Cala Viola de Ponent

Put your mask in the water along the rocky reefs at either side of the cove and the fish are there straight away: wrasse and sea bream moving between the boulders, with little sand on the bottom to cloud the view. The cove lies inside the Northern Menorca Marine Reserve, and the reefs hold plenty of fish.

Above the waterline the setting is bare. Dark rock and low, wind-shaped Mediterranean scrub run flat to the sea on the same peninsula as the Cavalleria Lighthouse. There are no bars, no sunbeds and no buildings. A shore of coarse sand, pebbles and rock slabs keeps the crowds thin even in summer, and evenings bring very few people, with the sun going down over the sea.

• There are no facilities: no bar, no lifeguard, and no toilets or drinking water nearby. Bring all the water and food you need.
• The shore is rock, pebbles and coarse sand. Water shoes or old trainers make getting in and out easier.
• The ground around the cove is bare, with no shade. Bring your own for a long stay on a summer day.
• The cove is sheltered when the wind blows from the south; a north wind sends waves straight in and clouds the water.

The cove sits on the Cavalleria peninsula on Menorca's north coast, off the road that runs out to the Cavalleria Lighthouse. A dirt track leaves that road for the cove, and the car park at its end lies about 200 m from the cove in a straight line. Cars stop close to the shoreline, and the last stretch on foot crosses rock and pebbles down to the water.

No bus stop is anywhere near: the nearest are more than 3 km away in a straight line, so plan on coming by car.

Best: a calm day, or one with the wind from the south, for snorkelling; late afternoon into sunset for the light and the quiet.

Avoid: days of strong north wind, and the middle of a summer day if you bring no shade.

The cove opens onto the north coast, so a north wind stirs up the water and spoils the visibility, and the bare ground around it gives no cover from the midday sun.

The cove lies inside the Northern Menorca Marine Reserve, so the life in the water is protected. Snorkel and look: leave fish, shells, sea urchins and anything growing on the rocks where they are. Fishing inside the reserve is regulated, so check the reserve's rules before a rod or speargun comes out of the car.