6| Distributed with The Daily Telegraph|SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009MENORCAÞ For more information on Menorca, go to www.illesbalears.es and www.spain.infoSUPERSTOCK.COMSECLUDED SPOTS PERFECT ISOLATION Followan ancient coastal path to find tranquillity and charming wildlife, writes Tiffany FieldIt’s easy to find peace and solitude in Menorca — even in July and August. The trick is to pack a few essentials in a small rucksack, put on some comfortable shoes and escape across the cliff tops along the Cami de Cavalls: a horse track created centuries ago to link coastal watchtowers. It fell into disuse about 50 years ago, but now the coastal path is being restored and signposted. Some of the best marked sections are near the beautiful, but often busy, resort of Cala Galdana. The sea is impossibly blue at Galdana and its perfect, crescentshaped, white sand beach is fringed with pines, so it’s no surprise that it’s popular. Signposted paths direct you west along the clifftop to Cala Macarella, which has one beach bar — cut into the cliffs — and to tiny Cala Macarelleta, where there are no facilities at all, or you can take the path east to unspoilt CalaMitjana. But instead of driving into Galdana, I turned off at a track signposted Cala Mitjana and drove through woodland to a large car park hidden from the beach, with picnic tables among the trees. These pine and olive tree woods are home to a staggering number of birds and wild flowers, and there are circular walks towards Galdana that lead along the cliff and into more woods. But I headed east towards the totally natural Cala Trebalugar, which has no car park, beach bars or even people, on the day I visited. The steps cut into the cliff to the headland were hard work, but at the top it only took about 30 minutes to walk along the flat path to Trebaluger. I strolled past wild rosemary bushes and pretty pink orchids until I reached the pines that cling to the cliffs all the way down to the sea. The white sand beaches on the south coast are quite different from those on the northcoast, which is undeveloped. Much of the adjacent countryside here is a moonscape of rocks weathered like giant honeycombs. The Cami de Cavalls is well signposted at unspoilt Cavalleria beach in the north, just off the road to Cap de Cavalleria — the northernmost point in Menorca.A couple of lizards scurried onto the rocks, their limegreen backs glinting The beach has soft red sand, which locals mix with sea water and spread over their bodies for an outdoor spa experience, but there are smaller beaches further north, and we also stopped at the old Roman port of Senitja on the way to the lighthouse. Possibly the best stretch of theCami de Cavalls in the north is from Es Grau to Cap Favaritx, where there’s another lighthouse. Near Es Grau is the island’s only Parc Naturel, S’Albufera des Gras, a protected wetlands area where evergreen trees and bushes create a year-round oasis, which is also great for hiking. Walking there the next day I saw clumps of acid-green Euphorbia, tall yellow-green fennel, drifts of yellow Bermuda buttercup, cobalt-blue lupins, orchids and more spring flowers. At the centre of the wetlands is a large freshwater lake, and paths lead from the car park to bird hides on the shore. Flamingoes and herons can be seen in the summer, but I was watching out for Italian lizards and Mediterranean tortoises. Finally, a couple of lizards scurried onto the rocks, their limegreen backs glinting in the sun. As for the tortoises, well I’ll just have to go back again to see them.A BRIEF HISTORY The prevalence of sash windows in Menorcan architecture provides a clue to the island’s colourful past. But while the British played no small part (the sash window was invented by Englishman Robert Hooke in the 1600s), a potpourri of peoples have had cultural influences here. For Menorcans, this includes early prehistoric humans, the Minoans (somewhere between 2700 and 1450BC), the Phoenicians, Carthaginians and (inevitably) Romans, the Byzantines, and the Moors. Local Jews were converted to Christianity in AD418, then in AD903 Menorca was annexed to the Caliphate of Cordoba. An Aragonese invasion in 1287 led to the enslavement of most of the island’s Muslims. In the 16th century, the Turks attacked and destroyed the cities of Mahón and Ciutadella. The British (and their sash windows) first arrived in 1708 during the War of the Spanish Succession and kept a grip until 1756, when the French took over. The Treaty of Paris in 1763 saw the British back, but only until 1782, when French and Spanish forces prevailed. British stubbornness meant we were back again (with more sash window, perhaps) in 1798 during the Revolutionary Wars, but lost out in 1802 when, finally, Menorca became permanently Spanish. Hardly surprising, then, that we still love going back there.SUPERSTOCK.COMEnchanting: wild tortoises can be spotted near Es Grau, above left; right, the pretty cove at Cala Pilar; top, tiny Cala Macarella
SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009|| 1The Daily Telegraph Saturday, April 4, 2009MENORCA A new look at Britain’s favourite Spanish holiday island.INSIDE SPECIAL SECTION ON THE MAGIC OF MENORCAin association with
2||SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009THE BALEARICSÞ For more information on the Balearics , go to www.illesbalears.es and www.spain.infoAbout this supplement The British have long enjoyed a love affair with the Balearic Islands. With 300 days of sunshine a year, flights of just over two hours from the UK, wond
SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009| Distributed with The Daily Telegraph| 3For more information on Menorca, go to www.illesbalears.es and www.spain.infoMENORCAcatamaran for a trip around the port and close-up views of the military buildings that have defended the island over the centuries. In just over an hour
4| Distributed with The Daily Telegraph|SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009MENORCAÞ For more information on Menorca, go to www.illesbalears.es and www.spain.infoTHE PERFECT PLACE FOR RIDING HIGHIN THE SADDLE Deborah Stone goes horse riding and cycling through spectacular Menorcan sceneryAmoment’s hesitation at
SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009| Distributed with The Daily Telegraph| 5For more information on Menorca, go to www.illesbalears.es and www.spain.infoMENORCASIMPLY THE BEST New spas and modern restaurants sit side by side with tradition, writes Ruby SimpsonPAMPER YOURSELFWhen holidaymakers started visiting M
6| Distributed with The Daily Telegraph|SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009MENORCAÞ For more information on Menorca, go to www.illesbalears.es and www.spain.infoSUPERSTOCK.COMSECLUDED SPOTS PERFECT ISOLATION Followan ancient coastal path to find tranquillity and charming wildlife, writes Tiffany FieldIt’s easy
SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009| Distributed with The Daily Telegraph| 7For more information on Menorca, go to www.illesbalears.es and www.spain.infoMENORCADelve into a treasure trove of intriguing relics CULTURE Spend some relaxing time amidFascinating sights: Stone Age Menorca; inset, Plaça d’es Born; bel
