists, one traveller now claims to have uncovered the ‘paradise of Portugal’ that many visitors don’t even know exists.
Taking to TikTok, a user going by the name ‘Solo Traveling Joy’ shared her experience of visiting the destination, revealing she had discovered a ‘hidden waterfall’ complete with a natural swimming pool, nestled among breathtaking scenery.
“Portugal is so underrated. And most people stick to Lisbon or Porto, but completely miss out on the Algarve,” she wrote in the caption of her post.
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The Algarve is Portugal’s spectacular southernmost region, stretching for over 200 kilometres along the coast. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a beach lover, or simply seeking somewhere to kick back and recharge, the Algarve is unlikely to leave you disappointed.
Celebrated for its year-round sunshine, striking ochre cliffs and sweeping golden beaches, it stands as a premier European hotspot for beach breaks, world-class golf and freshly caught seafood, according to Visit Portugal.
If you’re considering a stay in the Algarve, there’s no shortage of choices. The most sought-after destinations, however, are Lagos in the west and Tavira in the east, both widely regarded as the region’s finest spots. Lagos boasts striking golden cliffs and a lively town atmosphere, whereas Tavira delivers historic, untouched Portuguese character.
The secluded waterfall she featured in the clip is Queda do Vigario, situated near the rural village of Alte, which lies just off the A2 motorway linking Lisbon and the Algarve.
“This was one of my favourite natural swimming pools… peaceful, hidden, and 100% worth the detour,” the woman wrote in the caption accompanying her post.
“Go in the morning when no one is there!” she advised.
Viewers were swiftly captivated by the woman’s footage, with many rushing to the comment section to share their reactions.
“This looks like a hidden gem,” one person wrote, while another user said: “Wow, thanks for the tip.”
Another person said: “Adding this to my Portugal list! Amazing shots.” Someone else shared: “Been here today was lush.”
SITTING in a cafe with a cuppa and a slice of cake is already a nice way to spend an afternoon, but imagine if you could watch planes take off at the same time…
Well, there is one spot you can actually do this from and it is less than 12 miles from London.
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At Elstree Aerodrome Cafe you can sit and watch planes take offCredit: Google mapsThe small cafe sits right next to Elstree Aerodrome which dates back to World War IICredit: Google maps
The Aerodrome Cafe at Elstree in Hertfordshire, sits right next to Elstree Aerodrome, meaning you can tuck into breakfast while watching planes take off and land.
The small cafe is open seven days a week between 9am and 4pm and serves breakfast and lunch, as well as snacks.
And when the weather is warm and bright, you can even grab a beer for £5.30 and be closer to the action by sitting outside.
But in the colder months don’t worry, because inside there is a log burner to keep it cosy.
Visitors can enjoy breakfast, lunch or snacks at the cafeCredit: Google maps
The cafe was opened by husband and wife duo Jean-Luc Sainlo and Colleen back in 2021.
Jean is even a Michelin-trained chef and the cafe makes its own pizzas as well as afternoon tea and roasts on a Sunday.
One recent visitor said: “I come here with the family now and again and it’s always a lovely day out.
“I’ve seen adults and children alike be delighted watching the planes and helicopters after meals.
The cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating tooCredit: Google maps
“A few yards down the road is Aldenham Country Park, so once you’ve eaten and enjoyed the planes you can head over there if you prefer a more woodsy atmosphere.”
The aerodrome dates back to World War II where it was used as a base to repair Wellington bomber planes.
If you did visit today, you’d most likely see small two or four-seater planes, helicopters or potentially some vintage planes taking off.
Though, if you are really lucky, you might see some stars as the aerodrome has previously been used for a Mission Impossible film, as well as James Bond Spectre.
Holidaymakers are urged to ditch Ibiza and Marbella for Spain’s ‘real paradise’ – a stunning Mediterranean beach escape with crystal clear water, hidden coves and charming medieval villages
The area boasts gorgeous beaches comparable to that of the Caribbean (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
With summer now officially upon us, many people will be looking to escape the UK and soak up some sun abroad, even as temperatures across the country are forecast to reach as high as 30C over the coming weeks. Yet it appears that British holiday habits are shifting.
Research suggests that many Brits are turning their backs on Southern Europe, with popular hotspots in Spain, Turkey and Greece attracting fewer UK visitors than before. And while plenty of travellers may have concerns about overcrowding at well-trodden holiday destinations, there are a number of hidden gems just waiting to be uncovered.
One TikTok account has been singing the praises of what they’ve dubbed ‘Spain’s real paradise‘, urging holidaymakers to swap the likes of Ibiza and Marbella for this lesser-known treasure instead.
“Forget Ibiza. This is Spain’s real paradise,” read the on-screen text in the video, which offered a tantalising glimpse of a stunning coastal town with a beach as its backdrop.
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The clip went on to showcase a breathtaking sandy beach with crystal-clear waters that ‘looks straight out of the Caribbean’, along with secluded water coves just waiting to be explored.
For those fancying a break from the beach, there are also Medieval towns and castles to discover, as well as coastal walking trails that offer truly spectacular scenery.
They wrote in the caption: “Costa Brava is one of the most beautiful destinations in Spain, with crystal-clear waters, hidden beaches, charming medieval villages, scenic coastal walks, and stunning Mediterranean views.”
The Costa Brava, which translates as “Wild Coast,” is a rugged, striking stretch of shoreline in Catalonia, north-eastern Spain. Running from Blanes all the way to the French border, it’s celebrated for its dramatic cliffs, secluded coves, medieval villages, and its connection to surrealist artist Salvador Dalí.
“If you’re planning a Spain vacation, add Costa Brava to your travel bucket list,” the caption continued.
Given its size, you’ve got plenty of choice when it comes to picking a base that suits your holiday plans. If you fancy a quaint village with rocky coves and pristine waters, then Calella de Palafrugell might be just the ticket.
Celebrated for its beauty, Tossa de Mar features a remarkably preserved medieval walled old town perched above a golden beach. Meanwhile, Cadaqués offers a more bohemian vibe, having once been a retreat for artist Salvador Dalí. For those after a livelier break, Lloret de Mar serves as a buzzing hotspot for nightlife, water parks, and package getaways.
If Costa Brava is on the cards for your next escape, the shoulder months of May, June, and September are generally regarded as the ideal time to go. You’ll benefit from warm, swimmable conditions, pleasant sea temperatures, and fewer crowds, according to EasyJet.
The summer months of July and August represent the busiest period, drawing enormous crowds and heavy traffic, whereas the winter season from November through to March brings cold weather and sees many coastal eateries and hotels shut their doors until spring.
Oil shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz have quietly increased in recent weeks, but traders say the movement reflects a fragmented and opaque energy market rather than a full recovery in global supply flows.
More than four months into the ongoing conflict involving Iran, tanker traffic remains heavily disrupted, with shipping patterns increasingly shaped by risk, secrecy and shifting political arrangements.
Tanker Traffic Shows Limited but Rising Movement
Shipping data suggests that only a small number of tankers are currently crossing the Strait of Hormuz compared with pre conflict levels.
