Magnificent Marmaris has wonders both ancient and modern

A gorgeous backdrop of pine-clad mountains frames the seaside resort of Marmaris in south west Turkey.

It’s long been popular as a cruise ship and yacht port and, for more than 20 years, it’s been high up the list for the British budget holiday crowd.

Bustling Marmaris offers all the things you can wish for in a resort good hotels, countless bars and restaurants and a beautiful beach.

I just loved it all on my recent trip. So, what can you see there? Start with the impressive Castle. It offers fantastic views across the town and was built by the Ionians in 1044 BC.

Later it was restored during the era of Alexander the Great and then rebuilt and widened by Suleiman the Magnificent during his campaign for the Greek island of Rhodes in 1522.

You won’t want to miss out on Calis Beach. Almost three miles of sand, dotted with restaurants it’s a beautiful spot to watch the sun set.

Nearby Icmeler, located in a protected bay, is ideal for water sports. It’s a cosmopolitan resort and has a popular beach, fringed by stylish hotels.

Cleopatra Beach consists of exquisite white shingle, and is reputed to have been given to Cleopatra by Mark Anthony as a wedding present.

Ephesus, famous for once being the second-largest city of the Roman Empire, is Turkey’s most stunning ancient city and is readily accessible as a day trip from Marmaris.

The World Heritage town of Pamukkale, famous for its hot springs, is also easy to visit, so there are plenty of day trips on offer.

Marmaris is all fine and dandy but on my last visit I just used it as a base and ventured out to the next 25 miles or so.

There I found a fabulously unspoilt region which is well worth exploring, villages where time seems to have stood still for decades, stunning scenery, and wonderfully friendly locals.

This is the part of Turkey where you have the turquoise waters of the Aegean and also the Mediterranean at your disposal.

This lush pine-wooded region, with its clean seas and wonderful climate is obviously good for the health as there are more people living into their 90s here than in any other part of Europe.

I travelled there at the very end of October and still enjoyed 27C sunshine (and end-of-season bargain prices in everything from hotels to restaurants).

Want a bargain break? This is it. Get booking for autumn! Good old easyJet fly from Edinburgh for not-a-lot, and the fact the flights were full says it all.

Everyone I spoke to said they’d had a brilliant time, and I met lots of folk who said that they make this an annual pilgrimage specifically to coincide with our clocks going back when, let’s face it, it’s mega-depressing at home!

Accommodation-wise there are options for all pockets in this part of Turkey. An outstanding boutique hotel I saw round was the Dionysos Hotel (dionysoshotel.net).

It’s positioned high in the mountains overlooking the Bay of Kumlubuk on the south east coast of the Bozburun Peninsula.

The surrounding forest and wild gardens of the hotel make this a very special place, and there are spectacular views from the infinity pool down the canyon to the sea.

The Dalyan Delta is one of Turkey’s most wondrous natural phenomena. At the head of the delta lies Lake Kycegiz, a large lake that formed a natural harbour.

Over time, silting has created a warren of reed-covered streams that meander through the town of Dalyan. This region is also designated as a wildlife sanctuary, and the delta is home to all manner of flora and fauna.

The conservationists’ main efforts have been focussed on Iztuzu beach, which remains one of the last remaining natural nesting sites for endangered loggerhead sea turtles.

There’s no better way to experience this beautiful coastline than meandering past the forest-clad mountains, and exploring the hidden bays and inlets of this unforgettable area in a gulet, which is a yacht.

The traditional Turkish gulet was originally used for fishing or cargo. These days they are custom-built twin-masted ketches designed for comfort. Selimiye is another charming village which is well worth seeing.

A beautiful harbour and beach, and lots of restaurants serving fish caught that morning. Osmaniye is a little village on the road between Turunc and Bayr.

Here you find the Marmaris Bal Evi or “Honey House” which tells the story of the local honey production.

Unique to this area is red pine honey not as sweet as other honey, but absolutely delicious. Pick up a jar as a souvenir and enjoy it on your morning yoghurt while thinking fondly back to the sun and blue waters of Turkey.

For more information on holidays in Turkey, visit

gototurkey.co.uk/Turkish

Culture and Tourism Office UK. If you’re interested in Marmaris, check out martab.gov.tr Marmaris Tourism Union.