Madeira's a fine old port - [www.thesun.co.uk]

[Mario Ferreira]

URL: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/tr ... 422456.ece

Madeira's a fine old port

DAVID WILLIAMS
Published: 03 Nov 2007

DESPERATE for some winter sunshine - but can't face the long-haul flight? No problem. Just jet off to Madeira, an Atlantic jewel of an island. Not only is it just 3½ hours from London, it's also a lot cheaper than Caribbean hotspots.

Locals reckon Madeira has one of best climates in the world and it would be difficult to argue.

Temperatures soar into the nineties in the height of summer but average about 80F from July to October and then hover around the seventies throughout winter.

Peak season for many hotels is Christmas and New Year, when planeloads of shivering Brits, Germans and French arrive in search of warmth and relaxation.

Holidaymakers from the UK have long regarded Madeira as a Brit of all right and always had a special relationship with the islanders.

The links go back a long way. Legend has it English adventurer Robert Machim discovered Madeira when he was shipwrecked there in 1346, after fleeing London with his mistress.

And to prove it, the village of Machico is named after him.

Then there's the island's most famous hotel, Reid's, which was founded by a Scot, William Reid, in 1891, and became a favourite hideaway for the likes of Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw and King Edward VIII.

It was also the Brits who built up the island's lucrative wine trade, still vital to the economy.

Today, the majority of tourists are from Britain but they are not just attracted by the balmy climate and friendly people, most of whom speak English.

Portuguese-governed Madeira, just 270 miles west of Africa, has spectacular and dramatic scenery and offers a wide variety of holiday activities.

Formed by a volcanic explosions 27million years ago, it is very mountainous with spectacular coastal cliffs dropping sheer into the sea.

Inland, the rich volcanic soil has turned vast areas into a tropical garden, where the warm air is scented by masses of exotic plants and flowers, along with vineyards and banana plantations.

It's no wonder Madeira attracts gardeners from all over the world, along with legions of walking enthusiasts.

Trekking is big business, with the island's tourism bosses making a main attraction of the man-made concrete irrigation channels, called levadas, by turning them into popular hiking trails.

Exciting

For something a bit more exciting, head for the capital, Funchal, and take an exhilarating 15-minute toboggan ride, at speeds up to 30mph, from the Monte, reached by cable car, down through dizzyingly steep and winding streets.

It takes two men dressed in white flannels and straw boaters to steer your wicker basket toboggan on metal runners and the charge is about a tenner - but its great fun and worth every penny.

Even this major tourist attraction owes its existence to a Brit. The sleds were pioneered back in the mists of time as a cheap form of transporting goods by an English merchant.

Monte is also the home of one of Funchal's must-see attractions, the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, with a stunning array of exotic plants and flowers.

Many arrived here when Funchal was the port of call for ships stopping off on voyages from Asia and the Far East.

They left specimens which flourished and spread in the rich volcanic soil and warm climate.

Today, you can wander for hours in this garden paradise and it is well worth the £7 admission charge.

Down in bustling Funchal, don't miss the Madeira Story Centre, an interactive museum bringing to life the island's history in a fascinating way.

If your getaway priorities are all-night clubs and rowdy bars, you might find Madeira a bit tame.

But if your idea of holiday action is trekking, mountaineering, canyoning, mountain biking, surfing, deep sea fishing, golf or tennis, in beautiful surroundings, with great food at affordable prices, then this is the place for you.

It's also a great spot to just chill out and get some rays, which is why it is so popular with romantic couples and honeymooners.

We stayed at a wonderfully elegant and peaceful hotel, Quinta das Vistas, on the outskirts of Funchal, and it was the perfect base for hiking, excursions, shopping and just lazing days away round the swimming pool. It occupies a unique hillside position, with magnificent views of the sweeping bay.

Completely refurbished just five years ago, and with only 71 rooms, a spa, two heated pools and a terrific terrace restaurant, it is one of Madeira's nicest hotels and reasonably priced for the luxury it provides.

And there's no extra charge, of course, for all that lovely winter sunshine.