Monitoring firms including LSEG and Kpler estimate that an average of just a few vessels per day are now passing through the strait, far below normal volumes.
Despite this, analysis of oil stored on tankers in the Gulf indicates that outflows have gradually increased, suggesting more crude is leaving the region than official shipping visibility shows.
Hidden Shipping Patterns and “Dark” Tankers
A growing share of tankers are reportedly turning off tracking systems during transit through the strait, a practice known as going dark.
This involves disabling Automatic Identification System signals, making it harder to track vessel movements in real time.
According to shipping analytics firms such as Vortexa, a large majority of outbound tankers recently used this method, reflecting rising caution among operators.
This has made it significantly harder for markets to accurately assess global supply flows and has increased uncertainty in oil pricing.
Oil Stored on Tankers Shows Gradual Decline
One key indicator of market movement is the volume of oil stored on ships inside the Gulf, often referred to as oil on water.
Estimates from Kpler suggest that volumes have fallen from a peak of around 184 million barrels in March to roughly 148 million barrels more recently.
This decline indicates that more oil is gradually leaving the region, even if it is not fully visible through standard tracking systems.
Analysts estimate that outflows have increased over recent weeks, suggesting a slow and uneven recovery in shipping activity.
Security Risks Continue to Disrupt Shipping
The ongoing conflict involving Iran has significantly disrupted maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.
Limited access to the strait has forced producers to reduce output in some cases, while storage constraints have added pressure to supply chains across the Gulf.
Some shipping routes are reportedly being managed through informal arrangements or alternative corridors, while others rely on higher risk transit strategies to avoid detection or confrontation.
Recovery Remains Uncertain
Despite signs of increased movement, analysts warn that the situation is far from a return to normal.
A sustained recovery in oil flows would require consistent shipping access, stable security conditions and sufficient tanker availability to support exports.
Many shipowners remain reluctant to operate in the region due to elevated insurance costs and the risk of vessels being stranded or targeted.
Long Term Structural Change Possible
Industry observers warn that even if diplomatic progress leads to a formal reopening of the strait, the global oil market may not return to previous conditions.
There is growing discussion that Iran could attempt to impose tolls or control systems on shipping through the waterway, which would fundamentally alter global energy logistics.
Such a scenario could force Gulf producers to seek alternative export routes or invest in new infrastructure to reduce dependence on the strait.
Analysis: Market Stability Replaced by Managed Uncertainty
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz highlights a shift from predictable global energy flows to a more fragmented and opaque system.
While oil continues to move out of the Gulf, the lack of transparency in shipping routes is creating uncertainty for traders and pricing benchmarks.
The increased use of stealth navigation and alternative transit arrangements reflects a market adapting to geopolitical risk rather than resolving it.
As long as tensions persist, energy markets are likely to remain volatile, with supply visibility as important as supply itself in determining global prices.
Conclusion
Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are slowly increasing, but hidden tanker movements and ongoing conflict mean the global energy market remains deeply uncertain. Without stable political conditions and transparent shipping routes, a full recovery in oil flows is unlikely in the near term, keeping traders cautious and markets volatile.
THE best 100 beaches in the world have been named – and two can be found in the UK.
Announced by Corona, the 2026 Corona Beach 100 has revealed the best spots around the world from well-known spots to hidden coves.
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Two UK beaches have been named as some of the best in the worldCredit: AlamyFistral Beach Newquay made the listCredit: Alamy
Three criteria were analysed – Beachside Culture, Connection to Nature and Scenic Aesthetics.
A new entry on the list this year is Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire.
The first Welsh beach to make the list, it was praised for its “remote and dramatic landscape, as it is “accessible only by clifftop walk through a medieval archway.
It wrote: “Barafundle Bay feels hidden even when people talk about it.
“Reached only by a clifftop walk along the Pembrokeshire coast, this crescent of pale sand sits tucked between limestone cliffs with nothing built around it.
“No road, no cafés, no signal, just seabirds overhead, cold clear water below, and the kind of quiet that makes you slow down without realising it.”
And returning to the list this year was Fistral Beach in Cornwall, praised for being a “social and cultural hotspot” by being the UK’s surfing capital after hosting the first British Surfing Championships in 1966.
It added: “Facing the full force of the Atlantic, it’s where you go to chase sets, drink tea with cold hands, and feel like you’re part of something.
In Europe, Agia Anna on Naxos island in Greece was praisedCredit: GettyOne Croatia beach was listed, which was Zlatni Rat Beach on the island of BolCredit: Getty
“The beach delivers all year, with consistent swell, golden sands, and a surf scene that’s as seasoned as it is welcoming.
“From world-class comps to waist-high rollers, Fistral doesn’t need sunshine to shine — just wind, water, and the right kind of restlessness.”
Europe featured heavily on the list as well.
When it came to Greece, Agia Anna Beach in Naxos and the famous pink Elafonissi Beach in Crete made the cut, as well as Sarakiniko Beach on Milos.
For Spain, there was Aiguablava Beach, as well as Ibiza’s Casa Salada and Majorca’s Cala Mondragó.
Beaches across Italy, France and Croatia were also included, as well as other holiday spots such as Turkey, Morocco and Thailand.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Today, the U.S. Marine Corps celebrated the end of more than half a century of Harrier ‘jump jet’ operations with a sundown ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina. For more than 20 percent of the history of the republic, the British-originated jump jet helped to defend America. The story of how the U.S. military first got involved in the program is a little-known but fascinating one. Michael Pryce, who has worked on various aircraft projects, from the Harrier to the Tempest, explains, and, in the process, connects the dots between the AV-8 and its replacement with the Marine Corps, the F-35B Lightning II.
Read our coverage of the Marine Harrier sundown here.
A British-made U.S. Marine Corps AV-8A of Marine Attack Squadron 231 drops a Mk 20 Rockeye cluster bomb during training, in 1979. U.S. Navy
Right from the start, the Harrier had been of immense interest to Britain’s ‘cousins’ across the pond. In the 1950s, the threat of nuclear war led to the creation of jump jets, and NASA, plus the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Army soon found that developing rockets seemed easy in comparison to this new class of combat aircraft.
Despite valiant efforts, no American jump jet could be made to work.
A video shows the Ryan X-13 Vertijet during tests. It was one of many Cold War-era jump jet projects that ended in failure:
VERTIJET
All three services got involved in trials of the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 Kestrel, the first iteration of what would become the Harrier, initially in a joint British-American-West German trials squadron. Then, six of the Kestrels were taken to America to continue testing there, and they were renamed as XV-6As once on U.S. soil. Unlike other jump jet projects, the P.1127 utilized four adjustable exhaust nozzles beneath the wing, which rotated to provide thrust for vertical, backward, or hovering flight as well as conventional forward movement.
The XV-6A Kestrel demonstrated operations from grass, semi-prepared surfaces, and ship decks, offering great operational flexibility. U.S. Air Force photo
The thing that impressed the Americans was the sheer simplicity of the British jump jet. With just one engine, and ‘not an electron’ needed in its flight controls, the Kestrel soon transformed into the Harrier, and in 1968 the U.S. Marine Corps decided they would acquire them. Despite not having flown any of the Kestrel trials, they knew they wanted to bring the jump jet into the front line as soon as possible.
