this year we have decided to have our family holiday later than usual, at the beginning of September – some days it was unusually windy, not a cold breeze, but a hot gust – levante – coming from the sahara; fortunately its this wind that keeps the town bearable from the heat. even with the breeze the sea is always refreshing at this time of year, its definitely warmed up throughout the summer. what you must not do is sit on the beach during 12 – 5pm – the art is arriving at a nearby restaurant, taking a leisurely lunch, then moving to the beach. we have several favourites – conil and restaurant la fontanilla, el palmar and nacarum (formally la chanca), ohana is a casual snack bar on cabo de trafalgar, but has a lovely relaxed atmosphere and the beach there is unspoilt; but my favourite is la taberna de el campero and the restaurant at hotel don antonio both in Zahara followed by a dip in the sea on the lovely beach, which is surrounded by dunes and desert plants. canos de meca is also a lovely beach at this time of year, with its chiringuitos (beach bars) – its a bit more sheltered on those windy days.