Horse Riding Holiday

About the school

This unique rural farmhouse offers both horse riding and cookery holidays and has the Costa Vincentina national park and the deserted coastline of the southernmost tip of the Algarve right on the doorstep offering riders a wide choice of easy hacks right through to challenging trail rides and cooks, the chance to learn about rustic country cooking in this spectacular area of Portugal, just 15 minutes from Lagos.

Your host and riding teacher David originally set out from the UK to sail around the world on his yacht but on reaching Portugal, fell in love with the country and decided to settle there. David’s passion is carriage driving and for horse riders, during your stay you can choose to either focus on horseback riding or to also try your hand at carriage driving for a horse riding holiday with a difference.

David's wife Frances is the Chef and has spent 25 years in Portugal perfecting traditional methods of cooking and uses a wonderful wood fired brick oven to produce amazing dishes and delicious fresh breads to delight foodies around the world.

Due to the wonderful weather (over 300 days of sunshine each year), stunning countryside and wonderful coastline trails, trekking by the beach is a big focus here and you can ride to your heart’s content.

The cooking and riding centre is set in a very rural, tranquil location surrounded by pine and cork forest just 15 minutes drive from the bustling harbour town of Lagos on the Algarve.

You’ll stay in one of the 4 simple, rustic rooms in the charming converted stone barn with its spacious communal dining areas, perfect for socialising after a day’s riding or cooking or why not combine both skills?

The beautiful and extremely diverse landscape of the National Park ranges from dramatic cliffs, rolling sand dunes and Moorish springs to cork and pine forests. The area is perfect for nature lovers and the National Park boasts the only national colony of otters that heads out to the sea in search of food.

Take the opportunity to not only discover spectacular landscapes and awe-inspiring coastal scenery, but also a culture where tradition remains very much part of everyday life.

A holiday here gives you a slice of local Portuguese life where you can slow down and savour everything that this tranquil rural retreat has to offer. It may only be 15 minutes from the bustling town of Lagos but its a world apart in terms of scenery, history and culture and the food here is a treat.

Features

- Tranquil rural location set in the Costa Vincentina National Park with stunning views over Cape St Vincent
- 15 minutes drive from the bustling harbour of Lagos on the Algarve
- Just 6km to deserted surf beaches of Carapateira and within easy reach of the sheltered coves of the Algarve coast (10-15 Euros in a taxi from the farm entrance)
- Borrow a surf board to use (lessons with local surf schools can be recommended on arrival)
- Surrounded by forest trails and open meadows
- Just 1 hour from Faro airport with easy train connections to Lagos
- Free pick up from Lagos train station (15 minutes away)
- Take advantage of the chance to try Carriage driving offered by your experienced tutor for those on the riding holidays
- 12 locally bred Lusitano cross horses ranging from miniature ponies to 16hh
- For riders, gain unlimited access to the horses, join in with as much or as little grooming, feeding, mucking out and riding as you wish during your stay
- Historic stone built simple farmhouse accommodation with basic facilities
- Family sized dining room with huge log fire
- Your hosts are former chefs so meal times are a treat
- Wonderful traditional wood fired oven at the farmhouse, perfect for homemade bread and delicious Portuguese meals
- A perfect location to visit the national park and to see the other side of the Algarve which is not bursting with tourists