The British makers of the Harrier, Hawker Siddeley, first found out about the U.S. Marines’ interest when two men in uniform walked into the Hawker Siddeley hospitality chalet at the 1968 Farnborough Airshow and said they wished to fly the jet. Within two weeks, they had. It was the start of the Marines’ love affair with the Harrier, but it was not America’s first encounter with the British jet.
A Royal Air Force Harrier jet involved in a mock bombing run at the Farnborough Airshow in 1968. Photo by PA Images via Getty Images
Over 10 years before, another American had walked into Hawker’s fancy tent at another Farnborough airshow and asked to see their design for what would become the Harrier. Col. Willis “Bill” F. Chapman of the U.S. Air Force was an American in Paris, there to find European weapons that America could fund. Jump jets were all the rage, and the Hawker P.1127 seemed to him to be the most promising.
Six pre-production Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR1s pictured at the manufacturer’s test facility at Dunsfold aerodrome, Surrey, in 1968. The first Royal Air Force squadron to be equipped with the Harrier GR1, No. 1 Squadron, started to convert to the aircraft at RAF Wittering in April 1969. Crown CopyrightCol. Willis F. Chapman was commander of the 340th Bomb Group in 1944. Joseph Heller based the Catch-22 character of Colonel Cathcart on him, stretching artistic licence. Chapman thought Heller was a poor bombardier. Patricia C. Meder
As leader of the 340th Bomb Group in Italy in World War II, Chapman had seen dozens of his B-25 bombers wiped out, first by a volcanic eruption and then by a Luftwaffe attack. He knew nuclear missiles could do much worse. Soon, he had funded the Pegasus engine, the heart of the Harrier, and struck up a strong friendship with the Hawker design team led by Ralph Hooper, driving their design forward, from the drawing board into the sky.
Ralph Hooper, right, after flying in the two-seat Harrier he designed in the 1970s. BAE Systems
In 1968, one of the U.S. Marines who walked in at Farnborough would play an equally vital role in getting the Harrier into Marine service. Col. Tom Miller had flown in Korea and Vietnam, and scored a speed record in a McDonnell F4H Phantom for good measure. Deeply impressed by the Harrier, he went into battle on ‘The Hill’ to secure it for the Corps, then on to lead it into service as the commander of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point — the same unit that retired the Harrier today, 55 years later.
John H. Glenn, Jr., Gen. David M. Shoup, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and then Lt. Col. Thomas H. Miller Jr., at Marine Corps Headquarters in 1960. (Marine Corps Archives)
The rest of the history of the Harrier is well known. From the initial, British-built AV-8A to the jointly-developed, with mostly American technology, second-generation AV-8B Harrier II, the Harrier found more use, and created more jobs, in America than in Britain. The American connection was the making of the British jump jet, and helped cement relations between the two countries’ pilots, engineers and ground crews over decades.
In the 1980s, there were attempts to make a new, supersonic successor, with the speed of the Marines’ F/A-18A Hornet and the vertical flight ability of the Harrier. Once again, the Americans turned to British designers. In 1981, Hooper and a team of engineers from the Harrier factory at Kingston-upon-Thames went to work at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, Missouri, to design the ultimate jump jet. Over drawing boards and at tailgate parties after ball games, they evolved a great beast of a jet, the P.1218, with two crew, two engines and the latest tech, to succeed the U.S. Navy’s F-14A Tomcat fleet interceptor and A-6E Intruder all-weather strike aircraft. Despite arriving at a joint design, money was limited, and the work was re-focused on research with NASA — the start of what in time would become the Joint Strike Fighter program.
Images of the British Aerospace P.1218 concept are very hard to come by, but the joint work with McDonnell Douglas fed into the broadly similar Model 279-4 design, seen here. McDonnell Douglas/Boeing
Although the U.S Navy buys jets for the Marines, the big twin-engined design was of less interest to the Corps than another of Hooper’s designs, a smaller, single-engine jet that weighed the same as the Hornet. This supersonic jump jet was seriously studied in the United Kingdom, with tests and design work over many years. The U.S. Marines were involved too, officers visiting the Kingston factory to talk about its prospects. When Britain delayed jump jet plans in favor of what became the Eurofighter Typhoon, it meant Hooper’s single-engined P.1216 design, with its wild-looking twin-boom configuration, seemed to miss its chance with the Marines. The British designer retired too, but he did not let that stop him.
A British Aerospace P.1216 in pseudo-U.S. Navy VFA-14 “Tophatters” markings escorts Soviet Backfire bombers, alongside a British version of the twin-boom supersonic jump jet. BAE Systems
Keen to see a supersonic jump jet in Marine service, he turned to Miller once again. As the accompanying letter in this article shows, in 1992 he gave Miller the technical plans of the new jump jet, and Miller showed it around at Marine HQ at a vital time — just as 10 years of research was turning into the serious acquisition program for the Joint Strike Fighter.
via author
The emerging requirements specified a weight the same as the Hornet — the same, too, as Hooper’s P.1216. Speed, range and weapons load were close too. While avionics and stealth had advanced beyond the British jet’s capabilities, the knowledge that the man who made the Harrier thought a practical jump jet of Hornet size would work helped get the ball rolling on the third generation of jump jets. Miller’s support ensured the Corps got behind it, leading to the Lockheed Martin F-35B now taking over Cherry Point.
An F-35B with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501 prepares for takeoff at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry, North Carolina. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Hernandez
Making a fighting jump jet that works is extremely challenging. The Harrier had its problems — without rigid training, accident rates echoed those of its 1950s origins. The F-35B has had to overcome its own hurdles too.
In the early 2000s, Hooper was called in to help fix those. The transatlantic story of the Harrier may have ended today, but the people who found ways to cut bureaucratic corners by trusting each other, and who cracked the technical code of making the Harrier work, continue to support the next generation of F-35Bs.
Hawker Siddeley Aviation Executive Director and Chief Engineer Ralph Hooper talks U.K. Aerospace Minister Michael Heseltine through the features of a mock-up of the HS.1182 cockpit — the future Hawk trainer. Photo by PA Images via Getty Images
The ‘Harrier Mafia’ worked their own way, but always in line with the motto of the Marine Corps. “Semper Fi” was a value shared by British pilots who flew American Harriers in combat operations on exchange as much as by the men and women who made, and supported, 55 years of Harrier operations at Cherry Point.
Jump Jet: The Secret History of the Harrier by Michael Pryce is published on August 27 and is available for pre-order.
A BEAUTIFUL city in Germany has been named one of the best hidden gems in Europe.
European Best Destinations has announced its list of ‘Best Treasure Destinations in Europe 2026’, naming any that have ‘rare beauty, timeless charm and extraordinary places still preserved from mass tourism’.
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Tübingen has been named one of the ‘Best Treasure Destinations in Europe’Credit: AlamyOn Neckar River, locals and tourists can go on punting toursCredit: Alamy
At the very top of its list is Tübingen in Germany.
