Tenerife

Many a travel destination has a reputation written into popular perception in indelible ink. And perhaps nowhere more so than the Canary Islands. This much-loved Atlantic archipelago – with the biggest member of the group, Tenerife, sitting at its heart – renowned as a haven of winter sunshine, basking in temperatures which hover at around the 20C mark just as continental Europe is coping with the worst weather.

Tenerife offers much more than mass tourism, sun loungers and neon cocktails. As one of the Canary Islands Tenerife can offer a different type of short. If you want to spend most of your time on two legs soaking up the panoramic views at La Gomera's Garajonay National park, the 'cloud forest' or two wheels in the La Esperanza Forest, it is here; relax at a small guest house away from the crowd.