Does Menorca "Die" in November?

The season in Menorca is regarded as short witha settled periods you can find yourself alone on a
facilities closing down from the end of September.glorious yet deserted beach. It as a unique charm
Last October when we were in Menorca resortsthat can easily get under your skin. However not
such as Son Bou had already seen many of itsall visitors are captivated by its charms.
supermarkets closed by early October and manyThe soul of the island may be in its geography.
shops in the process of winding down for closureNowhere in Spain is further from Madrid, except
the rest of the month.the Canary Islands.
So does Menorca "die" in November, definitely not.The port of Maó is Spain's most easterly
The population may shrink to a third of itspoint, where the sun first rises. It has a stumpy,
summer peak but the Island is still enjoying up tocurving shape, with the outside edge facing
five hours of sunshine a day and temperaturesFrance and the inside looking southwest towards
still reach a respectable mid teens.Mallorca.
The Walkers still Walk, the Golfers revel in theMenorca is not regarded as hilly but the gentle hills
mild conditions, which contrast Starkly with the UKand deep valleys, known as barrancs, run down
in November. Painting holidays benefit from theto secret coves.
now green countryside, which unlike its sisterThe Menorcans say their beaches are the best in
islands, now resembles the home counties withthe Mediterranean, with which we could not argue.
crops in the fields alongside cows, sheep andThe Tramuntana which gives a huddling look to
goats enclosed by dry stone walling morebuildings and vegetation bends trees into stunted
reminiscent of Derbyshire than the Mediterranean.shapes.
Menorca has avoided the impact of mass tourism.During the summer the Island is well served by
The island is just 48km long and 16km wide butcharter flights from virtually every major UK
still manages to maintain a real economy alongsideairport but these come to an end in late October
tourism. It has industries that produce tangiblethe charters end. However through the winter
goods, such as footwear, furniture, jewellery, andmonths one can still reach Menorca with Monarch
a delicious cheese that is one of Spain's finest.each Friday from Luton Airport or by using Avro
Menorcas conservation credentials are impeccable.the UK's cheap ticket operator.
Since Menorca became a by Unesco biosphereThe accommodation in the major resorts of Son
reserve in 1993, ecological values have topped theBou and Calen Porter closes but their is a wealth
agenda. Planning rules are more closely followedof good value lloc, traditional Menorcan
than is normally the case in Spain. Today 41% offarmhouses, which offer reasonably priced
the island's 700 sq km enjoys some form ofaccommodation and some of the finestfood you
protection. Long stretches of coastline remaincan find on the entire Island of Menorca.
undeveloped. Resorts such as Cala Galdana andThe most famous or these is BeinfCa Na Xini.
Cala en Porter are still surprisingly low key whenThis farm, outside the village of Ferreries,
compared to the Costa Blanca.produces its own cheese, wine and olive oil. Sant
Menorca in winter is decidedly laid back but if youJoan de Binissaida occupies a 12-hectare estate on
are willing to accept the ocassional bad weatherthe coast outside Maó. This 18th-century
and ignore the persistent north wind, thelloc has 12 rooms with original furniture, plus the
Tramuntana, Menorca has much to offer. Therestaurant serves some of the best food on the
Museums are open the Prehistoric sites are stillIsland.
there in all their glory and when the weather has