I've visited 100 countries but always go back to these Spanish islands – they love Brits & have the best food & beaches
Having first visited the Canary Islands in Spain back in 1998, I've been back at least once a year on holiday.
7
7
Here are some of the reasons why it still remains one of my top places to have to go.
The locals STILL love the Brits
Heard about the anti-tourism protests in the Canaries and wondered if we're still welcome?
This year I've been back to four of the eight isles and could not have
been more welcomed, with the locals stressing how much they value British visitors.
I even stumbled across a counter protest movement with ' Lanzarote Loves Tourism'.
The world's most varied archipelago
The Canaries are all things to all people.
On Tenerife alone you can party at the world's second biggest carnival, bash around the world's best waterpark (Siam Park) and climb a mountain almost three times higher than Britain's Ben Nevis.
La Graciosa could be on a different planet. There are no tarmac roads,
nevermind an airport.
It's a brilliant escape from the modern world, hiking and
cycling around rough tracks, up volcanoes and out to windswept beaches.
Much more than just British breakfasts
You can still tuck into British comfort food across the resorts, but there is far more to savour today.
Lanzarote and Gran Canaria boast Michelin star restaurants and foodies flock to Tenerife to dine at eight Michelin star restaurants.
Spanish island reveals plans for huge new £4.8billion train routes – connecting beach holiday hotspots
7
Tenerife boasts more Michelin stars than Wales and the Royal Hideaway Corales Resort has more stars than any hotel in Spain with four!
And Tenerife just keeps winning stars. This year Il Bocconcino snared one.
I dined there just after, with chef Nikki Pavanelli telling me how he reinvents Italian classics using ultra fresh Canarian produce.
It's not all posh nosh - my favourite spot is simple, traditional Restaurante Los Abrigos, with as many locals as tourists in the quaint spot by the Atlantic.
Ask to view the catch of the day – they'll weigh it and give you a price so you won't get ripped off.
7
Not so Lanzagrotty
Michael Palin once unfairly dubbed Lanzarote with this horrible nickname.
I've met him since and he insists it was just a joke. In fact Lanzarote is the classiest Canary Isle.
It's largely down to one man - madcap artist Cesar Manrique. He persuaded his politician pals to ban huge resorts and tower hotels.
He worked on a series of bewitching projects too – he transformed a rubbish tip into the Jameos del Agua, which looks like the lair of James Bond baddy.
A great place to stay is family-run Finca de Arrieta, which captures the spirit of Manrique.
World-class hiking
As a Scot I know when hiking is brilliant. Tenerife has massive variety, as does Gran Canaria, but my top tip is La Palma.
I hiked around what the Canarios call 'La Isla Bonita' with Ramble
Worldwide earlier this year.
It was a joy soaring with our friendly group of largely British retirees up volcanoes, through thick forests and down to the cobalt Atlantic.
We witnessed the Tajogaite volcano, created in the massive 2021 eruption you probably saw on TV.
It's fascinating to get so close to such recent volcanic activity in an archipelago that is basically just the tips of eight giant volcanoes.
7
Culture beyond the bars
The karaoke bars tempt alongside pubs showing British sports in the resorts.
Beyond is an archipelago alive with culture. The original inhabitants – before the Spanish piled in – left their traces with carvings and stories that linger through generations.
On Tenerife you've got the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of La Laguna with its gorgeous hanging wooden balconies and the world-class Auditorio de Tenerife.
Gran Canaria has the old town of La Vegueta and La Gomera was the last place Columbus stopped en route to the Americas. I love jogging around the Torre del Condo, imagining Columbus here in 1492.
Bountiful Beaches
This is what most people are drawn by, but some of the best are found on the more overlooked islands.
Tenerife is not my favourite island for beaches – I prefer the third largest isle, Fuerteventura.
The Parque Natural de Corralejo sports mile upon mile of Sahara-esque dunes and gorgeous beaches.
It's just south of Corralejo, a resort popular with Brits and is
easily my favourite Canarian resort.
