Isola Rossa Holidays

Taking its name from the granite rock resting just off its shoreline, Isola Rossa – or Red Island – isn’t an island at all. It’s in fact a tranquil fishing village on the north-west coast of Sardinia, looking out to the Bay of Asinara. The fishermen still cast off from the harbour every morning, but there’s a growing number of hotels, a vibrant watersports scene, and one of Sardinia’s biggest waterparks on its doorstep.

Bordering the harbour is Spiaggia del Porto, a sweep of cream-coloured sand that arcs around a crescent bay. A textbook family beach, it has gently shelving waters, sunloungers and parasols for hire, plus a couple of bars serving cold beers and ice-creams. There’s also La Marinedda, north-east of the village, where the beach is an ivory carpet of fine sand and the sea glistens emerald green. Surfing's the most popular activity here, and there’s a surf camp if you’re in need of lessons.

Away from the sand, Isola Rossa is every bit the sleepy Italian village, where family-run pizzerias, tobacconists, and local bars are within walking distance of each other. If you want to sample home-cooked Sardinian seafood dishes, you’ll find a handful of restaurants overlooking the bay. And make sure you fit in a walk to the Spanish watchtower, built in 1595 to ward off pirates. It’s just behind the village and serves up epic views of the bay.

With its clutch of underwater caves and grottoes, Isola Rossa has become something of a scuba diver’s mecca. Dive boats ferry back and forth to sites like the Bell or the Oven, where tuna, sea bass and schools of barracuda are often spotted. Novices can sign up for a PADI-approved course, which is the fast track to getting in the water.