I recently spent a week in Matagorda, an area within the wider resort of Puerto del Carmen on the edge of Arrecife airport in Lanzarote.

Matagorda has a couple of commercial centres consisting primarily of restaurants, pubs, shops and games arcades, numerous hotels and apartment complexes and a superbly well maintained beach. Matagorda is beautifully set between the coast with its sea views, a backdrop of volcanic mountains and... the airport!

Being on holiday with my 2 year old, the airport (or in fact more accurately the aeroplanes constantly in view at close range) was in actual fact a great success in terms of easily accessible diversionary entertainment for moments of potential tantrums. However, had I not been accompanied by a toddler or if I were not someone quite mesmerised by the sight of a plane just a few hundred feet above my head, I can imagine that the fairly frequent (gentle) roar of the engines may not be so welcome to all holiday makers.

Having said that, despite the planes, Matagorda is quite a peaceful resort. It does not have the same endless seafront row of bars, restaurants and clubs that make up the main strip of Puerto del Carmen, but it does have a sufficient amount for a good evening out both in terms of eateries (and I must recommend the Sapporo Japanese restaurant) and live entertainment. We also found that when the entertainment in venues at the commercial centres did not appeal, the larger hotels and complexes with their own entertainment were happy to welcome non-residents. In particular we gatecrashed the entertainment at Hotel Beatriz and the Costa Sal complex. If, however, the buzz of the main strip is more appealing, a taxi there from Matagorda is just a few Euros.

As someone who enjoys sport the coastal path at Matagorda offered the perfect route for a morning run. With the sea on one side and mountains on the other and not a vehicle in sight for the majority of the route, it was a runner's dream. Judging by the number of runners out at 8am along the path, I can only assume that I am not alone in this view.

Matagorda is also very well placed for excursions to any destination on the island, with the furthest points taking little more than an hour to reach. Whilst we had the benefit of a hire car, I did also notice plenty of advertisements in our complex reception for bus excursions to the various places of interest around the island.

On the whole, I would recommend Matagorda to anybody who (in addition to having at least a passing interest in aircraft!) enjoys a calmer beach holiday with beautiful scenery and coastal walks and who is not primarily there for the nightlife.