Small, picturesque, sandy beach and bay enclosed by whitewashed villas on one side and green forests and scrub land owned by the Spanish military on the other. The bay shelters a flotilla of small yachts, but towards the shore, the shallow water and lack of waves make the beach very popular with families. Unfortunately, a major storm has strewn stones and boulders across much of the waterfront, making it tricky to wade out to sea in bare feet. The same storm flattened many of the trees that were planted as part of a major programme to smarten up Playa Montgo. While some of the surrounding roads are still strewn with litter, the beach front car-park has been replaced by an attractive promenade and there is fun to be had scrambling around the rocks or up the path to the steep cliffs owned by the military. The energetic should hike up through the villas to the top of the point, where there is a small stone tower and grand 360 degree views taking in the Gulf of Roses and the eastern edge of the Pyrenees. You can continue to enjoy the sweeping view across to Roses by taking the bracing, vertiginous cliff walk through undeveloped scrub land towards Riells. 7/10
