Platja de Castell

A mass effort by locals saved the land around this beach from the developers, and in Castell you'll still find virgin spaces as well as talk of their legendary achievement. The two noble houses that flank it to the north and south have hosted celebrities such as Marlene Dietrich and Salvador Dalí. You get there from the Palafrugell dual carriageway via a road that's in pretty good condition although you still need to drive carefully. Pay the parking fee without regret: everything they earn is reinvested in the conservation of the area. Enjoy the reeds of the Aubí stream (and seeing the ducks and amphibians that live there), have a picnic under the pine trees that give full protection from the sun, head up to the Iberian settlement of Punta de la Corbetera, and get lost in the forest as you search for Dalí's cottage, whose door is surrealistically twisted. Visit the nearby coves where there are impressive corners and not a single line of mobile coverage. In the summer, there are toilets, a kiosk and kayaks to hire, but it's also the ideal beach in winter as it's completely sheltered from the wind.