Santa Brigida in north Gran Canaria's used to be the British colony's summer retreat from the heat in Las Palmas. Now it's a wealthy hill town with a pretty church and a popular weekend market. If you're heading up to the cumbres from Las Palmas, stop at Santa Brigida for breakfast churros or lunch and wine (or beer).

If you're in Gran Canaria and it's raining don't sit by the pool pining for the sunshine: it'll be back sooner than you think. Instead, take advantage of the rain and get up into the highlands to see one of Gran Canaria's rarest and most spectacular natural events.

Winter just won't give up this year in Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands. The islands are on alert from high winds and big waves on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th February.

Gran Canaria is not expected to get the worst of the waves or the wind but is expected to take a battering on Wednesday with gusts up to 65km per hour.

Please stay away from the shore on rocky coasts and don't walk near drop-offs up in the mountains.

Detailed info in Spanish here

Meloneras beach at the far end of the Meloneras seafront boulevard is a small, golden beach with a strip of restaurants just by the sand.

Tiritaña beach is like a mini version of Güi Güi; you get the hike through a pristine valley and the deserted beach at the end, but it's all just 15 minutes from the road.

We covered Gran Canaria's Top Ten Unmissable Spots here, but had to leave lots out; Here're some of the great places in Gran Canaria that don't get the crowds.

Puerto de Mogán beach is as calm and sunny as it gets. With golden sand, a strip of bars and restaurants right by the sand and all the charm of Puerto Mogán marina right next door,  it's a favourite for locals and visitors.

Once you start getting to know Gran Canaria you find beautiful spots all over the place. But if you only have a week to see Gran Canaria and want to spend some time sunbathing, here's our guide to the island's must-see iconic spots.

Patalavaca beach must be horrible. That's why nobody has ever heard of it and nobody goes to it. Except that it isn't. It's one of south Gran Canaria's best beaches.

Sometimes what you want is a beach small enough that you don't have to decide where to put your towel. Of the 100+ beaches in Gran Canaria, here's our pick of the teeny tiny ones.