The kings of Portugal used to give the land and towns of this region to their queens, who enjoyed spending long periods here in their castles. Within easy reach of Lisbon, the region will also make you feel as if you want to spend a few days here playing your favourite sport amidst scenery that varies from sea and sand dunes to pine-groves and acacia trees.

Praia d’El Rey, situated by the sea and with a magnificent view over the Berlengas islands, was recently considered Europe’s seventh best golf course by the Golf World magazine. Don’t let yourself be distracted by the spectacular backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean on holes 11 and 12, because you’ll still have to concentrate hard if you’re to cover the 570 metres that lead to the 17th hole.

At Golden Eagle, a real championship course designed by the American golf course architect Rocky Roquemore, the landscape is dominated by pine-trees, eucalyptuses, mimosas and acacias.

Some trees will certainly surprise you at the 15th hole, because they run across the middle of the fairway. But this won’t be the only test of your skills, for, on the third hole, you’ll have to hit your ball over a lake to get your par 4.

Besides these two great challenges, the West Coast also has the Clube de Golfe do Botado and the Campo de Golfe do Vimeiro to offer you as courses.

Why not take a break from your game and visit the mediaeval town of Óbidos? Or you might prefer a dip in the sea at one of the excellent beaches of Santa Cruz, Porto Novo, Areia Branca or Baleal. And, since you now find yourself by the seaside, why not enjoy a meal of freshly caught fish?