Corralejo offers the best of all worlds. It sports all the touristy trimmings, plus great walking, epic seafood, a real Spanish vibe and brilliant beaches.
Real variety too with kitesurfing, day trips to Lanzarote and a big Italian community.
In short it's as wonderfully varied as the Canaries.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Tragedy as couple drown in flash floods while holidaying in Majorca with friends
Alexander Barrett, 32, died along with his partner Sarah Thompson, 26, in the Spanish island of Majorca last year as a "wall of water" cascaded down the canyon they were descending A British couple tragically died during a hiking holiday as a "wall of water" cascaded down the canyon they were descending, an inquest has heard. Alexander Barrett, 32, died along with his partner Sarah Thompson, 26, in the Spanish island of Majorca last year. Mr Barrett, a climbing instructor and lifeguard, attempted to help Ms Thompson as the wall of water hit the canyon where they were descending with a group of other hikers on September 3, Stockport Coroner's Court heard. Both were swept to their deaths. Spanish search teams recovered Ms Thompson's body the day after the flood, while Mr Barrett's body was found in the Torrent de Pareis canyon in the Tramuntana mountains on September 6. It comes after a girl, 3, was found dead on beach by a horrified passer-by. Ms Thompson's father, Peter Thompson, who lives in Berwick-upon-Tweed, said his daughter 'was never without a smile on her face'. She had represented Cumbria at fell running in national competitions, had a degree in photography from Manchester Metropolitan University, and had recently been promoted in the donations team at The Christie hospital in Manchester. Paul Rodman, Mr Barrett's father, said his son 'loved life' and relished the outdoors, from hiking to surfing, adding: 'He was genuinely a good person, a caring person, a kind person. The friends and family have developed a little saying, 'Be more like Alex' because that's what we aspire to be. He's missed so much by all his friends and family.' The couple, from Offerton, near Stockport, had gone on the informal trip with friends, all hiking and climbing enthusiasts, making their separate ways to Majorca. On the trip was Luke Weaver, who knew Mr Barrett as a friend and climbing instructor at Awesome Walls, an indoor climbing centre in Stockport.'We all had a mutual passion for climbing and hiking,' he said in a statement read at the inquest. Mr Weaver, on the trip with his partner, said the hike they planned to do, which took three to four hours to complete, was well known globally and known to be 'challenging in places'. He had completed the hike before on several occasions, but neither Ms Thompson nor Mr Barrett had, but he considered it was 'well within the capabilities' of the group, he said. Mr Weaver said he was aware the gorge flooded so he checked the weather forecast on the morning of September 3 last year, which only predicted rain from 6pm, by which time they would be 'well clear'. He added: 'Had I known what was to happen, I would never have let them into the gorge.' Mr Weaver said he dropped the group of friends off for the hike and intended to catch them up after parking his car, but was delayed in heavy traffic by around two hours, before he could begin the hike himself. It had been a hot morning, but a storm had moved in and at around 2:30pm it began to drizzle with rain but Mr Weaver said this did not cause any concern as he continued the hike to meet with his partner and friends ahead of him. But a short time later it started to rain more heavily and he could hear thunder in the distance and he began to quicken his said as there was no phone signal in the gorge he could not make contact with them. As the downpour grew Mr Weaver said he spotted his friends, who were now with a German couple and two Spanish nationals, in a 'bottleneck' between two boulders. 'At this point the heavens opened,' Mr Weaver said. 'At this time the water was flowing like a small river.' Mr Weaver said he was helping the hikers through the bottleneck and he gestured to Ms Thompson if she was 'OK' and she replied yes but with a 'nervous smile'. He then heard someone shout, 'Water!' 'Seconds later a massive wall of water came down the gorge,' Mr Weaver said. 'The water appeared to come from nowhere. The sound was incredibly loud, people were screaming.' Mr Weaver said he could see one of the group had managed to grab onto a rock while one of the Spanish nationals had been swept into the torrent and was being carried away. His own partner managed to get out of the water and after a few minutes others emerged from the deluge, but Mr Weaver said the noise of the water was too loud to communicate with each other. Sadly, both Sarah and Alex were unable to climb to safety and were swept away by the floodwaters. 