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A stunning lake in the French Alps. It has a 40km cycle path, beautiful wheelchair walks and accessible beaches.
bit.ly/NC3IIN
Google map: bit.ly/Shm6eW
This fantastic restaurant was recommended by an Italian friend from Lecce and it is wonderful. The outdoor terraces overlooking the Ionian Sea have a relaxed atmosphere and are busy with local and holidaying Italians. There is no written menu, with the dishes comprising what is available daily - an array of delicious Italian anti-pasti served tapas style, followed by a sea food pasta course, and if you have room, a fish course too. Be warned, the amount of food is huge, and too tasty so avoid over-eating!
Via del Mare, 2, Torre San Gregorio - 73053
Lecce, Puglia
Google map: bit.ly/QflZdU
It is a kind of open air pub, however this undervalues its true beauty. The bar is located on the coast, where you can have aperitivo (lots of snacks) with friselle (typical food of Puglia) and elephant beer. It's called Fico d'India because of the prickly pears that surround the place (which is what fico d'India means.) It is in a stunning location in front of a sea cliff with the clearest water you'll have ever seen, and an ancient tower. There won't be another tourist in sight.
https://foursquare.com/v/fico-dindia/4c37d9eb18e72d7f656817f5
Porto Selvaggio, Nardò, Puglia, Italy
Google map: bit.ly/OUr78n
Santa Maria al Bagno is a beautiful little town on the Ionian coast. The sea front is compact and low key, fronted by old Italian town houses which double as waterfront cafés. Here you can pick up a gelato or an Africano (espresso with Disaronno, fizzy water and ice) for the tiny but perfectly formed beach. The beach gets busy, especially at weekends, but is a fantastic spot for people watching as the crowds are an eclectic mix of bronzed locals.
I’d recommend spending the afternoon swimming in the crystal clear sea and as the sun begins to set head south a few miles down the coastal road towards Lido Conchiglie to one of the fish restaurants (one is called La Maruzella). These restaurant sit right on the water's edge and you can watch the sun disappear into the sea while enjoying their wide range of basic but delicious and incredibly fresh fish dishes (sometimes you can watch the fisherman arrive at the restaurant’s jetty with their catch and see it on your plate 30 minutes later). Bring a phrase book!
La Maruzzella
Via Cristoforo Colombo (lido conchiglie), Sannicola,
Google map: bit.ly/MsTqIW
Whatever your itinerary in Puglia will be, don’t miss out this town. It is a real gem cast on a cliff overlooking the Adriatic sea. You can have a cheap and delicious ice cream at Il Super Mago del Gelo topped up with coffee whipped cream and hazelnuts praline or a pricey and succulent dinner at Donna Gina listening to the waves crushing on the bay. Now that you have satisfied your appetite head into the old town and reach one of the terraces while reading about the poetry of 'Guido il Flaneur' painted on the old houses’ walls, because this must be the place.
www.mariocampanellailsupermagodelgelo.it/
Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, 22 70044 Polignano A Mare Province of Bari, Italy
+39(0)80 424 0025
Google map: bit.ly/QDRRgF
A beautiful restaurant/bar overlooking Polignano's old town. It's OTT italian chic and a bit pricey, but come here in the evening to see one of the most spectacular sunsets in the region. After dinner walk down the authentically dilapidated roman road to a pebble-beached cove, to enjoy the view of the caves and the old town built into them. The sounds of the sea, the giggles of young locals, and the odd poorly but enthusiastically played guitar.
www.specchiasantoronzo.it
Viale San Francesco D'Assisi n.c. - Polignano a Mare (Ba)
+39(0)80.4240386
Santa Maria al Bagno is a beautiful little town on the Ionian coast. The seafront is compact and low key, fronted by old Italian town houses-cum-waterfront cafés. Here you can pick up a gelato or an Africano (espresso with Disaronno, fizzy water and ice) for the tiny but perfectly formed beach. The beach gets busy, especially at weekends but is a fantastic spot for people watching as the crowds are an eclectic mix of bronzed locals, young and old.
I’d recommend spending the afternoon swimming in the crystal clear sea and wait to watch the sun begin to set into the sea before heading south a few miles down the coastal road towards Lido Conchiglie to the fish restaurant, La Maruzella. This restaurant sits right on the water's edge and you can watch the sun disappear into the sea while enjoying their wide range of basic but delicious and incredibly fresh fish dishes (sometimes you can watch the fisherman arrive at the restaurant’s jetty with their catch and see it on your plate 30 minutes later).
