Away from the tourist trap of Tenerife, in the western Canaries, are the remote hidden gems of La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma. All offer stunning scenery and quiet harbour towns.

To book parador accommodation from the UK, call Keytel International (020 7402 8182). It's always worth asking about special deals. Bespoke holidays in the western Canaries can be arranged by Magic of Spain (020 8748 4220). Casas Canarias (020 7485 4387; fax: 267 4384) has self-catering houses and apartments for two to six people (£££). And Travellers' Way (01527 836 377; fax: 836 159) boasts properties on La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. Alternatively, go directly to any of the following establishments:

LA CASONA DE ARGUAL
6 Llano de San Pedro, Los Llanos de Aridane, La Palma (tel/fax: 00 34 922 401 816). La Casona de Argual is one of the prettiest hotels in the Canaries. It sits on a scruffy square at the edge of the quiet town of Los Llanos de Aridane. Converted from an 18th-century Spanish-colonial-style house, the hotel is small but chic, with only four double rooms, not all with en-suite bathrooms. £

HOTEL JARDIN
Tecina Playa Santiago, La Gomera (00 34 922 145 851; fax: 145 851). The hotel is made up of a cluster of chalets set among tropical gardens on a clifftop overlooking a fishing village. There are three swimming pools, a beach club and bar. £

PARADOR DE LA GOMERA
San Sebastián (00 34 922 871 100; fax: 871 116). An imposing example of traditional local architecture with thick whitewashed walls, high-ceilinged bedrooms and a courtyard. £

SOL ELITE
Puerto Naos, La Palma (00 34 922 408 000; fax: 408 014). £

PARADOR DE SANTA CRUZ
Avenida Marítima, 38799 Santa Cruz de la Palma (00 34 922 412 340; fax: 411 856). £

La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro are the hidden gems of the Canary Islands. The islands attract relatively little tourism. In La Palma, explore the cobbled streets and palm-shaded squares of the island's capital, Santa Cruz. The older parts of this little city date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. For more rigorous exercise, go walking in the spectacular Caldera de Taburiente national park, in the centre of La Palma, where there is an eight-hour circuit for serious hikers.

On La Gomera, visit the fishing village of Playa de Santiago which boasts a small harbour, a pebbly beach and a restaurant in a cave. Also pick up some of the famous plain ochre pottery from the mountain pueblo of El Cercado. This does mean a drive up a winding road to the village, sometimes deep in cloud, but it's worth it.

AIRPORT
Fly to Tenerife North or South airport, depending on your final destination. Flights to La Palma go from Tenerife's North airport. Meanwhile it takes 30 minutes to get from the South airport to the port at Los Christianos by taxi. The last ferry to La Gomera leaves at 8pm, and the first return ferry goes at 7am, so it's best to arrive in Tenerife early. Similarly your return flight should not leave before 11.30am.

AIRLINES FROM THE UK
Iberia ((020 7830 0011; www.iberia.com) flies via Madrid to Tenerife North airport from Heathrow. Monarch (0870 0133 123; www.monarch-airlines.com) flies to Tenerife South airport from Luton. It is almost always cheaper to go on chartered flights.

GETTING BETWEEN THE ISLANDS
Fred Olsen (00 34 922 790 215) runs four ferries per day to La Gomera and El Hierro.

The Western Canaries make a great holiday destination all year round. Average daily temperatures are 19ºC in winter (good for winter sun, though not scorching) and 25ºC in summer. It may be cooler in the highlands in the centre of the island.

La Gomera tourist office (00 34 922 140 147; fax: 140 151) can be found on Calle Real 1, San Sebastiín.