Don't fancy sharing your patch of sand with thousands of other sun seekers?
Sara D'Souza heads off the beaten track to uncover Europe's best hidden beaches, secluded shorelines and secret coves.
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Es Trenc, Mallorca
With the mercury tipping 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months, it's not surprising that people flock from far and wide to top up their tans on the Balearic island of Mallorca. Our tip is to head far from the madding crowd to the blissed out beach of Es Trenc. You can’t drive to it, which makes it tricky to get to, but it's completely worth the journey. The natural coastline is protected from development and its two miles of white sands slope down to the water. Picnicker’s seeking shade should head for the pine forests, where smugglers used to hide out in pits between the trees.
Formentera, Ibiza
Another Balearic beauty in the warm waters of the western Mediterranean is the idyllic isle of Formentara. Little sister to the party island of Ibiza, and one-time hangout of Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan, Formentera is the perfect chill out spot for those on the hippy trail looking for some R&R. Check out the horse-shaped red rocky bay of Cala Saona; the snorkeler's haven, Playa Mijourn; or the teeny north eastern bay of Tramontana. And if beach life is getting a little too Robinson Crusoe for your liking then you can always hop back on a boat to the white isle (there are more than 12 half-hour crossings per day in the summer) to party from dusk til dawn.
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Arrifana, Portugal
Over the years the battering waves of the Atlantic have worn deep secluded coves into the honey-hued cliffs of Portugal's Algarve region and created some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. Arrifana is relatively small at just half a mile long, and is a surfer's paradise. Head to the northern end of the bay with your board to pick up some of the long waves, (that reach up to six feet) which, combined with shallow barrels, makes it a world-class surf spot. Not active? Don’t worry; there are whitewashed Moorish ruins to discover and little restaurants dishing up delicious fresh-off-the-boat seafood.
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