The publication called the city an “amazingtreasure destination in Europe“.
It added that it’s “a traditional university town; about one in three people living there is a student.
“From its historical sites to its beautiful green spaces, there are so many unique things to do in Tübingen.“
The city in southwest Germany has a very pretty Old Town, translated to Altstadt.
Tübingen is considered ‘untouched’ as unlike other German cities as it avoided being bombed in World War Two.
So it still has it’s pastel-coloured 15th-century half-timbered houses and cobblestone roads filled with independent and boutique shops, pubs, cafés, and restaurants.
One visitor said: “We went there in the middle of summer and the view was really beautiful. Between the alleys, typically German, colorful houses and flower railings.”
Tübingen has pretty colourful houses by the waterfrontCredit: Alamy
Another said the Old Town is “definitely the most beautiful place in the city. The square is plenty of restaurants and terrasses. It’s a good place to drink something and enjoy the atmosphere, especially in summer.”
One of the most famous sites in the city is the Hölderlin Tower, the former home of the poet Friedrich Hölderlin.
The tower was built in the late 18th century and sits on the Neckar River.
It’s now a museum with a permanent exhibition dedicated to Friedrich Hölderlin during the time that he lived in the tower.
Another popular activity is getting on Neckar River for Oxford-style punting.
Public punting along the Neckar River runs seasonally from May to September.
Hölderlin Tower is the former residence of the poet Friedrich HölderlinCredit: Alamy
One of the tour operators offers sessions from €70 (£60.54) per hour – this price is for a whole boat seating up to 16 people.
There are different tours available, some along the riverfront, others head to Neckar Island and sunset tours during the evening.
There are some food specialities to enjoy while visiting Tübingen including Maultaschen – pasta filled with minced meat, spinach, bread crumbs and onions.
There’s also Käsespätzle which are cheese noodles, the region is also known for its wines like Trollinger and Lemberger.
For Brits, the easiest way to get to Tübingen is to fly to Stuttgart, and then drive 40-minutes south of the airport.
IF you’re searching for a place to cool off without the crowds this weekend, this lake has been described as a ‘secret oasis’.
Tucked away in Surrey is Divers Cove which not only has bright blue swimming waters, but lakeside sauna pods and a cafe.
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Divers Cove is a wild swimming spot in SurreyCredit: Divers Cove Ltd The lake is just an hour from London and has ‘gin clear’ watersCredit: Divers Cove Ltd
Divers Cove is a 7.3-acre reservoir in Surrey and is described as a ‘haven for wild swimming’.
One visitor said: “It’s a fabulous place to go for a swim in natural and beautiful surroundings – it’s like a secret oasis in the middle of Surrey.”
Another added: “I really don’t want to say too much about Divers Cove, but this is because rather selfishly I want it kept a secret!”
Others described it as ‘gorgeous’ and the water as being ‘gin clear’.
Nestled on the Norfolk coast, this village boasts a stunning dog-friendly beach, famous striped cliffs and the Old Town Beach Cafe serving afternoon tea by the sea
There’s a café right on the beach (Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
If a peaceful coastal retreat is on your wish list, this charming village delivers seaside serenity in spades, along with plenty of spots to grab a decent cuppa.
Nestled along the Norfolk coastline, this quiet gem boasts a breathtaking beach and dramatic clifftops, offering sweeping vistas and a welcome escape from the daily grind.
Old Hunstanton sits shoulder-to-shoulder with its bigger neighbour, the more well-known resort of Hunstanton – also called New Hunstanton – but it would be a mistake to overlook it. Its unhurried charm appeals to those who’d rather skip the hustle and bustle of a busy seaside town, with leisurely strolls and striking striped cliffs to admire.
The undisputed highlight of the village is Old Hunstanton Beach, a gorgeous sandy stretch that warmly welcomes families and four-legged friends alike, perfect for a paddle when the sun deigns to make an appearance.
Indeed, its dog-friendly reputation is a major draw for keen walkers and visitors eager to give their pooches a proper run around. One tripadvisor reviewer said: “Old Hunstanton Beach is a top pick for dog owners. Dogs are welcome year-round with no leash required on the spacious sands, offering true freedom.”
“This likely reflects the beach’s size and a culture of responsible dog ownership. Enjoy the beautiful cliffs and calm waters with your happy dog by your side!”
Forming part of this stunning landscape are the cliffs, famously banded with three distinct colour layers – red, brown and white. Their striking natural stripes make the beach particularly eye-catching and are believed to represent a geological site of special interest dating back to the Cretaceous Period.
Another notable feature of the area is the historic Old Hunstanton Lighthouse, originally constructed in 1844, perched atop the renowned cliffs. This provides a delightful walk on a pleasant day and delivers breathtaking views across the region.
Café on the beach
Located on picturesque Old Hunstanton Beach, directly opposite the RNLI, is Old Town Beach Cafe, which offers a diverse menu championing locally sourced produce. For those seeking a more traditional pit stop, they also happen to dish up a lovely afternoon tea.
An afternoon tea right beside the sea sounds idyllic, yet it’s entirely achievable, with diners choosing lunch and breakfast options too. You can settle outside in the sand and gaze out at the blue shades of the rolling waves while you sip away.
One diner commented on Tripadvisor: “I visited the old boathouse café twice this week, once for breakfast and again another day for afternoon tea. It’s in a great location just on Old Hunstanton Beach, and the food and service is excellent. A really great place to call into after a walk on the beach.”
Another hailed the venue as an “outstanding little café Hunstanton” while someone else highlighted the spotlessness of the establishment.
One customer gushed: “Spotlessly clean throughout, lovely friendly staff, excellent quality, cater for gluten-free, freshly cooked, served piping hot, mega breakfast excellent as were homemade sweet potato patties gluten-free. Would definitely recommend.”
Around 20 per cent of locals even speak Algherese, which is a dialect of the Catalan language and officially recognised by the Italian and regional governments.
Visitors will see that street signs throughout the old town are written in both Italian and Catalan too.
When it comes to looks, the two cities don’t strike up too much of a resemblance, but both have cobbled streets and golden-coloured buildings.
In Alghero you’re likely to see more of this in its Old Town.
The city has direct flights from the UK for as little as £18Credit: Getty
This is where you’ll find its cafes and restaurants where you can pick up a glass of wine from €4 (£3.48) (or you can buy a bottle at the supermarket from €5 (£4.35)).
When it comes to what to do, most head towards the coastline and visit the city’s beautiful beaches.
One of the most popular is Spiaggia di Maria Pia which has white sand, and is backed by pine trees beach bars along the shoreline.
One visitor said: “The sea is completely Vicks blue – it’s absolutely amazing that there is such a lovely beach within walking distance of the cozy Alghero town.”
Barcelona and Alghero share the same honey-coloured buildingsCredit: Getty
Two Weeks in August made its debut tonight with a star-studded cast
The Two Weeks in August cast have shared the significance over a hidden detail in the show’s opening scenes(Image: Various Artists Ltd/BBC/Robert Viglasky)
The Two Weeks in August cast have shared the significance over a hidden detail in the show’s opening scenes.
