It’s possible to divide the Greek Isles into three distinct groups: the well-known (Corfu, Crete, Eos, Kos, Rhodes), the completely unknown (most of them) and the fast-emerging isles, typified by the likes of Zakynthos.

Zante, as it is known locally, is becoming increasingly popular with holidaymakers from Ireland, with many tour companies now offering package deals to the most southerly of the Ionian Sea islands.

For such a small location– the whole place is just 400 square kilometres, Zakynthos has an abundance of charm to offer sun-seekers looking for an alternative to the familiar Greek resorts.

Unlike our own indifferent summers, you can be sure of almost continuous good weather between May and September on Zante. Winters here tend to be like our own: cold and wet, but you’ll see the benefits of the off-season rain when you visit, with much of the island lush and green.

Outside of the resorts, you’ll see just how pretty the place is, with seemingly every piece of soil covered in olives groves and vineyards, with a sprinkling of orange and lemon trees thrown in for good measure.

On a day’s excursion from our base in Tsilivi (pronounced ‘silly-vee’) we cycled 10 miles up the coast to a place called Aikansas. We were rewarded for our endeavours with the smell of fresh pine in the air and low-flying swifts and swallows whistling their way all along our route.

Further afield from Tsilivi and Aikansas, the scenery takes a turn for the spectacular with mountain-high white cliffs and hundreds of sea caves and coves forming much of the northern and eastern seaboard of Zakynthos.

It is on the eastern side of the island that Zante’s most famous tourist attraction, Smuggler’s Cove is situated. Unable to be accessed by road, the Cove, pictured above, has become the emblem of Zakynthos, with its beautiful postcard image of a shipwreck washed up on golden sand and surrounded by a sea of the deepest blue imaginable.

It is safe to say that almost every tourist visiting the island comes here, with cruise boats practically queuing up to dispense the crowds onto the Cove’s narrow beach.

Almost two-thirds of Zakynthos is made up of mountains, the tallest of which, Vrahionas dominates the island at 758m. The south and east of Zante is low-lying with shallow shores and wide bays making it the ideal location for tourist resorts.

Facilities in Tsilivi were excellent with a mile-long sandy beach and warm, clear waters to bathe in. Nightlife is more laid-back than other parts of the island but there no shortage of restaurants and bars to choose from.

Zante, the island’s capital is a 10-minute taxi ride away and well worth a visit. The settlement is centred on a wide bay, which functions as a busy port for local fishermen as well as a departure point for the cruise liners around the island.

More than 50 years ago, Zante town was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake.

The best time to visit Zakynthos is May or late September. You’ll have a chance to see the endangered Caretta Sea Turtle come ashore to lay its eggs at night. Temperatures at this time are more bearable too and because it is low season, the locals are only too glad to bid you the time of day in their very fine English.