Câmara de Lobos lighthouse

Ocean on one side, a working fishing harbour on the other. The promontory faces open water, and wind and swell arrive with nothing to break them. Below sit the boats of Câmara de Lobos. Behind them the decorated streets of the town run back from the front, past the church. Churchill painted in this village, and the reason for it is visible from the deck. Walking the harbour and the streets can fill half a day, so the lighthouse is rarely the whole visit.

• Wind: The promontory takes the weather straight off the ocean. Bring a windproof layer; in February it is cold here even in sunshine.
• Small lighthouse: What you come for is the outlook over the harbour and the open sea, not the building.
• With children: The site suits children, but there is nothing to do here beyond looking at the view.
• Allow time for the town: The harbour, the decorated streets and the church of Câmara de Lobos can take half a day.

Câmara de Lobos lighthouse sits on a promontory on the south coast of Madeira, about 7 km west of Funchal. Most people drive out from the city, and the run along the coast is scenic in itself. Getting around the town and parking there is easier on a scooter than in a car.

Best: clear, calm days.

Avoid: strong wind — the deck faces open ocean and offers no cover.

The view is the whole reason to come, so the weather decides the visit. In February it is cold and windy here even under sun. On a still day the harbour, the boats and the coastline sit in one frame.