Paul do Mar

Looking down over Paul do Mar from the viewpoint, this gives a flavour of the lesser-known South West of Madeira.

It's our final day and my friend was keen for me to see the part of the island I had never visited.

We've had a super day. We started in the warmest place on the island, Ponta do Sol, in the heart of the banana plantations, and visited little charming seaside villages (far too small to be resorts in spite of grand attempts to popularise and commercialise them).

A lovely stroll in Calheta. A lunch in Ponta do Pargo where Nick Faldo is building a super golf course (but the locals are sceptical about it ever being finished). There's a lighthouse there too as it's the most western point of the island.

Gently returning via more viewpoints and Paul do Mar. The name means Flat Sea and it is popular for surfing (yes. seems odd).

Home tomorrow. But I'll be back.