Salobrena (1 hour by car):

Although Malaga is better known, Salobrena is a charming white painted hilltop town with an equally good beach, for swimming and simply stretching out under the sun that is more popular with the Spanish. The drive to Salobrena is part of the experience – the excellent road takes you across deep valleys and gorges and through mountain passes, with the view on each turn of the road more breathtaking than the last – especially around the area of Lecrin.

In Salobrena, there is a challenging but rewarding climb up steps from the beach area to the delightful old church and, eventually, to the Moorish castle – previously used as a fort, as a weekend retreat for the Granada based Moorish rulers and as a prison for deposed Sultans. Entrance to the castle and the associated town museum costs just 2.80 per person and you will see magnificent views of the town, the bay and the surrounding mountains, with the Sierra Nevada in the background. If you are in Salobrena in Spring or Summer, you will enjoy the beautiful town displays of Bouganvillia – mostly in a deep red colour that really shows the delights of the climbing plant against the white walls of the houses.