Camping Isla de Ons

Whatever your packing style, two vital things that must get into your luggage are your walking shoes and your swimming cozzie. The former are so that you can take to the island’s trails – there are four main tracks, ranging from the 45-minute castle trail through to the three-hour northern route, which passes various bird breeding sites and crosses the sand dunes. Highlights of the walks also include the lighthouse, a couple of ruined fortifications and the 12-metre-deep 'hellhole' with gulls nesting in its walls. All of the routes can be walked on your own, or on a free guided hike. And you’ll be needing your swimmers for the beaches that pepper the island’s east coast. They’re a gorgeous bunch, all soft white sands and shallow, clear waters that pretty much demand you spend a goodly chunk of time there. The largest is Praia de Melide, up at the top of the island – you can walk there in about 40 minutes or so. In summer there are extra activities laid on around the island – expert-led stargazing excursions, orienteering, snorkelling and kayaking to the national park’s other islands among them. Site staff or the local tourist office can keep you posted on what’s going on while you’re there.