Earlier this summer I took the trip of a lifetime; ten whole days with my best friend hiking the entire perimeter of the exquisite island of Menorca. Hiking is one of our shared passions + anytime we can, we soak up the opportunity to hike wherever we are in the world, be that together or apart. Big day-long hikes we’ve loved together include some beautiful ones around Lake Como + many here in Ireland but until this trip the longest we’d ever taken on was 120km over 4 days along the Wicklow Way. Menorca was a little bit of a step up for us though with both the heat + the duration; a more significant challenge in that it was 185km over seven days + just as we knew we would, we loved every single second. A week of total bliss, just the two of us. I am still beaming with gratitude for that time. Seven whole days of complete submergence in nature, boundless time with my best friend, some serious (+ I mean serrrrious) giggles, abundant time for all the chats + uninhibited moments delving into all the wonders of our respective lives + all that overlaps in being so close. It was a holiday I will cherish for life + something I highly recommend if you’re looking to do something a little different + active.
Menorca itself is something of a wonder. Thanks to the island’s UNESCO designation, it’s natural beauty remains whole + unharmed by the resulting over construction + general ruination over-tourism has had + continues to have on so many other European destinations over the past number of years. Here, the bedazzle of it’s other two Balearic counterparts, Ibiza + Mallorca, just doesn’t exist in the same way. With landscape that will quite literally take your breath away; the vibe is very Ibiza-in-the-70’s pre the era of big yachts + even bigger lips. It’s local. The less known of the Balearics but for us + this trip, gladly so. Rich in that uniquely untouched air, almost to the extent of discovering something of a secret yet equally + somehow according to this summer’s hype of the island, it also seems to be teetering on the verge of the dreaded mass discovery. It is unmatched in it’s wholesome + innately pure aura with beaches calling to that inner nudist, buried deep within us all; the language of freedom spoken everywhere + undeterred by any restrictions of life today lived under the microscope of social media + the reality that freedom no longer really exists in that same way it used to. It is as if the locals haven’t quite yet been sucked into the perceived perfection social media requires, they wisely sit in the knowing yet happily unspoiled by it’s underlying discontentment. Menorca is an extraordinary island. And for me, a truly beautiful memory, forever etched in my heart.
The HAUTE so FABULOUS Guide to Menorca
THE HIKE
For the hike we used CAMI DE CAVALLS 360 the Menorca based tour company servicing the historical Cami de Cavalls for hikers, mountain bikers + trail runners. The company works to ensure you are fully equipped for the journey, sharing the best swim spots to stop at each day, where to lunch + which days to bring something packed. Each morning to collect your bags + drop them to the next hotel or destination while also picking you + your crew up or dropping you off at the appropriate starting + end points.
HOTELS
As part of our trip, we loved a boutique hotel in Ciutadella called SODIUM. Super chic, Sodium is a contemporary boutique style hotel + the perfect place to base ourselves for a few days moving to + from points along the hike. Family run, it’s a really slick home from home where the rooms quietly scream all sorts of cool // Our absolute favourite place we stayed was undoubtedly MENORCA EXPERIMENTAL, the place we called home for our last three nights + it was heavenly - so.purely.heavenly. Perfectly remote, it leaves you with little desire or necessity to leave + so, despite a moment of contemplating walking on our two days off post completing the hike - because yes, despite having walked through my runners, we loved the hiking that much, a day by the pool at Experimental was just too tempting + so we gladly read + played chess by the pool all day. Such a delight, the property is an old military base + has been restored with such integrity + respect for the island + it’s natural essence while elevating it’s cool in that perfectly Experimental way // Other hotels on our radar during our trip that we checked out but did not stay at include : LES DOMAINE DE FONTENILLE in both the Santa Ponsa + Torre Vella locations. These are beautiful Relais & Chateaux hotels where the vibe is refined yet superior beauty built upon the foundations of the island’s exceptional heritage + simplistic essence // One final one that peaked our interest is SON VELL, a stunning original 18th century Manor House which underwent a deeply detailed restoration, bringing to life somewhere of a sanctuary for those wanting to escape the world for a moment. Surrounded by the Cami de Cavalls, the estate is set on the fringes of 180 hectares which comprises of a working farm as well as landscaped gardens, citrus trees, olive groves + an organic vegetable garden. WIth many experiences available from sound healing + other therapeutic modalities to water sports, shoemaking demonstrations + horseback riding, there is no need to venture far //
