Looking at a week's break in early November, thinking of ether a cottage in the UK or a cheap sc week abroad.

For the latter, any thoughts on somewhere cheapish to go with nice climate (not looking for a tan, just to feel the sun on & air your skin) & easily escape resorts for walks, exploring, culture; or maybe activities like surfing etc?

For guaranteed warmth not too far away – the Canaries. Good surf, easy to avoid the resorts, mountains to walk up, bit low on culture but old fishing villages are nice, etc.

Went there in Feb a few years ago (Lanzarote) and absolutely loved it.

South end of Fuerteventura is good. North end is grim. The travel review websites will tell you otherwise – the North is full of English, the South is full of Germans. There are more naked Germans in the South, but everything else is markedly better.

Thanks chaps, was thinking of the Canaries.

andalucia?
sunny skies
white washed villages
sweet waslking/riding
granada
tapas

me and mrs FN are probably doing the very same.

The Canaries would definately fit the bill, it will be full of old people as well at that time of year, you'll fit right in.

Al – been there a few times and highly recommend the village/town of Caleta de Famara here:
Famara

It's a proper old fishing town with a great beach which gets good waves, it's overlooked by stunning mountains, it's miles from the oiks in the South and has a few nice places to eat and drink.

Cracking place for cycling and running too.

Plan to head back soon.

Thanks Mat, sounds AWESOME, any links for booking?

We used these bods:

Famara

We stayed in the 2nd place on the list but I'd stay in the bungalow style places if we went again. Our place was a bit claustrophobic and noisy – the bungalows have much better views and are quieter. Slightly further from the village (about 1/2 mile) but there's a decent shop in the complex and a restaurant was being opened when we were there too.

It's very nice indeed.