DESTINATIONS TORRES VEDRAS SPAIN & PORTUGAL
streets and majestic church – a fine example of Portuguese architecture – but for non-cyclists or those less fit, this can be easily adapted to walking. Either way, you still get a great feel for the landscapes around you. History buffs will be fascinated
by the area’s past, a clue to which can be found in a rather saucy painting hung in the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, the Grande Escolha. It depicts the Duke of Wellington having some off-duty ‘fun’ with a lady companion. To be fair to the duke, he did help the Portuguese build an impressive line of defence to stop the French invading in the early 19th century, so he probably needed to let off some steam. There’s a regal connection
too: it was also once the summer retreat and hunting grounds for Portugal’s royal family.
◗ GREEN SCENE There are plenty of other secrets to uncover along the trail, which takes visitors close to the dozens of wind turbines that stand proudly on the hillcrests of the surrounding Socorro and Archeira mountains. Love or loathe them, a walk underneath these huge metal constructions is strangely calming; the thrum of
The vineyard owners encouraged the grape pickers to sing – to stop them putting grapes in their mouths
the giant blades slicing through the air sounding like mini planes on permanent take-off. Their impressive wind-harnessing
led to the area being named as one of the most sustainable destinations in the world in 2015, so they’re an important fixture on the landscape. It’s the little titbits you pick
up from the chatty guides who accompany groups on the trail that add real value. For example, the grape pickers who came to the surrounding vineyards used to sing to the ripe, juicy fruit. The reason? The vineyard owners encouraged it to stop them from popping the grapes into their mouths instead of their baskets. Corporate travel agents
will already have the Dolce CampoReal hotel, which is popular with the Mice market, firmly on their radar, but it’s a
DOLCE CAMPOREAL LISBOA
Tried & Tested The CampoReal has 151 tastefully
decorated rooms, in a palette of neutral colours. There are Deluxe, Superior Deluxe and Premium rooms, as well as suites, and all guests can enjoy the impressive Mandalay spa, which opened last year and still feels pleasingly new. A highlight is the Thai-style massage using a stick which is tapped along the body’s meridian
lines and is said to remove toxins. The ornate outdoor swimming pool, at the front of the hotel, is quite the showstopper too. Book it: Rooms from €113 per night for two people in a Deluxe room, including breakfast. The Trail of Discovery costs €54 per person, with an option to add a taster menu for €20.
dolcecamporeal.com
nice option for leisure travellers who want to combine a city break to Lisbon with countryside relaxation and easy access to the region’s beaches. The hotel
is just a 45-minute drive north of the capital, while the white sandy beaches of Santa Cruz, a popular surfing destination, are just a 20-minute drive away.
Santa Cruz coast 80
travelweekly.co.uk 27 September 2018
PICTURE: VRX STUDIOS
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