Written and created by Sally4Ever’s Catherine Shepherd, the new ‘witty and painfully relatable’ series follows a group of friends reuniting for a summer holiday. However, the idyllic getaway is soon thrown into chaos thanks to an illicit kiss.
In episode one, viewers are introduced to each of the friends with married couple Zoe and Dan, played by Jessica Raine and Damien Molony, clearly struggling as they attempt to put past events behind them.
The family of four, who have brought their children on the trip, are also struggling with money as is highlighted when Jess, played by Antonia Thomas, suggests they all put €200 each in the kitty.
Things go from bad to worse when Zoe and Dan are tasked with preparing food that evening with their lavish friends wanting seafood, which provides another tense expense for the struggling couple as they opt for store bought fish as opposed to fresh market produce.
Talking about the scenes with the Mirror, Jessica Raine and Damien Molony, who play Zoe and Dan, pointed out a significant hidden detail in the opening moments of the show.
Damien, 42, said: “We had a great opportunity to rehearse before we went out with Tom George, our director. We talked a lot about their past and about their relationship and the fact that, you know, they probably hadn’t had sex in about a year.
“That was a really kind of good starting point to go: ‘Oh, something’s really not right here.’ We would do some improvisations about the journey to the airport in England and what that must have been like.
“Jess had this incredible line in the improv about having to pack pasta in our luggage because we knew we wouldn’t be able to afford food on the island. So much so that they actually put it in the scene.
“So when Jessica opens her suitcase in that first scene on packing, there is pasta in the bag” to which Jessica, 44, added: “Three bags!”
Damien continued: “It was kind of those little details that started to kind of… because in TV, you don’t get that opportunity to rehearse or to really explore the world around the scenes.
“So that was really, really thrilling, and it really informed the rest of the kind of scenes that we shared together because this couple goes on a huge journey.”
Meanwhile, Jess said: “The journey of the fish is really good and I think that’s also a really good point to make about our show is the financial differences in the couples. I don’t think we see that very much.
“We often see a lot of very rich people going on holiday, but I love the reality. I mean, a lot of people are in that position where you’re like, I can’t afford €200 for the kitty and the look that we give each other, we’re just like: ‘Holy moly, this is, we’re way out of our depth’ and they don’t feel able to say.”
The drama is only going to get more intense for the couple and their friends as a synopsis teases: “Set in Greece, Two Weeks in August tells the story of a woman who goes on holiday with her family and friends to rediscover joy in her life. But, here in paradise, what starts with an illicit kiss quickly turns the dream vacation into a nightmare.
“Zoe begins to act on her deepest desires and the holiday she hoped for becomes a reckoning for a group of adults who refuse to grow up. When they discover they are trapped on the island, and become faced with real life-or-death situations, the group soon turn on each other to find out who is to blame.
“Is Zoe responsible for the drama and destruction around her or, as heaven turns to hell, are bigger forces at play? We are in Greece after all, the land of the ancient Gods…”
Two Weeks In August airs Saturday nights on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
One by one, the visitors descend through a tight tunnel cut through volcanic rock into the damp foundations of the Teatro Romano buried beneath Herculaneum, with the weight of 2,000 years of city above them. “This is a time machine,” the guide says, “and we are going back.” It is pitch black as film-maker Gianfranco Rosi’s camera finds torchlight catching the tourists’ transparent waterproof capes, making them appear like ghosts.
Released on the streaming platform Mubi this March, Rosi’s documentary Pompei: Below the Clouds threads a needle from classical antiquity to the present day. Presented in ashen black and white, without narration or interviews, it places the viewer inside the region surrounding Naples and leaves us there, each scene presenting a place and a moment in the area’s long history.
Illustration: Guardian Graphics
Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and most visitors see only a fraction of it before boarding the Circumvesuviana at Porta Nolana and riding the narrow-gauge railway east to Pompei or Herculaneum. In Below the Clouds, Rosi does not alight there. He stays on the train, camera in hand, and traverses this seismic landscape – from the Sorrentine peninsula, crowned by Vesuvius in the east, to the lesser-known craters of the Phlegraean Fields in the west. The train, Rosi says, is “my time machine”. His lens draws us into the Naples most visitors never see.
As a film-maker myself, who has lived and worked in Naples for the past 15 years, I was inspired by Below the Clouds to make my own pilgrimage, and boarded the overcrowded, noisy trains I usually avoid.
Villa Oplontis ‘feels like a secret discovery’. Photograph: Alfio Giannotti/Alamy
Before the Circumvesuviana reaches the archaeological site of Pompei, it skirts the Bay of Naples, passing through a number of overlooked towns characterised by a stratification of history visible in the architecture. Drawing into the station of Torre Annunziata, Rosi holds the camera on the visible layers of the town’s history: diamond-patterned Roman brickwork cut from nearby volcanic quarries, Doric columns from an excavated Roman villa, and the still-lived-in mid-century housing blocks rising above them. That Roman villa is worth stopping for. Believed to have been built for Poppaea Sabina, the second wife of Emperor Nero, Villa Oplontis feels like a secret discovery. Its frescoes are almost untouched, its colonnade pristine, and on this day, as always, there was scarcely another soul in sight.
Back on the Circumvesuviana, I head east to Somma Vesuviana. A team from the University of Tokyo has been excavating here for decades, slowly uncovering the Villa Augustea, the imperial estate where the Emperor Augustus is believed to have died in AD14. It was not the great eruption of AD79 that buried the villa, but a later one in AD472. The archaeological treasures still buried across the region are so numerous that tomb raiders have long burrowed into the soft volcanic stone looking for loot to sell on.
A graffitied train on the Naples to Sorrento line stops at Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri station. Photograph: PBW Pix/Alamy
A second train line, the Cumana, runs in the opposite direction. It departs from Montesanto station in central Naples and heads west, reaching Pozzuoli in 25 minutes. At the end of the line lies a working port city of 75,000 people living in the basin of one of the world’s most geologically active calderas (volcanic craters). The lore surrounding Vesuvius has long overshadowed the dangers posed by the Phlegraean Fields, which rumble daily beneath the city’s foundations.
Stepping off the train at Pozzuoli, I was hit by the pungent sulphuric smoke drifting over the port. I had timed my arrival for a simple lunch at Abbascio ù Mare (a local favourite serving fish landed from the boats that morning) before visiting the Macellum of Pozzuoli, a 2nd-century Roman market near the harbour. Here, I found the clearest record of what is known as bradyseism, the movement of magmatic fluid and gas beneath the surface of the Earth that lifts and lowers the land, sinking entire towns and raising them again centuries later. Halfway up the ancient columns, I spotted bands of small holes in the stone. These were bored by molluscs when the columns once stood metres below the bay. Rosi’s camera follows the phenomenon underwater, descending into the submerged ruins of nearby Baia, where robed marble figures stand upright on the seabed as shoals of fish drift over mosaics and between their feet.
