Flights

Easyjet flies daily to Lisbon from £45 return, as do BA and a Portugese airline TAP. Flight time is only 2 hours 30 minutes. Ryanair offers cheap flights from Dublin, Liverpool and Stanstead to Porto Airport which is in the north, approx 2 hour drive from the silver coast.

Car hire

Car hire is among the cheapest in Europe here and all the major car hire companies have offices in Portugal. Prices start from £120 per week for a family sized car. Easyjet also offer good deals should you choose to fly with them.

GOLF: The new Donald Steel designed Bom Sucesso is less than a 5 minute drive. World renowned championship golf course Praia D'el Rey is a 10 minute drive.

Obidos is the nearby medival town situated within castle walls. It is a truely special place, incredibly pretty but full of culture and history. Wander along the castle walls to get a fantastic rooftop view of the town. Visit the many authentic local bars and restaurants scattered along the cobbled streets. Taste the traditional cherry liquor served in miniature chocolate cups. Experience the ambience and decadence of 13th century St Peter's church and witness a Portuguese wedding!

Foz is a 20 minute drive away but well worth a visit. It sits on the other side of the Lagoon. Rustic beach cafes are positioned along the beachside. The views of the estuary from any one of these cafes are spectacular! The atmosphere is chilled and quiet. There are also a couple of fish restaurants on this stretch worth a visit serving the best fresh sea bass, mackerel or sardines. The beach is vast, sandy and great for the children.

The Central Portugal region

Pinhal Village is located in the Perola da Lagoa Gold development on the south western corner of the Obidos Lagoon, on Portugal's Silver Coast. Just 45 minutes drive from the cool and sophisticated capital Lisbon and within easy reach of great amenities, atmospheric Medieval towns, authentic fishing villages, stunning scenery and world class golfing.

Obidos

The Obidos Lagoon forms a large coastal inlet from the Atlantic offering sheltered swimming for families and great sailing and surfing opportunities. It has the best of both worlds: wild Atlantic vistas of crashing waves and impressive cliffs, coupled with family friendly sandy beaches. You can truly leave your worries behind when you're here.

The Lagoon is surrounded by a cool green forest nature reserve and is blessed with truly breathtaking views. Close by is the beautiful walled town of Obidos. The town was originally a wedding gift bestowed by the King of Portugal to his new Queen and it certainly feels a very romantic spot. The cobbled streets are packed with bars and restaurants, shops selling local crafts and wines. Idyllic white houses with terracotta roofs, overflowing with vivid flowers are in abundance.

Sao Martinho do Porto with its gorgeous shell shaped beach and excellent amenities is only 30 minutes drive from Pinhal Village.

Make sure you go to the local bars and restaurants in Obidos where you'll experience a wealth of 14th Century charm.

My family and I feel very lucky to have discovered this very special part of the world. It really is a great place to relax and enjoy spectacular scenery. A real get away!