Dragonfly Valley

Dragonfly Valley is a paradise for outdoorsy types; simply set foot outside your accommodation and you’re in stunning countryside strewn with walking paths. Just 10 minutes’ drive takes you into the countryside around Pedrógão Grande for hiking and mountain biking adventures in dramatic landscapes forged from granite, or Passadiços Penedo Granada for steep trails through pine forest. If you need an easier route for younger kids, take the gentle stroll over Cabril Dam (10 minutes by car) for views of the lake. Families can also soak up the sun on Praia Fluvial do Cabril lakeside beach (five minutes), try out watersports and cool down with a refreshing swim. Introduce a bit of Portuguese culture into your holiday timetable with a day exploring the university buildings, monasteries and Sé Velha Cathedral in the elegant city of Coimbra (45 minutes), or discover the Knights Templar convent, chapels and churches of handsome UNESCO-listed Tomar (50 minutes). If you don’t want to wander so far from your peaceful eyrie above the River Zêzere, Pedrógão Pequeno (10 minutes) is a cute-as-pie white village overlooking Cabril Dam.