Google map: bit.ly/O1uokl
La Maruzella
Lido Conchiglie, 73014 Gallipoli, Italy
+39(0)833208900
Google map: bit.ly/Qu5QRU
This is a lovely restaurant set near the gorgeous village of Peschici (at Punta San Nicola), with a beautiful view of the bay and sunset if you go there for dinner. The trabucco is an old fishing structure typical of the Gargano. This restaurant offers fresh fish and is a great place to end a hard day at the beach. The sunset views are to die for. Finish off with a gelato in Peschici itself.
www.altrabucco.it/index.html
Localitá Punta San Nicola - 71010 Peschici (Gargano)
+39 0884 962556
This crumbling medieval town sits beside one of the "gravine" (ravines) which score the landscape on the border between Puglia and Basilicata. Hewn from the rock on which they stand, many of the buildings are worth seeking out; look for the church of San Michele delle Grotte and the osteria Grano e Vino. Cave dwellings found in the gorge are said to date back to the bronze age and are typical of the whole area. The big attraction for outdoorsy types is the nearby Alta Murgia National Park, an environmentally protected plateau. Excursions can be arranged from the town.
www.parcoaltamurgia.gov.it/uk/
Via Firenze, 10 - 70024 Gravina in Puglia (BARI)
+39 080 3262268
Google map: bit.ly/MeFkzF
Osteria Grano e Vino:
osteriagranoevino.it/it/Default.aspx
Via Fontana la Stella, 39, 70024 Gravina in Puglia (BARI)
+39 (0)80 237 74 84
Google map: bit.ly/MYjgdN
What's not to love about this beautiful Italian seaside town in the province of Puglia?! The organic nature of the buildings in the centro storico, morphing from the limestone cliff tops offer a spectacular view from the bridge over Covo dei Seraceni or from one of the multiple balconies, out to the vast azure of the Adriatic ocean. The hometown of Volare's Domenico Modugno has become famous of late for its associations with Red Bull diving and the hotel Grotto Palazzese with its restaurant that sits nestled amongst the escarpments but we much prefer it's simple pleasures. Evening strolls among the narrow, labyrinthine streets, pizzas at Terra Marique or piadine (Italian flatbread filled and folded with your preferred choice) at Il Gabelliere, followed by a gelato in one of the many ice cream parlours dotted among the town - with even potato flavour on the menu at Peppino's Bar if it takes your fancy! Swimming, of course, features high on the agenda but take heed and take a pair of jelly shoes to brave the stony shores - you have been warned. If you want a taste of la dolce vita, quite simply, look no further.
www.grottapalazzese.it
Via Narciso, 59, Polignano a Mare (Bari) Puglia
+39 (0)80 4240677
Google map: bit.ly/QElCQu
Discover where the creator of Italy's famous song "Volare" got his inspiration in this small town just south of Bari. We love to wander around the little streets of the whitewashed medieval centre, perched precariously on the edge of the limestone cliffs and watch the waves crashing against the rocks beneath. For a truly special experience, eat at the Grotta Palazzese – this ‘summer cave’ with its views over the Adriatic was carved out of the rocks by a local lord to create a party venue in the 1700s.
www.grottapalazzese.it
Via Narciso, 59, Polignano a Mare (Bari) Puglia
+39 (0)80 4240677
Google map: bit.ly/QElCQu
Builders of some of the world's most beautiful bridges, French civic engineering is world renowned. But is Gallic good taste and love of technical design inherited from the Romans? The spectacular Pont du Gard, on the Unesco World Heritage list, combines elegance with practicality. Built around 2000 years ago as an aqueduct, its three tiers are still in excellent condition and open to all. With an activity centre, shops, restaurants and museum it's a fabulous day out for the whole family. And you can even get married there.
www.pontdugard.fr
whc.unesco.org/en/list/344/
Route du Pont du Gard, 30210 Vers-Pont-du-Gard, France
+33 (0)4 66 37 50 99
Google map: bit.ly/NXoXWs
Driving from Lourmarin to Saignon, up and through the Lubéron is a beautiful drive through lavender fields with bories, the typical stone shepherd huts. Saignon is a quaint village with a view of the Mont Ventoux and a beautiful little square with a café.
Google map: bit.ly/OGN90o
Grotte des Demoiselles is an amazing network of underground caves near Provence and the Cevennes National Park. Reached by a small funicular railway, the caves can only be explored in small groups with a guide. The spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, some of which are four or five stories high, are simply out of this world. The largest cave made me go weak at the knees with vertigo so be prepared! The caves were fitted with pathways, staircases and stone balustrades in the 1930s which add to the experience - I was constantly reminded of the optical illusions of Escher (the never ending staircase!).
If you can ignore the obligatory tackiness of the visitors centre/cafe, tune out the prattle of the guide and simply admire the natural beauty of this place then you'll be sure to enjoy these grottos.
Price wise it was a little steep (c. £10 each) but the group sizes were small and it didn't seem too busy (we went in late June).
