Summer in Mallorca is undeniably fabulous. Miles of golden sands, bustling resorts, great shops and restaurants, topped off by temperatures that inspire you to do little more than bathe in the crystalline waters and laze on the beach. It seems to all be about the sun and sea, and it’s hard to imagine another dimension of the place.

Come winter; there is no need to jet off to the other side of the hemisphere to continue enjoying life’s pleasures. As the unforgiving summer heat gradually subsides and autumn breezes knock the thermometer down to “comfortable”, tourists numbers are reduced to a savvy few and strolling along the seafront at Puerto Pollensa becomes infinitely more pleasant. It is during these winter months that Mallorca undergoes a complete transformation. Rains turn the landscape into a lush green paradise; tourist shops close down, roads are quiet, beaches bare of sunbeds, and the island adopts a new level of interest from October through to March. Mallorca becomes a place ripe for outdoor activities and sightseeing with plenty of winter sun to be enjoyed in sheltered corners of the beach or at pavement cafes, with outdoor heaters and blankets to hand to beat the chill once the sun drops.

Exploring the island and discovering its people, history and culture is best made during these months when the island comes to life in a different sense, with seasonal fairs in almost every town, weekly markets held in tranquil villages in the interior of the island, too hot to visit in the summer, can be enjoyed without the crowds and the islands culinary delights can be sampled in the many excellent restaurants that remain open all year round.

Indeed, Mallorca has its fair share of wet days, with blustery winds and incredible electrical storms that often appear out of nowhere. Still, Mallorca enjoys three times as many sunny days as the UK, often with crisp blue skies and not a cloud in sight. A handful of times during the winter, rain can turn to sleet at sea level and snow higher up, transforming the peaks of the Sierra de Tramontana into a winter wonderland. The proceeding surge in traffic as locals rush to the hills with excited children searching for flurries deep enough to make a snowman is more than the narrow mountain roads handle. For the first time since the height of the summer, the island sees tailbacks that go on for miles, but a few days later, only a dusting remains on the highest peaks as the mild temperatures mean it never lasts for long.

Pollensa Lifestyle blog is bought to you by Pollensa Estates