The perfect cure for winter blues

But with the barren land of winter on the horizon, you probably don't want to break the bank with a long-haul flight to the other side of the world.

So how about a little trip to the south of Spain?

This is where you can find the city of Murcia, in between Alicante and Cartagena but a bit further inland than either of these.

It's not far from the coast though, and due to its location its still pretty warm and sunny there in the winter months.

Even in the middle of winter, temperatures will probably still average out in the high teens.

Due to the surrounding green fields, valleys and mountains, the region surrounding Murcia is often known as the 'Garden of Europe,' with fruit and vegetables grown there.

Whilst the beaches aren't far away, the surrounding landscape also provides plenty of opportunity for more adventurous activities such as hiking, cycling and kayaking.

Of course, because this is Spain we're talking about, the food is also fantastic and there's plenty of culture and history to soak up such Saint Mary's Cathedral and Cardenal Belluga Square.

On top of all this, you can find a pint in the town for just €2 (£1.74), with Dublin offering direct flights to Murcia.

Sounds like it's time to locate the passport...