Kampaoh Oliva

A good few days will probably be spent lounging on Platja la Devesa (five minutes’ walk), a relatively quiet, dune-backed beach with lifeguards on duty in summer. Other local options include Platja d’Oliva (15 minutes’ drive), with its choice of laid-back chiringuito bars, and Platja de Miramar (20 minutes), overlooked by snack shacks and ice-cream stalls on a palm-lined promenade. It’s easy to stay active too, as there’s a golf course within five minutes’ drive, and a riding school (10 minutes) from where you can canter along the beach on horseback. Take binoculars on wetland hikes in Parc Natural de la Marjal de Pego-Oliva (10 minutes) to spot warblers, terns and flamingos, and there are scenic trails through cork forest in the Paraje Natural Municipal El Surar (55 minutes). Pretty seaside towns to discover include Oliva (10 minutes), with its Moorish-era centre overlooked by the medieval Castillo de Santa Ana, while lively Dénia (25 minutes) has a historic old quarter and a castle with its roots in Roman times to explore as well as a buzzing food market where you can pick up ingredients for picnics on the beach. In elegant Gandia (half an hour), take a guided tour of baroque-era apartments in the opulent Palau Ducal dels Borja before heading for the tapas bars on the seafront esplanade.