Spain has long been a favourite of British holidaymakers but many of us are now looking for more than just lying on a beach. Not only does Spain have a fabulous coastline, it also has a beautiful mountainous interior sprinkled with historic towns and villages, and a spectacular natural environment, perfect for sports and activities. With so much to explore, a wealth of history and culture and a feast of wonderful gastronomy, Spanish breaks are now just as much about a weekend in Madrid as they are a walking holiday in the Pyrenees. There are few countries with so many hidden treasures.

Of all the countries around the Mediterranean, Spain is the most popular destination for low cost, low fare and budget airlines. There are at least fifteen budget airlines flying from the UK to Iberian Peninsula. The spurt in Brits independent travel to Spain is attributed to the growth of no-frills airlines and increasing public confidence in self-booked travel. More people are also taking short breaks to Spain using budget airlines in addition to their main summer or winter holiday.

The British first begun travelling to Spain 40 years or so ago on package holidays and regions like the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Costa Brava suddenly became household terms.

UK visitor numbers went up by 10% to 16 million last year. More and more Brits travelled to Spain independently. According to Spanish Tourist Office, the numbers of UK package holidaymakers to Spain fell by almost 4% while the number of independent travellers increased by 30%.

Whilst Spain is one of the world's leading destinations for the package holiday there is more to this country than the beaches of the Costas and islands. The independent traveller will want to move around see what more Spain has to offer.

The mountains of Spain have proved increasingly attractive in recent years to those adventurous souls in search of rocky mountain highs in the depths of the British winter. A combination of cheap flights and favourable year-round temperatures has led to a burgeoning reputation among Britain's seasoned walkers and climbers. At around 3,500m, the Sierra Nevada is recognised by accomplished mountaineers as a significant step up from climbing in the UK, where the highest peak, Ben Nevis, stands a mere 1,344m high.

To find out more about holidays to Spain and Costa Blanca, please visit James Villa Holidays.