Sardinia in May Day 2 Punta Molara, Capo Coda Cavallo

We leave the apartment later than the day before but with clear ideas. We park in front of the entrance to Punta Molara park and follow the signs to the Sentiero Costiero. This takes us down, quite steeply the last part, to the beach where we stopped the day before. From there just a few hundred metres of clambering on the rocks takes us to a point where on the left, a large pyramid of stones signs the continuation of the path. There’s nobody around and the views and Mediterranean undergrowth are fantastic. The path then turns left upwards, a little steeply at the start and at the next crossroads we follow the signs to the Testa del Drago, dragon’s head. 

The whole area has the sculpted stones we remember from Capo Testa near Santa Teresa di Gallura. From there it’s a short walk back to the park entrance and the car. The whole walk takes us about 90 minutes, including stopping to look at the views, taking photos, wondering if we’d lost the path down on the coast. The walk is described as simple, but while about three quarters is a simple track through the wood, the rest involves a steeper, if short, ascent and descent and a little clambering on the rocks by the sea, so shoes with a good sole are better.

Our last stop is a short drive away, Cala Ginepro, nothing special, but good views of Tavolara. Access is allowed as far as the beach to unload beach equipment (uneven surface with a deep groove in the centre) but you have to go back up to park near the road or in the small car park. Time for lunch.

After lunch we drive to Capo Coda Cavallo, a promontory we remember from a previous trip to Sardegna. Also here there’s a dirt road, but mostly in good condition, to the car park which is one euro per hour but still free in May (9th May). The beach is as spectacular as we remembered with a fantastic view of Tavolara island. We walk along it until the rocks at the end without finding a place to stop. I've got the sunbed and umbrella in the car but the wind is quite cold. 

We retreat to the next beach along: Cala suaraccia or spiaggia delle Farfalle. It’s quite small and there are a few people but spread out, and protected from the wind so I get the sunbed and we spend a couple of hours sunbathing and relaxing. A few people are in the water, but it seems icy to me. Once again the car park is free and would normally be 1 euro per hour. 

On the way back we turn off towards the car park for Cala Brandinchi. We’re amazed by how enormous it is, although the car park is used by visitors both to Cala Brandinchi and Li Impostu beach. Once again, it is still free, the normal price seems to be 2.50 euros per hour. Both beaches are very close, if the car park is empty and you can park right up near the end. We’d visited Cala Brandinchi years ago. Once again in May, I remember the wind and the fact it was totally deserted and wild. Not so now, demure sun umbrellas and sunbeds are grouped at intervals around small bars and, even though it is now past 6pm, there are still people in the sea and on the beach. However the sea is still that fantastic colour, and it’s a very pleasant place for a late afternoon stroll.