Take the trip - Taste Valencia’s succulent fruit, the prize-winning wines of the Jalón valley, spicy sausages made to an historic Mallorcan recipe —  and enjoy the tranquillity of Spain’s last sanctuary from a terrible scourge.

Area: Vall de Pop, west of Benidorm.

Route: Benidorm – Bolulla –Tàrbena – Alcalalí – Xaló (Jalón) – Fontilles – Pedreguer

Distance: 70 kilometres

From whichever direction you approach Calpe, the dominating view seawards is of the Peñon de Ifach, a 332 metre rock that is now a nature reserve but has been used since Phoenician times as a defensive standpoint against pirates and Barbary raiders.