Gianfranco Rosi’s documentary shows the submerged ruins of Baia, where robed marble figures still stand on the seabed. Photograph: Antonio Busiello/Alamy
Between east and west, at the intersection of the Circumvesuviana and the Cumana, lies Naples – known to the Greco-Romans as Neapolis (the new town) because it was new compared with Pompei and Baia. In the centre of the city, at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Rosi films Maria, the museum’s archaeologist, deep in the storage vaults. This is what he calls the casaforte (the safe of memory) – shelf upon shelf of fragmented marble torsos, legs and busts, the overflow of 2,000 years of excavation. These artefacts are down here, Maria says, until it is their turn to return to the museum floor above – a mirror, Rosi suggests to me when we speak, of society’s own hierarchies. Like Rosi, I am obsessed with these perfectly formed marble figures, the survivors of catastrophe, that live in the galleries of the museum upstairs among the frescoes and bronzes, pulled from the same volcanic earth that buried thousands of people under Vesuvius.
Rosi juxtaposes the marble torsos with shots of dismembered ex-voto, small metal plates shaped like individual body parts. These are offerings, often left in churches or street shrines along with prayers to saints in exchange for bodily cures.
At the small church of Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe in the Quartieri Spagnoli, one of my favourite corners of the city, hundreds of ex-votos in the shape of pregnant women have been left for the saint of fertility. These practices, still very much alive today, speak to the Neapolitan impulse to marry the sacred and the profane.
A scene from Gianfranco Rosi’s documentary Pompei: Below the Clouds. Photograph: Venice Film Festival
Rosi’s film ends in an abandoned cinema somewhere along the train line, its seats destroyed, its screen partly intact. Into this ruin, Rosi projects clips from Roberto Rossellini’s Journey to Italy, a film about the past, playing in a ruin, in a city built on ruins, above a city that was itself once buried. Like a Chronovisor (a mythical 1950s invention that supposedly broadcast actual historical events), the cinema is where the present tense becomes the past even as you watch it. Just like Naples. Just like Below the Clouds.
By the end of the film’s nearly two-hour runtime, the viewer has made the same journey as those visitors descending into the foundations of the Teatro Romano in Herculaneum to behold and reflect on a civilisation buried mid-sentence. Below the Clouds insists, however, that this confrontation does not require a museum ticket. “We are already living inside the catastrophe,” says Rosi.
Situated in the south west of Germany, on the border of the iconic Black Forest mountain range, the city has jointly been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
13:19, 17 May 2026Updated 13:19, 17 May 2026
Baden-Baden has been described as “one of Europe’s most elegant hidden gems” (stock image)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
If you’re thinking about a trip to Europe, but want something a bit off the beaten track, one “hidden gem” with historic spas, Roman ruins, and incredible museums could be just the ticket. Situated in the south west of Germany, on the border of the iconic Black Forest mountain range, the city has, along with Bath in Somerset and nine other locations, jointly been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of ‘The Great Spa Towns of Europe’.
Travel influencer Katherine McQueen, who has 685,000 followers on Instagram, where she is known as vineyardsandvoyages, posted a look into everything the city has to offer. She said: “This is one of Europe’s most elegant hidden gems… and most people skip it.”
Describing the city as “polished, romantic, and completely different from the bigger stops most travellers add to their itineraries”, she hailed its “pastel streets, grand architecture, thermal baths, elegant cafés, beautiful gardens, and old-world glamour around every corner”. But it was the history which she hailed as its most important element.
“People have been coming here for the thermal waters since Roman times, and wellness is still one of the biggest reasons to visit today,” she said. “You can soak in mineral-rich baths, wander through historic spa buildings, and experience a side of Germany that feels slow, refined, and deeply relaxing.”
Katherine also praised the city’s glittering casino, food – including, of course, the iconic Black Forest gateau – and location, calling it “one of the most unexpectedly charming places I’ve visited in Germany”.
The city in question is Baden-Baden, located around 15 miles east of the French border, and 42 miles west of Stuttgart.
In the post Katherine explained more about what the city has to offer. “Some of the bathhouses here feel more like palaces than spas, with mineral pools, grand domes, and centuries of wellness history,” she said. “But it’s not just a spa town. It’s also filled with elegant architecture, gardens, colonnades, and beautiful places to wander.”
She added: “The whole city has this refined, romantic atmosphere. Long covered walkways, grand buildings, art, gardens, and peaceful corners everywhere.”
Concluding, she said: “It has that rare mix of history, wellness, food, architecture, and nature, all in one very walkable little city. Everywhere you look, there are details that make it feel grand without feeling overwhelming. This town rewards slow wandering. Hidden side streets, stairways, dreamy corners, and beautiful views around every turn.”
The city’s official tourism website says: “Baden-Baden was founded 2,000 years ago to do people good. Thermal water at temperatures of up to 68 degrees gushes out of the earth from 12 thermal springs in Baden-Baden. Even today, our spa town at the foot of the Black Forest is the perfect place to enjoy spa tradition – whether in the Caracalla Spa or in the historic Friedrichsbad Spa.”
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How can I get to Baden-Baden?
By air: Direct flights to Baden-Baden are available from London Stansted Airport. Indirect flights are also available from most other UK airports.
By train: You can take the Eurostar to Paris or Brussels, with various connecting routes available.
By car: You can drive by taking the Eurostar and then heading south east through France, or east into Belgium before crossing, into Germany. Once arriving in France, the route is between 400 and 450 miles, taking between six and seven hours.
OUR Spotlight On column explores everything from lesser-visited cities to top holiday destinations.
This week, we’re shining the light on San Antonio on the Spanish island of Ibiza, the heart of all things party.
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There is so much to do in San Antonio in IbizaCredit: AlamyIbiza is one of my favourite Spanish islands to visitPike’s is famous for its raucous historyCredit: Getty
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The Sun’s Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski explains: “The White Isle, home to world famous super clubs including Hi the best club in the world, can be a notoriously pricey destination – especially when it comes to food and drink.
“San Antonio in particular is known to be one of Ibiza’s party hotspots, but you can save hundreds if you plan ahead, booking club nights and drinks packages in advance.
“Ditch the famous sunset spot of Cafe Mambo for Kuhmaras (more on that below) and you’ll be able to score drinks for a fraction of the cost, with cocktails from just €12.
“If you plan your visit for the start or end of the party season, you’ll find hotels are a lot more affordable, too. But the island will be no less pumping.”
Here are some of her other top tips.
MUST SEE
This sun-drenched island eat, sleeps and breathes hedonism and the best way to experience that is by exploring the clubbing scene.
Pikes is one of Ibiza’s most historically significant venues.
The 500-year-old traditional finca opened as a club in 1980 and has hosted some legendary fiestas in its time, including Freddie Mercury’s 41st birthday bash, during which a whopping 350 bottles of champagne were drank.
The club now operates under a strict over 27s policy in a bid to maintain its authentic, non-posey ambience, reminiscent of the island’s 90s glory days.
HIDDEN GEM
For a spot of culture, hidden on the cliffs in between San Antonio and Santa Agnes is Cova de Ses Fontanelles, a small and lonely cove.
