Portugal’s agricultural region is awash with quaint, whitewashed
villages topped with burnt-orange rooftops, miles of olive groves
and little likelihood of hearing an English accent. Baixo Alentejo
is an unspoilt and un-anglicised pocket of Portugal. Surrounded by
miles of verdant vineyards, Herdade da Malhadinha Nova is a
traditional rural house with seven rooms and a knee-sinkingly
attractive infinity pool that disappears into the sloping hills.
Roll up your Levi’s and go grape trampling in August, press olive
oil at the harvest in autumn or spoil yourself in the spa in the
crisper, winter months. After working up a farmer’s appetite, head
to the hotel’s restaurant that fuses rustic wooden interiors with
floor-to-ceiling windows. The food mimics the decor, mixing
contemporary flair with traditional, locally sourced produce; steak
comes from the farm’s pureblood Alentejo cattle that graze nearby
while shrimp and squid are lifted fresh from the Algarve coast. The
working farm also boasts an acclaimed winery that’ll impress even
the fussiest of noses. Pop the cork of the Monte da Peceguina, a
vibrant plummy vintage that’ll you’ll want to stockpile back
home.

Part of Portugal’s Silver Coast, Santa Cruz is a prime stretch
of fierce Atlantic swell geared up at those wanting to hang loose.
Right on the sand are 13 wooden-clad bungalows decorated with
upcycled furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows with front row
sea views. Pack wax and a wetsuit at Noah’s Surf House, who vow to
get you from hawking at the sandy side lines to pulling gnarly 180s
in homage to Tony Hawkes. Improve your surfing stamina each morning
with yoga classes, paddleboarding or specially curated functional
training programmes to suit all levels of surfers. Once you’ve
mastered the art of standing up, head to nearby Supertubos, a beach
boasting some of the best wave breaks in Europe. Experts will want
to tackle the towering waves at Nazaré, where the pros make an
annual summer pilgrimage before taking on the world titles.

Oenophiles flock to Portugal’s celebrated wine region to tickle noses with some of the world’s finest fortified wines. It’s no secret that the Portuguese squirrel away their finest grapes exclusively for home consumption, so tap into their prestigious supply at Six Senses Douro Valley. The 19th-century manor overlooks a kink in the Douro River, far enough from Porto to escape the crowds but close enough to venture in for a day. Mixing wine and wellness is a pairing set to rival port and stilton and as with any Six Senses property, the spa takes centre stage. Pamper, preen and polish with an orange and lemon wrap with fruit picked from the garden and a luxurious facial using grape pulp before wallowing in the indoor heated swimming pool. Evenings are spent picking local wines from the very adult vending machine in the library where guests can pick their own glass (read: bottle) from a list of the finest Douro Valley plonk.

This is not your typically twee, rustic farm stay. Acclaimed
Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto Moura has transformed the
sun-bleached farmhouse and cluster of barns and outhouses into a
chic hideout catered for the well-heeled. Led by eighth-generation
owner José Antonio, it took over 14 years to refurbish the entire
property – and it’s clear that good things come to those who wait.
Inside, regional rust-red floor tiles are paired with moss-green
rugs, pendant lampshades and pops of duck-egg blue. The
farm-to-table restaurant dishes up local delights such as
flame-grilled black pork from acorn-eating Iberian pigs, partridge
cooked from Jose’s grandmothers treasured recipe and grilled garden
vegetables. After lunch, saddle up and gallop through the
780-hectare estate surrounded by wildflower meadows, vineyards and
miles of olive groves before heading uphill to Castelo de Monsaraz.
São Lourenço do Barrocal’s staff hail mainly from the local
village, so they can pack you up with a picnic should you get
peckish and direct you to the best trails.

The in-the-know jet-set crowd descend on the wild beaches of Comporta every summer for endless sunny days filled with jugs of sangria and buckets of local razor clams, followed by relaxed evenings doing the same. Sublime Comporta is a glittering, glass, modernist structure on 17 acres of undisturbed woodland. Inside the 14 cabanas, forest roots are upheld as each comes with cork walls, exposed wooden beams, pine stools and straw lampshades. Billowing curtains and sleek white-on-white interiors with outdoor fireplaces complete the look. An adults-only pool, a bar menu boasting eight different mojitos (we’d recommend the passionfruit) and a collection of bespoke boozy concoctions mixed by expert bartenders makes this a truly grown-up treat. Clear the cobwebs the morning after the night before with a vigorous green-coffee sculpting massage; ask for the treatment to be taken outside for an accompanying soundtrack of soothing forest sounds.

Barefoot, bohemian and beautiful, Areias do Seixo sits on the
edge of four unspoilt blonde-sand beaches nestled in a forest of
pines, just a 40-minute drive from Lisbon. Rooms are bedecked in
polished concrete and raw metal surfaces, softened by ruby-coloured
chaise lounges, teardrop-shaped wooden burners, caramel velvet
throws and sun streaming through full-length windows. Each of the
14 rooms leads to a private patio from which you can hear the
comfortingly continuous sound of crashing waves, reminding you that
this wild patch of Portugal is more Atlantic than Mediterranean.
Setting the standards for sustainability, the hotel is runs off
geothermal energy and solar panels; guests can choose to enrol in
agricultural lessons with local farmers and are invited to pluck
fresh mussels from the beach for tea. A feeling of home is evident
from the lovingly made custard tarts to the honesty bar and nightly
bonfire with acoustic music and glasses of local wine.