Epic sunset spots in Western Europe

One thing in advance: you can not wait for classic sunsets north of the Arctic Circle in midsummer. But with the midnight sun, you will experience a natural spectacle of truly epic breadth on the Vesterålen archipelago. On the north-west coast of the island of Andøya, around the small village of Bleik, a bay with dazzling white sandy beaches joins the next. If the weather is mild, one would expect to be on the beach of Bleik more in the Caribbean than north of Lofoten and 300 kilometers above the Arctic Circle. If you are looking for the absolute loneliness while enjoying the midnight sun, you will leave the mostly deserted beaches, circling one of the lakes behind Bleik or climbing the cliffs with magnificent views of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Godrevy Head at the eastern end of St Ives Bay, overlooking Godrevy Island and its lighthouse, offers one of Cornwall's most beautiful sunsets. The lighthouse on Godrevy Iceland is said to have inspired the writer Virginia Woolf to her novel "To the Lighthouse". West of Godrevy Head is a series of breathtaking beaches such as Gwithian Beach, where Atlantic waves meet at full speed.

A well-marked hiking trail begins immediately after the bus stop and after a few meters a viewing platform appears from which you have an ingenious view of the cliffs.

Viewpoint and location of the Neist Point Lighthouse on the Isle of Skye. The lighthouse itself is a bit rundown and cannot be entered, but the views are spectacular, and whales and dolphins can be spotted from here. The walk requires a lot of stamina. Great views also at sunset.

The North Sea island of Amrum is not at the end of the world, but in one of the most beautiful corners of Germany. With the island west of Kniepsand Amrum has one of the widest sandy beaches in northern Europe. In addition to sand in all its facets, the approximately 1.5-kilometer-wide and approximately twelve-kilometer-long beach offers its visitors terrific sunsets almost every season. The Kniepsand geologically does not belong to Amrum. It is actually a huge sandbank that slowly wanders north from the island. So, if you take it very close and you really want to see the sun sinking from Amrum into the North Sea, you should head out of the beach into the unique dune landscape. Since the dunes are largely nature reserve, it is advisable to stay on the planks and the designated areas.

The tip of Pen-Hir is emblematic of the Crozon peninsula. When the sun shines, enjoy its turquoise waters. When the wind blows, the tumultuous currents and waves crashing on the rocks are an impressive sight.

There is no shortage of superlatives for this natural phenomenon. Although it is not the highest dune in the world, it is by far the highest dune in Europe. And who would have thought that the sand here could pile up into such a high mountain?



But it's not just their height that's astonishing. Rather, the Dune du Pilat impresses with its incredible extent, its fascinating surroundings and the breathtaking views it offers. Added to this are the colors that change depending on the time of day and season, as well as the wonderful feeling of space and freedom that it conveys.

dunedupilat.com/de/die-d%C3%BCne

The 35-kilometer long beach in the National Park Coto de Doñana is a natural jewel and, with its unspoiled nature, stands in stark contrast to the usually very heavily used coasts in southern Spain. With its variety of different species and landscapes, Spain's largest national park is a biosphere reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the wide, largely untouched sandy beach with the dune landscape behind it, you can enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in Spain, overlooking the Gulf of Cadiz. And that, without having to share the views of the setting sun with too many people. Since the entrance to the park is heavily regulated, visitor numbers are limited even in high season. Apart from the sandy beach and some roads and paths through the dunes, you can only reach the interior of the park by means of guided tours. If you want to get to know the park or observe rare animal species, you should sign up for a tour at one of the visitor centers, especially in high season. The dune landscape and the sandy beach are just one of the attractions in the Doñana National Park - the marshes and wetlands in the mouth of the Rio Guadalquivir are for many nature lovers the real reason to visit the park.

In one of my notebooks I wrote about Cabo de São Vicente:

“Along the coast, holidaymakers taste the pleasure of freedom for a moment. They rush to Cabo de São Vicente to try, in vain, to observe the American coasts. From the tip of the end of the world, a semaphore illuminates the most impetuous sailors at a range of 32 nautical miles, the equivalent of 60 kilometers. As an illuminated eye on the ocean, it offers little people, from the confines of the continent, the privilege of dreaming. Watching the horizon mixes crazy adventures and great getaways. The merchant navy rubs shoulders with corsairs, and fishermen with travellers. »

The point is a cliff that rises from the feared islets of O Petonciño and A Centola to the mount of O Facho (242 m) where it seems that the Ara Solis of Antiquity was used to celebrate solar rites. Traditionally it is considered the westernmost point of the continent, although in truth it does not correspond to such a title. Until here the Camino de Santiago continues for the pilgrims who, according to tradition, burn their clothes at the seashore and begin their return home.