I can't help thinking if this was somewhere a little more accessible it would be deemed a natural wonder.
www.demoiselles.com/
Chemin départemental 986, 34190 St Bauzille de Putois, France
+33(0)467737002
Google map: bit.ly/M3O1rB
A stream tumbles down a small but enchanting waterfall. It used to power the grade II listed 19th century sawmill in Gayle. The bridge over the stream provides scenic views of the falls, Dod Fell and the sawmill (set against the beautiful backdrop of Wensleydale)
Just follow the road right down into Gayle from Hawes. The falls and bridge are right in the centre of the hamlet. Just watch out for cars using the narrow road on the bridge.
Google map: bit.ly/Mbclbl
Gayle is a quieter and more serene place than the bustling and noisy nearby tourist hotspot of Hawes. It has stupendous views of Wensleydale and Dod Fell which rise high above the hamlet of Gayle
Just a 20 min walk from Hawes (just follow the signs for the Wensleydale creamery and follow the road right down into Gayle.)
Google map: bit.ly/Mbclbl
The coastliner bus route between Pickering and Whitby is one of the best bus routes I have ever been on.
It gives a wonderful introduction to the beauty and bleakness of the Yorkshire Moors National Park as it makes it way past the spectacular Hole of Horcum, through Flyingdales Moor and down into Goathload where you go over the Yorkshire Moors steam railway and Goathland station. The final thrill is the hair raising descent down Blue Bank which brings you abruptly down into Whitby. The sea and Whitby glisten invitingly before you as you see the view of Whitby abbey, the town and the North Sea spread before you at the top of Blue Bank.
Just hop on the Coastliner bus as it stops outside York railway station.
www.yorkbus.co.uk
Google map: bit.ly/LR4wHr
For views of Barcelona minus the crowds head to the Carretera de les Aigües, a track that runs for several miles around the shoulder of Tibidabo, the mountain that dominates the top end of the city. Buy a standard metro ticket, take the Ferrocarrils to Peu Del Funicular then change onto the funicular railway and get off at the next stop up, called Carretera de les Aigües. A left turn at the station entrance and you've got three miles of country track among trees with only the panoramic views, a few joggers, and birds for company. At the end of the track you come out next to the Tibidabo funicular where you can either head up to the very top of the hill or take the Blue Tram back down into town. Before you do either, stop for a quick drink at the Mirablau café, and gaze out through the picture windows at yet another fabulous view of the city.
www.mirablaubcn.com
Carrer de Manuel Arnús, 2 08035 Barcelona, Spain
+34 934 185 879
Google map: bit.ly/LW7uQY
The Pyrenees are an essential part of Catalonia's soul. We've had several holidays up there and there's always something new to see but here are two top tips:
(i) the little train from Barcelona to Latour-de-Carol snakes through some of the most fantastic mountain scenery this side of Switzerland including some of the most historic villages in Catalonia. And, unlike the more well known Train Jaune, the journey will cost you less than a round of drinks. From Latour-de-Carol you can change onto a French train and head down the other side of the mountains to Toulouse or return to Barcelona after a bite to eat in the station café and a brief stop for some photographs. Buy your ticket to Latour from the automatic ticket machine at Sants Station otherwise you'll have to wait an age in a queue. Then, if travelling on to Toulouse, buy the ticket at Latour - don't attempt to buy a through ticket to Toulouse at Barcelona unless you really want to wrestle with the full horror of Spanish transport bureaucracy for half a day!
(ii) There are a number of spectacular minor roads leading north-west from Figueres up into the Pyrenees. Set your Sat Nav for Coustouges and follow the directions up into the heights of the mountains. Very quickly the tourist-strewn plain is left behind. The drive is amazing and when you reach Coustouges and nearby Sant Laurent de Cerdans you are in authentic Catalunya - check out the ancient Romanesque church in Coustouges. Both villages are actually in modern day France but are very much part of historical Catalunya and Catalan is still spoken. Sant Laurent has a long history of textile production, made possible by the numerous water-mills in the area, and you can pick up some traditional striped Catalan cloth for a song.
Google map: bit.ly/M8nIW2
This Catalan location is home to a picturesque mid-19th century lighthouse set on a cliff some 170m above the sea and offers spectacular views across the coastal plain that is home to Calella de Palafuguell, Llafranc and Tamariu. Walk along the cliff top path for views out to sea and down into coves. There is also the excavation of a small 6th century Iberian settlement and a medieval 15th century watch tower. And if you are there in the early evening, enjoy the changing colours as the sun sets, while sampling tapas on the veranda of the hotel restaurant. You can drive up, but the energetic can follow signed paths through the woods from Llafranc down below.
www.elfar.net
Muntanya de Sant Sebastià, Llafranc, Palafrugell, 17211, Girona
+34 972 301 639
Google map: bit.ly/NZUQ0S
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