'I was shouting and screaming for the others. I could see no-one,' Mr Weaver said. Ms Thompson had been seen being swept away along with her partner, who had tried to help but the current had taken him too, the inquest heard. Later the survivors were airlifted out of the gorge by helicopter, suffering only minor injuries. Mr Weaver added: 'Everyone who survived that day is incredibly lucky, especially those who got caught in the water. I have never experienced anything like this and it is something I will never forget.' Post-mortem examinations gave the cause of death as drowning for both the deceased. Jyoti Gill, assistant coroner for Manchester South, recorded a verdict of accidental death caused by drowning for both Ms Thompson and Mr Barrett, whose legal name was Alexander Johnson, but was known by the name Alex Barrett. Ms Gill said the storm had caused flash flooding, sending a large torrent of water down the canyon. Ms Gill concluded: 'It appears water dragged Sarah, and Alex had tried to help her. Sadly, both Sarah and Alex were unable to climb to safety and were swept away by the floodwaters."
Cambrian News
4 hours ago
- Cambrian News
Teachers who swapped Aberystwyth for Patagonia speak of their adventures
Lending advice for future participants, Lleucu says: "Go with an open mind and you can really get involved in the community. Remember things aren't going to be the same and always ask for help, but the people here really pull together to help at school and at home – no one seems to panic. Also, it's great to learn some Spanish before going. It's been a real privilege to come back to Patagonia, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to part of this amazing community again.'
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
The 5 items from duty free that can result in £5,000 fines for UK travellers
Passengers travelling from holiday destinations like Greece, Spain, France and Italy face strict rules when returning home Holidaymakers returning from some of the UK's favourite summer destinations have been issued an alert over fines for bringing five items through customs. And the warning is for things travellers may even have bought in duty free. Penalties of up to £5,000 could be meted out to passengers after new rules were introduced by the government earlier in the year following the outbreak of severe disease across Europe. Now those heading home to Britain from areas including Spain, France, Greece and Italy, must not carry any of these banned items in their luggage, reports Bristol Live. Fliers are not permitted to have items including sandwiches, cheese, cured or raw meats or milk when entering the country. All EU nations entering Great Britain are prohibited from bringing these items into the UK. And this applies irrespective of whether the products are wrapped or packaged, or whether they were purchased at duty-free outlets. Those discovered with these products will be required to either hand them over at the border or have them confiscated and destroyed. And in serious cases, authorities state that those found with these items run the risk of incurring fines of up to £5,000. The Government has implemented measures to halt the transmission of foot and mouth disease (FMD) following an increasing number of cases throughout Europe. Travellers are prohibited from bringing cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat, as well as dairy products, from EU countries into Great Britain for personal use, to protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers, and the UK's food security. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) poses no risk to humans, but it is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals such as wild boar, deer, llamas and alpacas. The outbreak on the continent presents a significant risk to farm businesses and livestock in the UK, despite there being no current cases. The disease can cause significant economic losses due to production shortfalls in the affected animals, as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and dairy. In response to confirmed outbreaks of FMD in Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria earlier this year, the Government has already banned personal imports of cattle, sheep and other ruminants and pig meat as well as dairy products from these countries. The new restrictions apply only to travellers arriving in Great Britain, and will not be imposed on personal imports arriving from Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man. Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said when it was launched: "This government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot and mouth. "That is why we are further strengthening protections by introducing restrictions on personal meat and dairy imports to prevent the spread of the disease and protect Britain's food security. And the UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for international and trade affairs Dr Jorge Martin-Almagro said: "Following the detection of foot and mouth disease in EU countries resulting in a rising risk of introduction into Great Britain, we have extended restrictions on the personal imports of food products that pose a risk in FMD transmission."
