Since we live in a big busy city we like to holiday in the ‘wilds’ to get away from it all. 1400km off the coast of Portugal the Azores, a volcanic archipelago, promised just that. First stop was Sao Miguel, the biggest and most popular of the 3 islands we planned to visit. Even then visitor numbers aren’t that high. We’d read up on what there is to do there and were excited to get stuck in.

As usual we’d skimped on the hire car and opted for the smallest, underpowered car available. Which complete with knackered exhaust, struggled on the steep winding roads and first gear was used lots.

Our first day was spent whale watching, with a good chance of seeing the resident sperm whales. We all squealed in delight when a pod of spotted Atlantic dolphins playfully swam and jumped around the boat. Then later a huge pod of bottle-nosed dolphins joined us. Unfortunately the only whale we got to see was a brief glance of a beaked whale before it dived down looking for its lunch. Apparently they can stay down for over an hour so no point hanging around for it to resurface.

There were also plenty of opportunities for going on ‘one of those walks’ that James vocally dislikes so much. The island is littered with densely forested gorges which have an unusual mix of tropical tree palms, huge flowers, colourful butterflies and bright green moisture laden mosses, mixed in with temperate climate pines and redwoods, with blackbirds and sparrows flitting through the undergrowth. James’s grandma, Jean, who passed away earlier this year visited here a few years ago. She was an avid gardener and absolutely loved exotic plants, so we could imagine her delight rounding each corner to find a row of brilliant blue hydrangeas or patch of bright yellow ginger-lilies.

The best hike had to be Sete Citades, a 13km walk along the rim of an extinct volcano with stunning views over the its iridescent crater lake below. Followed by a 400m decent into the crater then a steep ascent (via picnic lunch stop) back up again. We suspect if it wasn’t for being fed a jellybean every 5 mins James would have given up way before the top. Despite all his complaints we think he secretly enjoys the hikes but he would never admit it. Grandma would have been proud and he certainly earned an ice cream that evening.

Unfortunately the islands famed thermal springs were closed but they’d kindly put on some wood stove heated hot tubs to soak our weary legs. We also paid an early morning visit to an area where the volcanic springs channel into the chilly Atlantic. The only time on the trip where Lucy didn’t mind getting in the sea.

On previous travels James had been too young to take part in many of the ‘adventure’ type activities on offer. So this year was his first chance to try coasteering and canyoning. As expected Jungle Jim took to them with gusto wanting to be the first on every jump and abseil. Even a 6m cliff jump into sea didn’t daunt him, nor the second time, or 3rd, 4th… Mum and dad quite enjoyed it too.

The rest of our time on Sao Miguel was spent playing on volcanic sand beaches with bracing water and wild waves. Taking refreshing dips in waterfalls, being wowed by views of the vast Atlantic Ocean from steep cliffs, watching bubbling thermal vents, and even a visit to a pineapple plantation.

Next stop Pico.