Castle Gibralfaro is perched atop a high hill over looking Malaga. The name comes from the Moorish Jebel meaning hill and Faro meaning lighthouse.

Again it’s free to visit on a Sunday so we hopped on the bus up the winding hill for some freebie sightseeing.

While not as interesting as the Alcazaba there are stunning views to be had from the ramparts including the city bullring in miniature.

This building dates back to the beginning of the 14th century when it was built by Yusef 1 of Granada.

Just missed capturing the tiny bullfighter waving his red rag around. Looks quite cute from this far away, unlike the brutal reality of the so called “sport”

Bit of history for you – Gibralfaro castle was the site of the famous siege of Malaga in 1487 when the Christian forces of Ferdinand and Isabella laid siege to Malaga on the final push of the reconquista that would eventually lead to the fall of Granada and the overthrow of Islamic Spain.

Next up, we visit the playground of the rich and famous (and TOWIE apparently) Marbella!

As we’re in that neck of the woods we take a return trip to the Eden Project.

Near to St Austell it’s a unique attraction featuring a series of distinctive bubble shaped biodomes set in a former 160 year old china clay pit.

According to the project’s website blurb the Guinness Book of Records heralds the Biomes as the biggest conservatories in the world.

Building these ‘lean-to greenhouses’ on an uneven surface that changed shape was tricky: ‘bubbles’ were used because they can settle on any shaped surface – the architect got the idea while washing up!

It boasts the world’s largest rainforest in captivity complete with waterfalls and streams, plus some little bug lovin critters too!

There’s around 1 million plants of just under 4,000 species in Eden.

There’s heat and humidity loving species such as rubber trees, vanilla and ginger in the Tropical Biomes. Some of which made very good shelters, as demonstrated by Jan.

To get a real sense of the scale of some of the jungle plants you need to get up above them.

Luckily you can take a walk in the tree tops with a brand new canopy walk that lets you brush past the tallest of the plants.

Everywhere you look there’s plants, flowers and other greenery. From exotic looking banana flowers to a legion of multi coloured tulips, it’s a horticulturists dream come true.

Sadly for me, as it was Easter Sunday, the plant shop was shut! Booooooo. So I had to make do with taking lots of colourful snaps instead!

Alternatively you can enjoy some of the art installations (Neil looks so impressed), make your own or just loiter in the upper hemispheres of the domes . . .

Here’s a glorious collection of metal butterflies, like shiny scraps of tin had briefly settled to rest their wings.

After the humidity of the tropical dome you can head to the dry, sandy loving specimens in the Mediterranean dome. Here you can see lemon trees, olive groves, vines and cork trees and feels just like a trip to Italy.

If all that leaves you cold then here’s a few words of wisdom to leave you with dear readers . . .

Seriously considering making this one my sixth tattoo . . . .

St Ives or in Cornish, Porth Ia, meaning St Ia’s cove is a gorgeous slice of coastal loveliness nestled north of Penzance.

It’s a big hit with artists due to the quality of the light, and while i don’t usually subscribe to all that gumpf, it does indeed seem to have an especially clear, blueish tinge to the air, making everything seem clearer and more fresh.

It was a blustery, fresh day when we visited but the sunshine did make an appearance from time to time, showing the beach and pretty village to its best advantage.

The white sand and turquoise sea would have you believe that you were in Italy or some other exotic Mediterranean coast.

It’s so ruddy cold however that my fingers can barely take the snapshots!

However Neil is still super happy at being by the sea again!

There’s lots of lovely little alley ways to get lost in and shops to sample the local delicacies. Here’s one of the amusingly entitled streets (childish I know . . )

and an interesting combo to tempt your taste buds!

After settling into our four berth caravan at Seaview International Holiday Park we plot the next move.

The caravan is immaculate and well fitted with one good sized double room and a small room with two single beds. Ideal for a family with younger children but a bit of a squeeze for four adults!!!

First on the itinerary, our perennial favourite, and surfers hangout, Newquay! Parking up at Fistral Beach we enjoyed a bracing walk across the sands.

Not much surf but still flotillas of wanna be wave riders cluster on the sands and shiver in the sea. We pick our way across the slimy seaweedy rocks to gaze at the still blue waters.

It takes me back in time to my several, ill fated, attempts at mastering the white horses . . . forget standing up, I couldn’t even seem to lie on the board. Preferring it would seem to continually roll off the sides like a drunken walrus.

Even on a chilly day the beach is still full of hardy souls, erecting wind breaks, cowering beneath piles of coats and jumpers as red faced children leap into rock pools and run, shrieking, from the icy waters.

The headland hotel surveys the action from its lofty perch high on the cliff side.

Despite the chill, it is still a lovely place to visit and when the sun briefly shows its face, it gives any foreign beach a run for its money.

We head past the Headland Hotel and pay a visit to the Huer’s Hut. Named after the Huer, an important figure in the pilchard fishing industry that once thrived in Newquay.

The Huer would watch out from his high vantage point for the shoals of fish to arrive in the bay and then call out to the town by shouting ‘Heva, Heva’.

And then we have a potter around the harbour to see the floaty boaties and the fishermen coming in with their catch.

The flotillas of little boats come chugging into the harbour, fishermen hollering to their friends on shore, demanding hot tea or a fortifying pint.

Next up on our whizz around the South of the UK is the cute little fishing village of Looe.

Looe has one of the largest fishing fleets on the Cornish coast and has a long maritime history.

Didn’t have long here, just time to grab a few snaps including this of the most classily named establishment in the world!

In medieval times there were two towns on opposite banks of the River Looe. East Looe includes the fishing harbour, the main shopping centre and the sandiest beach.

The two towns are now one, joined by a bridge across the Looe river which flows into the sea.

You can saunter along the “Banjo Pier” – unsurprisingly this is a pier in the shape of a banjo!

It is also home to some rather hungry, vicious locals . . .

And a dedicated rowing squad who happened to be heading out to sea as we stood watching.

Aside from a lovely stretch of beach, Looe has lots of tiny backstreets that you could easily loose a few hours in.