I’ve visited 100 countries but always go back to these Spanish islands – they love Brits & have the best food & beaches

DESPITE having travelled to more than 100 countries as my time as a travel writer, the place I always return to is much closer to home.

Having first visited the Canary Islands in Spain back in 1998, I’ve been back at least once a year on holiday.

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Here are some of the reasons why it still remains one of my top places to have to go.

Heard about the anti-tourism protests in the Canaries and wondered if we’re still welcome?

This year I’ve been back to four of the eight isles and could not havebeen more welcomed, with the locals stressing how much they value British visitors.

I even stumbled across a counter protest movement with ‘Lanzarote Loves Tourism’.

The Canaries are all things to all people.

On Tenerife alone you can party at the world’s second biggest carnival, bash around the world’s best waterpark (Siam Park) and climb a mountain almost three times higher than Britain’s Ben Nevis.

La Graciosa could be on a different planet. There are no tarmac roads,nevermind an airport.

It’s a brilliant escape from the modern world, hiking andcycling around rough tracks, up volcanoes and out to windswept beaches.

You can still tuck into British comfort food across the resorts, but there is far more to savour today.

Lanzarote and Gran Canaria boast Michelin star restaurants and foodies flock to Tenerife to dine at eight Michelin star restaurants.

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Tenerife boasts more Michelin stars than Wales and the Royal Hideaway Corales Resort has more stars than any hotel in Spain with four!

And Tenerife just keeps winning stars. This year Il Bocconcino snared one.

I dined there just after, with chef Nikki Pavanelli telling me how he reinvents Italian classics using ultra fresh Canarian produce.

It’s not all posh nosh - my favourite spot is simple, traditional Restaurante Los Abrigos, with as many locals as tourists in the quaint spot by the Atlantic.

Ask to view the catch of the day – they’ll weigh it and give you a price so you won’t get ripped off.

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Michael Palin once unfairly dubbed Lanzarote with this horrible nickname.

I’ve met him since and he insists it was just a joke. In fact Lanzarote is the classiest Canary Isle.

It’s largely down to one man - madcap artist Cesar Manrique. He persuaded his politician pals to ban huge resorts and tower hotels.

He worked on a series of bewitching projects too – he transformed a rubbish tip into the Jameos del Agua, which looks like the lair of James Bond baddy.

A great place to stay is family-run Finca de Arrieta , which captures the spirit of Manrique.

As a Scot I know when hiking is brilliant. Tenerife has massive variety, as does Gran Canaria, but my top tip is La Palma.

I hiked around what the Canarios call ‘La Isla Bonita’ with RambleWorldwide earlier this year.

It was a joy soaring with our friendly group of largely British retirees up volcanoes, through thick forests and down to the cobalt Atlantic.

We witnessed the Tajogaite volcano, created in the massive 2021 eruption you probably saw on TV.

It’s fascinating to get so close to such recent volcanic activity in an archipelago that is basically just the tips of eight giant volcanoes.

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The karaoke bars tempt alongside pubs showing British sports in the resorts.

Beyond is an archipelago alive with culture. The original inhabitants – before the Spanish piled in – left their traces with carvings and stories that linger through generations.

On Tenerife you’ve got the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of La Laguna with its gorgeous hanging wooden balconies and the world-class Auditorio de Tenerife.

Gran Canaria has the old town of La Vegueta and La Gomera was the last place Columbus stopped en route to the Americas. I love jogging around the Torre del Condo, imagining Columbus here in 1492.

This is what most people are drawn by, but some of the best are found on the more overlooked islands.

Tenerife is not my favourite island for beaches – I prefer the third largest isle, Fuerteventura.

The Parque Natural de Corralejo sports mile upon mile of Sahara-esque dunes and gorgeous beaches.

It’s just south of Corralejo, a resort popular with Brits and iseasily my favourite Canarian resort.

Corralejo offers the best of all worlds. It sports all the touristy trimmings, plus great walking, epic seafood, a real Spanish vibe and brilliant beaches.

Real variety too with kitesurfing, day trips to Lanzarote and a big Italian community.

In short it’s as wonderfully varied as the Canaries.

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