IN a place where, stereotypically, enjoyment is measured by excess, I'd expected a wild welcome when I arrived in Spanish island Ibiza.

When I arrive in mid-October, though, the place is refreshingly peaceful; flyers have been ripped from shop windows, bars have pulled down their shutters, and a plastic bag sent billowing skyward by the cool autumnal breeze is the closest thing I see to any dancing in the street.

The clubbers may have packed away their glowsticks for another year but, I'm told by one local resident, the winter season is when Ibiza really blossoms.

There's less traffic on the roads, prices are much lower and yet the sun still shines, with temperatures hovering at 15C in December.

According to Cheapflights.co.uk travel expert Ben Rosier, there's been a surge of interest from UK holidaymakers seeking shoulder season breaks in Ibiza. "If you're not fussed about catching the clubs but still want to see spectacular sunsets, top up your tan and sample traditional Mediterranean cuisine, it's a great time to go," he says.

Glamorous Atzaro, in the north of the island, is now hosting guests year-round. A 15-minute drive from grown-up beach town Santa Eularia, Atzaro is a working orange farm, now a 24- room hotel with Ibiza's only open-air spa. Oranges are still cultivated and sold to local markets, or served as freshly squeezed juice to at breakfast.

Teak, linen-wrapped day beds are spread around the vast but secluded gardens, resplendent with canopies of fragrant jasmine and striking bougainvillea.

A proliferation of Balinese statues hints at the property's spiritual, New Age leanings, with several wellbeing festivals taking place throughout the year - some attracting as many as 9000 people.

The property also attracts couples, families or an off duty clubbing crowd who are there to chill out.

It reflects a bigger trend that's been sweeping the White Isle for the last few years, with celebrities snapping up expensive villas and families heading to the many Caribbean-like beaches.

I'm part of that latter category, as my travel partner for this long weekend break is my 67-year-old mother.

One afternoon, we walk through farmland to the popular hippy market Las Dalias at Sant Carles de Peralta, open year-round every Saturday.

Along with being a place to hang out and chat over chai teas, Las Dalias is also a one-stop shop for all Ibizan wardrobe needs; battered boots, trailing feather head-dresses and pendants with effigies of Hindu elephant God Ganesh are all for sale.

The truth is that if you really want to enjoy Ibiza, you need a car. One of the cheapest and most ethical options is to rent an electric car from Ibiza Green Car (ibizagreencar.com). with charging points at several locations, including Atzaro.

We explore the narrow streets of UNESCO World Heritage Site Dalt Vila in Ibiza town, a white-washed citadel with a history stretching back more than 2000 years. Laid-back bars and charming cafes are tucked into the narrow streets that wind their way to the upper ramparts, a recommended spot for sunset.

But a more impressive place to watch the final hours of the day drain away is the arc-shaped Cala D'Hort beach in the southwest, looking out to rock islands Es Vedra and Es Vedranell. According to local myths, these are inhabited by sea nymphs, but all we could see were wild goats, lizards and falcons.

Sarah Marshall was a guest of Atzaro (www.atzaro.com; +34 971 33 88 38) who offer B&B rooms year-round, from 120 euros in low season. Until March 29, 2015, rooms with breakfast and car hire can be booked from 150 euros. Cheapflights.co.uk offers return flights from Glasgow to Ibiza, via London during the winter.