RESTAURANTS
The food scene in Menorca is on fire. So many little gems around the island, some of which aren’t necessarily right in the towns so a little adventuring is required to find the hotspots. Starting with NONNA BAZAAR, a restored farmhouse sitting amid nearly 1,000 acres of breathtaking gardens + orchards right on the outskirts of Ciutadella. Celebrating the locale both in vicinity, traditions + flavours, it’s a perfect place to enjoy the Mediterranean tastes of the island + take things from day to night with some of the island’s famous DJ’s playing once the sun sets // Also on the west cast of the island in Ciutadella amid its sweet cobbled streets, is SMOIX. Headed up by chef Miguel Sánchez, it is a haven for those who love inventive dishes with equally simplistic pleasure. The dishes at Smoix are inspired by the island’s seasonal flavours within the surrounds of a sleekly restored shoe factory. This was something of a treat // For something different, why not learn something very authentic + cook your own traditional paella in the beautiful CUK-CUK. We did this one of the evenings post hiking + loved the experience; a fun way to learn something to take home with you. The couple who host the experience are so sweet + they offer many different dining experiences // For a lunchtime delight on the cute northern coastline fishing village of Es Grau there’s TARMARINDOS, the iconic restaurant that locals flock to in the summer where the mens is full of seasonal classics // Some of our favourite meals on the island were on the terrace of MENORCA EXPERIMENTAL where the ceviche is on fleck + the fresh produce allows for an explosion of tastes only a Mediterranean summer will allow for. This menu is full of creative pleasures realised in thanks to the property’s own vegetable garden. True rapture + an experience we couldn’t help but repeat each night we were at the hotel // ISABELLA BEACH CLUB is a total vibe. With views to make your heart skip a beat, DJ sets that bring the setting to another level, the vibe is sleek AF //
POINTS OF INTEREST
HAUSER + WIRTH'S Menorcan location is such a delight to visit. Situated on Illa del Rei, a beautiful island in Mahon harbor which you can get to by the company’s own taxi boat during season, the famous art institution opened it’s art center + conservation project in 2022 . Set in a renovated 18th-century naval hospital founded by the English navy in 1711, you can explore the galleries 8 viewing spaces + outdoor sculpture trail before enjoying the olive-lined on-site restaurant Cantina // BINIADET, the island’s local vineyard celebrating the Menorcan wine culture is a family run passion project where in 1979, the Anglés family planted 40 varieties of vines in order to see which vines would adapt best to Menorca's climate + some 40 years later they have one of the most beautiful destinations for wine lovers + foodies alike // The S’HOSTAL QUARRIES are located to the west of Menorca, just outside Ciutadella de Menorca. Consisting of marés limestone, these beautiful quarries were abandoned until a big cleanup in 1983 saw them restored + later listed as part of Menorca’s heritage catalogue // Whether by day or to catch the sunset, one of the island’s most revered spots for visitors is Cova d’en Xoroi a bar, lounge + night-life destination built into the cliffside which some say offer the best sea views on the island // Our last day was spent on a private BOAT TOUR which was just a dream. The island is known for it’s many caves which are awe-inspiring to venture inside + taking in the vistas from water gave us a whole new perspective of the island’s immense beauty. For those braver than us, there’s a lot of free-soloing practiced from the cliffs but for us it was a moment to soak up the last of the sun + I absolutely recommend jumping into the soul-hugging waters that surround this tonic of an island. One of the coolest things was swimming from the boat to land + into one of the caves where there is a tiny little area within the cave where you can stand in the water touching the bottom. That day couldn’t last long enough, a dream // Cami de Cavalls means way of the horses + so as you can imagine, there is a lot of horse-riding experiences to explore on the island. And while we didn’t have time to do this as part of our trip, this is a good place to consider, MENORCA DE CAVALLS //
