You can fly from many UK airports on a range of charters and scheduled flights; airlines include British Airways (0870 850 9850; ); TAP, the Portuguese national airline (0870 607 2024; ); Monarch (08700 405040; ); and bmibaby (0870 264 2229; ). At this time of year fares are likely to be in the region of £250 return. The Eva Hotel at Avenida de Republica 1 (00 351 28 900 1000) overlooks the harbour and has double rooms from €140 (£100), including breakfast. Faro tourist office: Rua da Misericordia 8-12 00 351 289 803 604; GAMBIA Good-value holidays to this bright sliver of west Africa are offered by The Gambia Experience (0845 330 4567; ). A week in August staying in an apartment at the very comfortable Bungalow Beach Hotel just off Kotu Beach costs £538 per adult and £475 per child bed and breakfast, including flights from Gatwick to Banjul.
HADRIAN'S WALL PATH The newest of England's national trails runs 84 miles coast to coast from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway, tracing the Roman military frontier built AD122. Along the way you'll see ancient turrets, forts, milecastles and earthworks. The best direction to walk the wall is east to west, the route of the official guidebooks. In summer, the AD122 shuttle bus is in operation, connecting the path with nearby towns and villages.
Hadrian's Wall Information Line: 01434 322002, or visit the National Trails website Independent walking holidays along the trail are organised by Contours (017684 80451; ) from £240, which includes five nights' accommodation, maps, information packs and luggage transfers. IMPERIA easyCruiseOne is a floating hotel, based at Nice, that plies the Med between St-Tropez and Portofino (from £127 for a double cabin, excluding meals). Every Thursday the boat moors at Imperia, 20 miles east of the attractive Italian resort of San Remo. easyCruise: 0906 292 9000; JURA Sleep under canvas in this land of gentle mountains and shimmering lakes on the eastern edge of France. Canvas Holidays (01383 629 000; ) is offering cheap camping breaks in the region.
