Quinta do Castanheiro

Want to spread your swimming activities a tad further? Take your cossie down to Praia das Rocas waterpark (10 minutes’ walk) for waterslides and the country’s biggest wave pool, or head coastwards for beach days at Aveiro, Figueira da Foz or Praia de Mira, all of which are slightly over an hour’s drive away. Coimbra (45 minutes’ drive) is a fine choice for a day of city wanders – on the schedule should be visits to the old university, the Romanesque cathedral and the 12th-century monastery, plus an insight into the country’s emotion-filled singing style at Fado ao Centro. For info on what to fill your days with in the vicinity of the site, have a chat with the folk at reception, who keep a good pile of leaflets and maps to help you pick wisely. Among the things they might point you towards are the castle ruins in Penela (half an hour), the old monastery in Tomar (45 minutes), the Soprador do Carvalho caves (half an hour) or local walks taking in waterfalls and river swims.