It’s been a summer of wildly contrasting weather — miserable here (the sixth wettest July since records began in 1836), scorching in some of our favourite holiday destinations, from Sicily to Sardinia and the Algarve. Last month the wild fires in Rhodes resulted in 19,000 holidaymakers being evacuated. But the extreme warmth has done little to dent our enthusiasm for seeking out the sunshine. Travel companies have reported a flurry of last-minute bookings. The UK’s biggest tour operator Jet2 said that while Turkey, the Canaries, Balearics, mainland Spain and Portugal were popular choices, “more people are simply looking to swap the UK weather for some sunshine — regardless of the destination”. The luxury operator Scott Dunn said the recent autumnal weather had sparked a 27 per cent jump in bookings. So, where can you go for good weather but without the sort of temperatures that leave you, at best, wilting in a darkened room or, at worst, in danger? We’ve picked ten options, with August availability, where the temperature is nicely toasty but not toasting.
1. Chic self-catering in Corsica
This summer, Corsica’s temperatures have been nicely in the early 30s and tend to remain steady into September. St Florent is a pretty seaside town in the north, with shops, bars and restaurants clustered around a small but yachty marina. La Citaj is a four-bedroom stone farmhouse on its outskirts (but a short walk to the centre of town) with chic and simple decor and a large pool. There are three bicycles for guests to use and taking a boat from St Florent is the nicest way to reach the very gorgeous Plage de Loto.
Details Seven nights’ self-catering (including flights) for eight from £899pp on August 27 (corsica.co.uk). Fly to Calvi
2. The coastal spot beloved by the French
The Aquitaine coast is something that, historically, the French have tried to keep to themselves. A vast swathe of glorious beaches, crowned by the Dune du Pilat, Europe’s longest and highest sand dune. Famed for its oysters, especially in the delightful resort town of Arcachon, this part of the Atlantic coast tends to avoid the fierce heat of the Med. Dating from the 1930s, Villa Les Goélands is still owned by the family who built it and they’ve upgraded some of it with considerable panache, but left the rest to speak for itself. There’s a wide deck outside, pine trees for shade and, best of all, a small gate at the bottom of the garden leads onto Claouey beach, with bars and restaurants a stroll away.
Details Seven nights’ self-catering for six from £699pp on August 26 (simpsontravel.com). Fly to Bordeaux
3. Walking and dolphin-spotting on Madeira
This famously temperate island does see its hottest temperatures in August, but they rarely rise above 30 in its capital, Funchal, and will be several degrees cooler if you head to the hills. This week-long holiday, departing on August 19, mixes walking around the ancient irrigation trails called levadas with boat trips to see dolphin and whales, plus time to explore Madeira’s sugar and rum history and Porto Santo, a satellite island with a five-mile beach, reached by ferry.
Details Seven nights’ B&B from £835pp, including some other meals and all guiding (explore.co.uk)
4. Crowd-free Lake Iseo
Absurdly beautiful Lake Iseo is easy to reach from Milan. Summer temperatures are generally in the early thirties but, if it gets hotter, there’s usually a cooling breeze from the lakes or mountains. Best of all, it’s in Franciacorta, which produces a sparkling wine that’s so sought after that it rarely reaches UK shores. On the shore of Lake Iseo, the Hotel Rivalago is perfectly placed for visiting vineyards and bringing back bottles for impromptu picnics. There are steps from the hotel garden straight to a lake that doesn’t get the crowds of Como and also allows easy exploration of Bergamo and other northern Italian cities.
Details Seven nights’ B&B from £900pp, including flights and transfers (long-travel.co.uk)
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5. A villa in Provence with French charm
With the grapes ripening and the crowds lessening, late August and early September is a magical time in Provence where temperatures are currently in the early 30s. Les Roches is a villa with August availability and a great deal of southern French charm. Tucked into Les Alpilles hills, it’s well above the heat spots of Arles or the coast and has availability for the last two weeks in August. St-Rémy-de-Provence is a short drive away but the surrounding area — and the villa itself, with three beautifully decorated bedrooms, large kitchen and shady area, plus a lovely pool looking out onto cypress tree-dotted landscapes — is reason to linger.
Details Seven nights’ self-catering for six from £4,540 on August 19 (vintagetravel.co.uk). Take the train to Avignon or fly to Marseilles
6. Lakeside Croatia
Yes, the coast will be sizzling hot at the moment, but head inland and you’ll escape the crowds and be in a landscape that is even more dazzling. Covering 115 square miles, Plitvice Lakes National Park — a series of lakes and waterfalls — is Unesco protected. Completely Croatia has a series of guesthouses here, many with an alpine feel, which allow you to explore (temperatures are currently about 27C) without fear of sunstroke. Try Guesthouse Oreskovic, which has its own hot tub (you can’t swim in the lakes).
Details Seven nights’ B&B from £580pp, including flights and car hire (completelycroatia.co.uk)
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7. A walking holiday in Slovenia
With an ace position between Austria and Croatia, this country doesn’t do parched summers. Its undulating landscapes deliver plenty of mountains and lakes and it’s a destination that’s becoming deservedly more popular, especially for walking holidays. This trip takes things at a gentle pace, following the Via Alpina from the tranquil village of Jezersko to Lake Bohinj at the heart of the Triglav National Park. Guests will stay at small inns, covering 49 miles over seven nights, fuelled by hearty mountain food influenced by Slovenia’s neighbours.
Details Seven nights’ B&B from £995pp (macsadventure.com). Fly to Ljubljana
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8. A boutique break on Fuerteventura
This island in the Canaries has escaped the forest fires this year, and staying at the LIVVO Risco del Gato Suites in the south means you can mix beach time with forays into the Jandia Natural Park. This small boutique hotel has 51 rooms and Sotavento beach is just 200m away, but it’s Jandia that you may want to explore more. You’re likely to see hawks and Egyptian vultures above its dunes and scrublands.
Details Six nights’ room-only from £942pp including flights (baholidays.com)
9. Chill out on a Swiss lake
Close to the border with Italy, Lake Brienz has its neighbouring country’s charm, prices are more reasonable than you’d expect, and the scenery is just as spectacular as Switzerland’s more famous lakes. The family-run Strandhotel in the village of Iseltwald is on its own little peninsula, from where ferries can take you around the lake, including to its waterfalls — the village was a key location for the cult Netflix Korean drama Crash Landing on You. Mostly you’ll come to relax — in summer temperatures tend to be in the mid-20s, warm enough to sit on the hotel’s terrace, soak up the dreamy turquoise water of the lake and drink plenty of the area’s really rather nice wine.
Details Four nights’ half-board from £835pp, including flights (tui.co.uk)
Additional reporting by Chris Haslam
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