 with locals on their horses, or shepherds with their goats around the white village of Comares that attracted Vicky and Lee from Northampton to buy a two-bedroom house with a pool in 2021 – for £131,000. 'The local bar serves simple but delicious food like dorada [mahi mahi] and a beer costs around €1,' says Lee, 46, and they harvest their own olives. Another pretty white village, Cómpeta at the foot of the Sierra Almijara, is one of Idealista's most searched-for locations. The portal is listing a two-bedroom townhouse with roof terrace for €200,000 in the village, while the 'raisin town' of El Borge – famed for its muscat grapes – has seen rental listings occupancy rates increase by 25pc, according to AirDNA. With dozens of pristine and Caribbean-like sand beaches that are generally accepted to be the best in the Canaries archipelago , is a low-profile island, and a great bet for accessible year-round sun. Less developed than Tenerife, calmer than Gran Canaria and more affordable than Lanzarote, it's also got a lively surfing scene in the north. Amongst the best beaches are the windy Sotavento (good for kite surfing) in the Jandia National Park in the south of the island, La Concha for snorkelling or El Moro (Drop Beach) for surfing, recommends John Goldcare of agent GoldAcre Estates. 'Most of our buyers spend around €125,000-150,000 for a one or two-bedroom property but some buy villas for €200,000-500,000,' he says. And there are some bargains to be had. His agency is selling a new two-bedroom villa near Lajares on the north coast for €165,000 (see below). Menorca The quieter little sister of Ibiza and Mallorca, it's easy to escape the crowds along Menorca's sleepy country lanes, coastal walking trails o){kind=link}
Wave goodbye to the sun-lounger wars with these unspoilt gems
Packed beaches and the daily jostle for the best spots for sun loungers has been a feature of this searing summer on the Spanish Costas.
The British are continuing to lead the charge during the school holidays – but we are also upping sticks for the Iberian peninsula for good.
Data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute shows that the number of Britons living in Spain has increased by 11,047 over the past year, with the biggest numbers in Andalusia, Valencia, and the Canary Islands.
But luckily there are still places you can move and escape being swamped by your fellow countrymen.