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Renowned Golf coarse Praia del Ray in Sao Martinho Portugal

The invigorating coast of changer’ id=’spin_12′ onclick=’ShowSpinOptions(12)’>western Portugal is a dramatic and stimulating destination where the Portuguese and Spanish go for their holidays.  Now you can love it too.
The region offers a energizing change of pace with its huge open skies, culturally vibrant towns with fine art treasures from porcelain to crystal, and Atlantic rollers breaking onto wide empty beaches.
This is the real Portugal experience where you can enjoy great food, strongly influenced by the sea, great Bairrada wines and real Portuguese hospitality. So when traveling to Portugal why not book a holiday villa to stay in,

This region of Estremadura is made up of rolling hills tumbling down through the long coastal medieval pine woods of Pinhal de leiria to rugged cliffs and sandy beaches. Its many castles, charming old towns and the finest medieval monasteries still bear witness to the region’s crucial role in history.

There is just so much to see and do. Tomar is a charming town dating back to 1157 dominated by a castle, with a neat grid of narrow streets, a main square and a lively 15th Century bridge. An island in the river provides pleasant paths through a cool and shady park. Of great historical significance is the monastery and Templar castle which was founded by the Knights Templar in 1162 still retains wonderful reminders of these Monk-Knights.
Obidos is an enchanting medieval fairytale town set up on a hill with its castle, pretty whitewashed houses, narrow winding streets and tiny tavernas’, enclosed by 14th Century crenellated walls.
Batalha Abbey, founded between 1388 and 1514, is a UNESCO World Heritage site – a masterpiece of gothic architecture with unfinished chapels.
Leiria is a Moorish town with a lively market and great authentic tavernas and restaurants.
Its resplendent hilltop castle was a royal residence in 14th Century. The castle’s loggia affords stunning views dominating the wide expanse of medieval pine forest, the Pinhal de Leiria. An 18th Century stairway up the hill opposite the castle climbs up to an elaborate and colourful 16th Century Baroque sanctuary. The old town under the castle is full of charm with tiny dwellings over archways and graceful arcades.
Peniche is a small pleasant town, set on a peninsular and partly enclosed by 16th Century walls. It is a port and its 16th Century fortress is now home to a museum. It is only 2 km from both Cabo Carvoeiro with spectacular ocean views, and Baleal with beaches and an idyllic fishing cove reached across a causeway. A boat trip over to the nearby Berlengas Islands is a must for bird-lovers!
Porto de Mos is a small town with a fanciful castle perched on the hill above. It boasts a museum and pretty public gardens. To its south lies the Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros which is an area stippled with vast and spectacular underground caverns full of stalagtites and stalagmites. Grutas de Mira de Aire is the largest of these – 110m into tunnels with walkways around subterranean lakes – an organised tour with a theatrical light and water show is provided.
Pombal is another small town of whitewashed houses overlooked by a stately castle. It also has a museum.
Fatima is a pilgrim destination as revered as Lourdes. It has a 65m high tower and a square which is twice the size of St Peter’s in Rome! Night masses are lit by thousands of candles. A multimedia show tells the story behind the reasons for the pilgrimages which started in 1917.
Ourem is a walled citadel with a 15th Century castle just 10 km north east of Fatima.
Marinha Grande is famous for its glass manufacture and has a glass museum. There is also a Saturday market.

The famed golf courses of Praia del Ray, Rio Maior, Vimeiro and Peniche are all local.

Lisbon itself, the beautiful capital of Portugal, is only 80 km away and well-worth a day out.

Sao Martinho do Porto is about half-way up the western coast of Portugal. It lies 80 km north of Lisbon and its international airport and is comfortably reached from there via the new A8 motorway – a very pleasant 45 minute drive.
If you really don’t want to hire a car, you can travel by coach from Lisbon’s main bus station (1 hr 15 minutes) or else take the train which winds its way up the coast right into Sao Martinho (about 3 hrs!)
There are flights from London Luton, Gatwick, Liverpool and Bristol with ‘Easyjet’. Try the ‘Travelsupermarket’ website to get the best deals on flights and car-hire – there are many car hire companies operating at the airport.