Accessible via a cliff side dirt track is a network of caves, positioned 50 metres above the sea level, which are home to the only remaining cave paintings in the Pityusic Islands (Ibiza and Formentera).
BEST VIEW
In the afternoon, most holidaymakers head straight for the notorious Café Mambo to watch its spectacular sunsets.
Its views are world famous, but that means queues are long and drink prices are steep.
It sits on the opposite side of the bay to Mambo so boasts the same glorious sunsets as its rival, only here you won’t be fighting for a table.
Its website proudly declares that “there are no VIP lists, no showing off, no inflated prices”.
Mambo cafe is busy, but an institutionCredit: AlamyINNSiDE Ibiza Beach is a must if not just for the rooftop poolCredit: Supplied
RATED RESTAURANT
Ibiza is not short of excellent restaurants that are globally-renowned for their high-end grub, but for a flavour of authentic Spain, head to Tapas Ibiza.
Set back a little from the ocean, this joint offers an unpretentious and welcoming atmosphere.
Small plates start from around €10, including padron peppers scorched and sprinkled in sea salt – and you’ve got to try the king prawns served in a sizzling pot with garlic, smoked paprika, coriander and lime.
Wash it back with a refreshing Basil Smash made with Bombay Gin, fresh basil, ginger, lemon and cucumber.
BEST BAR
Take your pick of dive-style bars along the main strip or opt for one of the high-end rooftop joints, depending on what you’re in the mood for.
For laidback day time drinking, Reggae Reggae Beach Bar is where to head.
Here you can kick back in a hammock with a Jamaican-inspired cocktail in hand.
For something a little more elevated (literally), Rooftop Nine at INNSiDE Ibiza Beach hotel serves up fruity cocktails and chilled wine come day or night, all with glorious ocean views.
HOTEL PICK
The 4* Innside Ibiza Beach is the perfect middle ground for those wanting to dip their toes into Ibiza’s party scene but with a relaxing space to come back to.
Its rooms have a breezy feel to them – think white-washed walls with woody accents – and many boast epic views of the ocean.
Mediterranean grub is served alongside thumping DJ beats on the rooftop bar while international grub is dished up in the Breeza Bar & Restaurant, just steps from the ocean.
The hotel can arrange adventurous excursions from fishing and sky diving to snorkelling and bike rides.
Rooms cost from £116 per night on a B&B basis. See melia.com.
For more on Spain, here are some of our favourite holiday spots…
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Hotel Best Punta Dorada, Salou
The Spanish resort is a popular destination near PortAventura World, a theme park with over 40 attractions and huge rollercoasters. It’s also close to sandy beaches like Platja de Llevant, and the scenic Camí de Ronda coastal walk.The hotel itself has an outdoor swimming pool to enjoy, as well as two bars along with evening entertainment and shows.
With its palm tree-lined pool and Mediterranean backdrop, it’s a miracle this Majorca resort is so affordable. Expect a classic family holiday feel – where days revolve around soaking up the Spanish sunshine, chilling by the spacious pool and sipping on frozen cocktails. Set away from the busier resorts, it’s a good option if you’re after a more out-of-the-way escape.
The Magic Aqua Rock Gardens Hotel is African-themed and less than a mile from the beach. It has two outdoor pools, including a children’s freshwater pool with a waterfall and a tipping water bucket for the little ones. There’s also an aquapark with slides, and a kids club for both younger children and teens.
For a calmer side of Ibiza, this hillside resort has two pools, a kids’ splash zone, and an all-inclusive buffet with a poolside bar. It’s a 10-minute walk from Cala Llonga’s shallow turquoise bay, offering a scenic, family-friendly base away from the island’s main party zone.
Nestled along the British coastline is a paradise for rock poolers and fossil hunters — and Conde Nast Travel has named it one of the seven wonders of Wales
It’s the local’s favourite spot by the coast(Image: John Myers)
While Rhossili Bay typically steals the limelight with its three-mile stretch of sand in the Gower National Landscape, this cherished bay is what many locals regard as Wales‘ true hidden gem.
Conde Nast Travel recently unveiled what they deem the seven wonders of Wales, compiled by a Welsh-born traveller, and Dunraven Bay secured its place as one of the nation’s essential destinations.
According to the publication, this is where residents head when seeking a peaceful coastal escape. And, with scenery comprising dramatic cliffs, limestone formations and weathered rock faces, it’s easy to understand why.
Tucked away in Southerndown within the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, the stunning bay is frequently called Southerndown Beach, adopting the name from its neighbouring village.
It boasts some of the finest rock pools along the Welsh coast and is consequently a favourite location for crabbing and fossil hunting. Young children delight in exploring the shallow pools and discovering treasures, as families flock to the bay for a day on the sand.
Best holiday cottage deals in Wales
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Wales is renowned for its stunning mountains, picturesque coastline and rich Celtic history. Sykes has a wide and varied collection of holiday cottages, houses and apartments across the country. Prices start from £35 per night with current deals.
One previous visitor shared their experience on TripAdvisor, writing: “We visited Dunraven Bay last Saturday; it was an amazing trip to a beautiful beach. The rock pools are super; we found some very interesting items, including an intact Gryphaea, one of the genera known as ‘devil’s toenails’.
“The beach is very clean, and the sand leading up to the sea is soft. There is a beachside shop that sells hot and cold drinks and ice cream, along with a picnic area for those with their own food.”
Visitors to the beach will find a generously sized, conveniently situated pay-and-display car park, along with toilet facilities. The bay also boasts a charming café and restaurant, perfect for a leisurely lunch or light bite, and rounding off the quintessential seaside experience, there’s an ice-cream kiosk.
A further visitor shared: “Absolutely beautiful. Especially if you’re a tourist hoping to get good photos of a beach. I went alone, and for the most part, I felt completely safe. There are pockets of people and people alone just hoping to enjoy the sun during low tide.”
History and folklore
The bay was once thought to have been an ancient Iron Age hillfort, which subsequently became Dunraven Castle, a structure that has long since disappeared. In its place lie the crumbling ruins of the castle and its former walled garden, tucked away from the shoreline.
The bay is steeped in mysterious legend, notably that of the ‘wreckers of Dunraven’, who were said to have cunningly fastened lanterns to sheep in order to lure passing vessels. They would draw the ships towards Tuskar Rock before swooping in to plunder their cargo.
The most notorious ‘wrecker’ was one Walter Vaughan, who, following tremendous personal loss and financial devastation, turned to ‘wrecking’ out of sheer desperation.
To evade detection, legend suggests that no sailors or boat crew survived the wrecking, as they would routinely kill those onboard once they reached the shore.
Some claim that on the anniversary of his son’s death, Vaughan’s ghost returns to the beach, and those passing by can hear his chilling wails.
THE Costa de la Luz coastline is far lesser-known than its neighbour, the Costa del Sol, which is a shame as it has so much to offer.
It should definitely be on your radar if you want cheap hotels, affordable drinks and the chance to visit another country in 15-minutes.
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Spain’s lesser-known coastline is Costa de la LuzCredit: First ChoiceIt has beautiful beaches – and you can be in Portugal in less than 15-minutesCredit: Getty
The Costa de la Luz coastline sits along the south of Spain offering beers for under £3 and hotel breaks from £55pppn.
