There are more than 120 beaches around the coastline of Mallorca and Septemberis an excellent time to discover them, with warm weather continuing well into November and even December. What would you like from a beach? All of them offer various combinations of glittering sand, fabulous Mediterranean blues and turquoises, coastal or mountain views.

Beaches are very private in this part of Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

But your particular choice may depend on how secluded it is – some are only accessible by boat or by walking down the cliffs, for example. You have a choice of sand or shingle to fish, swim, dive, snorkel, water-ski, windsurf or simply to laze under a large woven straw shade. Will you need a nearby restaurant, beach bar or just a glass of chilled wine or some fruit now and then? Here is some idea of what you can find on the more exclusive side of Mallorcan beaches: the northwest coast.

The coast along the northwest is popular by people looking to buy a property in this area, Deià in particular attracts many buyers

The beaches along this area are often less visited because they take a little effort to reach, but they are certainly worth it. The upper west of the island sits under the Tramuntana mountains and there are rocky coastal inlets which are quite spectacular. Cala Deià is a small cove beneath the high cliffs on which is found the village of Deià. Easy to reach from Sóller, you can drive or walk to this one, and when you do you will find an intimate setting with shingle and some fishermen’s huts with two restaurants serving fresh fish, wine and cold beers all day. If you are more energetic, you might consider walking up to sa Pedrissa watchtower through the path.

Sa Calobra’s beach, also on the west coast, is larger, accessible on foot (or by boat from the Port de Sóller) after a twisting but breathtaking mountain drive. It forms a cove at the end of the gorge of the Torrent de Pareis. There are a range of nearby restaurants and cafés at sa Calobra itself, where you will find the smaller beach, and yachts lie at anchor in the varied shades of turquoise water which is deep and part of what makes it more an adult sort of place.

Up on the northwest side of the coast next to sa Calobra, Cala Tuent is a cove beach surrounded by pine trees and shadowed also by the Puig Major mountain peak (the largest one). Here there is a mixture of sand and shingle and perfectly clear water to swim in. It is a spacious beach, and never crowded even at the height of the summer, because it is far less easy to get to. It follows that there are no food establishments at beach level, but above the coast is a fine seafood and paella restaurant which makes a long and restful lunch an essential part of the day.