Holidays to Polis take you to a little-touched beauty spot on Cyprus’s north-west coast. It’s a great place to kick back and appreciate the island’s old-fashioned charms.

Unspoilt region

This dinky town in north-west Cyprus lays on simple pleasures and a taste of old-world village life. Days here revolve around the golden sand and pebble beach and the pedestrianised square, which is flanked by interesting shops, cafés and laid-back tavernas. And the surrounding peninsula – a nature reserve – is said to be the most beautiful bit of the whole island.

Blue Flag beaches

Polis’s sweeping, crescent-shaped beach serves up bright, golden sand, together with bags of room to spread out. The turquoise waters are shallow and shelve gently, making this pretty spot a safe place to swim, too. The beach is part of the Khrysokou Bay, bits of which are so undeveloped you can spot the odd nesting sea turtle.

Near the Troodos mountains

Tucked away in this mountain range you’ll discover Byzantine monasteries, ancient mines and lost-in-time villages. The tourist office will supply you with details of walks – the best-known follows a stream to the Caledonia waterfall. And pay a visit to Kakopetria, a protected village famous for its locally made chairs and beautiful old buildings. It’s a 30-minute drive away.