Temperature: 30°C maximum; 21°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from the UK: 2 hours 15 minutes
Time difference: GMT+1
The Valencian province of Castellón has largely remained a Spanish secret, a quiet little pocket of pretty beaches, green mountains and ruined medieval villages that domestic tourists too happily keep to themselves. The exception, of course, is the big Benicassim music festival in July. Every year, the seaside resort of the same name is invaded by good-time Brits attracted by an always excellent line-up (The Weeknd, Foals and Kasabian in previous years), always sunny weather and 6 km of beaches to relax after the party . . (Take that, Glastonbury.) But festival-goers would do well to explore more of this under-visited coast, especially after Castellón Airport finally opened a few years ago. The impressive hilltop walled town of Morella is a fabulous place for shopping and tasting local specialties (sheep's cheese, lamb and paella). Elsewhere, the coastline offers many quiet coves to discover and make your own.
Tip for sustainable travel: You can travel from London to Benicassim by train in just a few days. Take the Eurostar from London to Paris (two hours and 15 minutes), followed by a TGV Duplex to Barcelona (6.5 hours), and stay overnight. The next morning, a EuroMed train takes you to Valencia in just under three hours, and from there Spain's national rail service, Renfe, has several services to Benicassim (fast trains take just 45 minutes).
Where to stay: Ad Hoc Hotel28 rooms in a converted 19th century town house, is a small, comfortable and well-appointed hotel, one of the few to Valencethe old Town.
