Matta e Peru Holidays

You’ll find this little gem on Sardinia’s north-eastern shoreline, just along the coast from bigger sibling Budoni. It’s bagged an undiscovered postcode, where the fragrant pines and rugged coves take priority. There are no facilities to disturb the peace, either – bar a pizzeria that’s open during the summer months.

As you get closer to the coast, thick forests give way to patches of chalk-coloured sand. And transparent waters gently lap the shore. It continues like this until you reach Orvile Beach – a 20-minute walk away. Here, the long, swathe of cream-coloured sand unrolls for miles, backed by sand dunes, lagoons and the Posada River.

If you’re looking for an easy daytrip, Budoni comes up trumps. It’s just 10 minutes’ drive up the coast, and you’ll find the full range of pizzerias, seafood joints and fine-dining eateries tucked down its side streets. It’s also home to one of the biggest beaches around – a four-kilometre-long halo of powder-white sand.