If you’re looking for the beauty of Marbella but without the price tag or the noise, Costa de la Luz is a great, and budget friendly, option.
The most well-known spots along this coastline are the likes of Cadiz and Huelva.
But First Choice suggests heading to Isla Canela, a small beach escape at the very top of the coastline where Portugal is less than 20-minutes away.
It has golden beaches, low-cost but authentic tapas and of course, lots of sun.
One travel expert even said “you can still find really goodtapasand fresh seafood dinners for €10-15 (from £8.65) a head here , if you go local.“
Staying here also means holidaymakers can visit Portugal very easily.
There’s a regular ferry between Isla Canela and Portugal’s Santo Antonio that takes just 15-minutes and costs as little as €2.50 (£2.16).
The ferry crosses the Guadiana River which forms a natural border between the two countries – so travellers wanting to explore both spots can do so in a single daytrip.
There isn’t any need to book multiple hotels and little fuss as the crossings don’t have routine passport checks (although take ID to be safe).
Santo Antonio itself is a city that’s considered a quieter alternative to the Algarve – especially on its sandy beach, Praia de Santo António.
If you’re keen to see more of Spain, just a short trip away from Isla Canela is the town of Ayamonte.
The Hotel Barcelo Isla Canela is a perfect base to explore both Spain and PortugalCredit: First Choice
It’s known to have a traditional Andalusian feel with white-washed streets, riverside promenades and you can pick up a pint from just €3 (£2.60).
One top restaurant choice is Restaurante Le Casona where tapas dishes like garlic prawns and Spanish tortilla starts from €3 (£2.60).
First Choice suggests booking an authentic flamenco show with a tapas dinner at La Puerta Ancha which starts from £48.
If you’re wanting a city feel, then the city of Seville is under two hours away by car.
The pretty hotel is designed to look like a traditional building so it has white-washed buildings and terracotta roof tiles.
For guests, it has two outdoor pools, a huge golf course, tennis court, buffet restaurant and live entertainment.
Each room either has a terrace, full balcony, or French-style balcony – and can be upgraded to have sea views.
Prices at Hotel Barcelo Isla Canela from £383 per person include seven-nights in a twin room on a half board basis, departing Newcastle Airport on May 10, 2026.
The hit travel competition sees five intrepid teams embarking on the journey of a lifetime, spanning more than 12,000km across southern Europe and Central Asia. They will navigate seven checkpoints on their way to Hatgal in remote northern Mongolia.
Cousins Puja and Roshni were the first pair to be eliminated earlier this month, with more dramatic twists in store.
Sibling duo Katie and Harrison lost their lengthy lead last week, dropping all the way down to last place. In-laws Mark and Margo have charged into the lead for the first time, followed by childhood best friends Jo and Kush, and father-and-daughter pair Molly and Andrew.
Ahead of a new instalment airing on Thursday (April 30), Jo and Kush appeared on BBC’s Morning Live, where they spoke to hosts Holly Hamilton and Rav Wilding about their experience on the show.
During the interview, Kush revealed a hidden struggle he faced during the race, which viewers wouldn’t have known about.
“I think the hardest part is the fact that you sacrifice everything. You’ve got no home life, no reminders of home, no [home] comforts. Everything is to do with the race, and I think that started to get a bit consuming at times,” he said.
“You’re going to sleep and thinking about the race. Every day, every action and decision you make is to advance your race, and I really struggled with that at times. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t function.”
Holly then discussed a show “controversy” after Jo and Kush notably decided against giving money to their competitors Molly and Andrew.
The presenter said: “There was one point, as well, where you had to make a decision about whether or not to give money to one of the other teams. There was a bit of controversy around that.”
Kush replied: “People come up to us and they’re so 50/50. I had one person come up to me a few days ago at work, saying, ‘Oh, you should have given them [the money]. Why didn’t you give them the euros?'”
Jo added: “At the end of the day, it is a competition. The game’s a game. Obviously, we love Andrew and Molly. We actually gave them the €10 back the other day, and they gave us £10 back, so we made a little transaction there!”
Tonight’s episode will see the teams face the longest leg of the race so far. They will travel through the world’s largest landlocked country, Kazakhstan, and into Uzbekistan, navigating the vast Kazakh steppe with its endless horizons and limited English speakers.
One racer soon becomes overwhelmed after a string of missed connections and fraught taxi negotiations, while another pair take part in an authentic Kazakh coming-of-age celebration.
Race Across the World is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
A hiker has shared the location of “one of the best places to see bluebells in the UK”, stating that it’s so unknown, “you’d never find it unless you knew it was there”
14:24, 19 Apr 2026Updated 14:28, 19 Apr 2026
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People are saying the bluebell walk is beautiful (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
For walkers and lovers of the great outdoors, a peaceful corner in the South West of England has been hailed as “one of the best places to see bluebells in the UK”. South Devon hiker, Elise Spicer, shared insider knowledge during a recent ramble in South Brent, highlighting a spectacular woodland area.
“Hardly anyone talks about it, but tucked away in South Brent, Lady’s Wood is one of those spots you’d never really find unless you knew it was there,” she explained in a video. Accompanied by her dog, Elise went on to describe how the walk becomes “absolutely beautiful” when the bluebells are in bloom, as they are now.
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She continued: “It’s only about 1.5km circular and takes about 30 minutes – so it’s perfect if you just want something short and easy, plus it’s really great for kids.”
Elise captured more footage of her surroundings as she passed beneath a viaduct arch, drawing attention to the walk’s serene clear stream and wild garlic flourishing amongst the flowers.
“It’s such a peaceful feel all the way round and there’s a little river at the start. It’s actually part of a nature reserve too, so it’s really well looked after,” she added.
Elise also noted that there’s a footpath leading directly onto Dartmoor for those wanting to venture further into the National Park.
Devon Wildlife Trust describes the location: “This small reserve acts as a gateway to the wild landscape of Dartmoor. Bluebells and dormice are the stars of our oldest nature reserve.
“A wonderful woodland lying on a gentle north facing slope above the Glaze Brook. The nature reserve holds a wonderful bluebell display each spring and is a stronghold for the hazel dormouse. This was Devon Wildlife Trust’s first nature reserve and remains one of its loveliest.”
To reach it, take a minor road from South Brent towards Cheston/Wrangaton. A track leading to the reserve can be found on the right-hand side of this road, just past Glazebrook Court.
Responding to Elise on TikTok, one user enthused: “It’s beautiful, my partner used to live there, done that walk many a time.”
Another person chimed in: “Ooh gonna check this out.”
On the subject of bluebells, the RHS notes: “Woodland floors carpeted with bluebells are appreciated for their natural beauty, with many people visiting bluebell woods in mid- to late-spring.
“The flowers can attract bees and butterflies, including the brimstone, orange-tip and pearl-border fritillary. As a source of nectar in spring, bluebells are a useful addition to wildlife gardens. They can also provide good ground cover in spring and summer, particularly under deciduous trees and shrubs.”
