Camping São Miguel

If you’re all yearning for a swim in the sea, Odeceixe Mar (10 minutes’ drive) is a sheltered beach set at the mouth of the River Seixe. It’s safe for watersports, and you can also paddle upriver to look for elusive otters near the banks. Reached via a track from the road, Carvalhal Beach (also 10 minutes) is tucked into a rocky cove and has strong waves attracting surfers in the summer. Set off into the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park (10 minutes) and you’ll discover nigh-deserted beaches with pristine sand dunes as well as a diverse wildlife on its wind-blasted limestone plateaux – keep an eye out for choughs, storks or peregrine falcons as you explore. If you want to get in some serious yomping, the Rota Vicentina hiking and cycling trails pass through the cute hillside village of Odeceixe (five minutes), and from there you can join the long-distance Historical Way as it wends through ancient whitewashed town like Aljezur (20 minutes) or the fishing hamlet of Arrifana (40 minutes). Alternatively, the challenging Fisherman’s Way follows the rugged Atlantic coastline between São Torpes and Lagos in the south.