El Roque Beach

The sand sparkles. On the sandy side it is fine, smooth and black, and it glitters whenever the sun is on it. Walk the other way and the shore turns to rock and pebbles, emptier still.

High walls of volcanic rock wrap around the beach, so once you are down on the shore the road and the houses above drop out of sight. Nothing is built on the sand and nothing is sold there, which keeps the place quiet. It suits a walk along the waterline, an hour sitting against the rock and the sound of the Atlantic coming in.

• There are no toilets and no drinking water at the beach or nearby. Fill up before you come.
• Nothing is sold on the shore, so bring your own food and drinks.
• The sea turns strong here when the wind is up. Look at the water before you decide to swim.
• The only shade on the sand is what the rocks throw. Bring a hat and sun cream.
• The parking has no wheelchair-accessible spaces.

Two parking areas sit above the beach, about 110 m and 160 m away in a straight line. From either one you walk down to the sand.

By bus, the stop is Roque de Dentro, about 200 m from the beach. From there it is a walk through the hamlet of Los Roques and down to the shore.

Best: a calm, clear morning.

Avoid: windy days, and the middle of a sunny day on the open sand.

The beach faces the sea to the east, so the morning sun comes up over the water and lights the black sand; when the wind rises the sea turns strong, and at midday the dark sand holds the heat with little shade beyond the rocks.