One of my very favorite of Croatia’s many idyllic islands is untamed Cres Island. It’s not hard to reach–there are regular ferries from Valbiska on the mainland–but it just feels so remote. Large patches of this long island (shaped like an exclamation point) are pastures, shrubs and pine forests but there are also some wonderful beaches, like Valun. For whatever reason, Cres has been under the radar and largely apart from the great tourist rush to Croatia.

No more.

The Times has just delivered a glowing write-up of Cres Island under the headlines: “Relaxing Holidays Away from the Beach”; “A Secret Island in Croatia”.

I was pleased to see the attractions of Beli highlighted but there are also other highlights in Cres that are unmentioned, such as “artistic” Osor, “Venetian” Cres Town and the marvellous sandy beach at the aforesaid Valun. Read more about Cres Island.