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A very warm welcome We and our horses look forward to welcoming you to the New Forest Lodge. Whether you are joining us for a few hours of pleasurable driving or riding or have enrolled in one of our holiday driving workshops, it is our aim to provide a memorable and exhilarating experience and our sincere hope that you will become a regular visitor to our Lodge. The Lodge, which dates back to the 17th century, was originally a small hill farm and subsequently a hunting lodge attached to the Quinta da Horta. Today the shotguns have been replaced with binoculars and telephoto lenses and the 50-acres or so have been given over to equestrian pursuits and a nature reserve. Part of the land is still farmed and the organic produce supplies the Quinta da Horta’s famous kitchens. Where we are .... We, and our family, have lived in Portugal for more than twenty years and know the country well. We chose the Lodge for its situation. Snuggled in a sheltered valley looking southwards over the crystal clear Atlantic, just 6 kilometers from the deserted endless sandy beaches of Portugal’s west coast, the climate is one of the best in Europe with over 315 days a year average sunshine and the temperate Atlantic breezes to give us an idyllic winter temperature similar to a British summer and to cool us in the heat of summer. An hour’s drive from Faro International Airport or about 3 hours drive South of Lisbon and West of Seville, 15 minutes from the historic port of Lagos and a gentle hack to Cape St Vincent, the Lodge stands adjacent to the National park of the South West of the Alentejo and Vicentine coast which is one of the largest areas in Portugal of unspoilt countryside without tarmac roads and very little traffic. It is usually possible to ride all day without passing a car; just the occasional shepherd or herdsman. You will be spoilt for choice with an endless range of outdoor activities. As well as carriage driving and hacking, you may enjoy some of the world’s best golf courses. Water sports are well represented with several first class marinas and also charming harbors nearby with sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing available locally. We are only 6 kilometers from one of Europe’s finest surfing beaches, with several surfing schools offering daily tuition and board rental. There are many small secluded coves and spectacular long sandy beaches nearby. With an average of over 315 days a year sunshine our climate is particularly kind. The Monchique mountains which shelter us to the north east, together with the Gulf stream currents bringing warm Caribbean breezes to our doorstep, means we are truly blessed with constant temperate weather conditions. The area provides hundreds of kilometers of natural reserves with facilities for walkers and cyclists and naturalists will enjoy an endless and ever changing panorama with spectacular bird life and may well have a chance to observe the wild Iberian pig or even more rare Iberian lynx in their natural habitat. Bordiera, our nearest village a gentle ride away, has a bar and a shop which sometimes opens! Aljezur, the local market town, has several restaurants, a few shops, a castle and an interesting market. During the rush hour traffic on the main, single carriage bridge can get quite heavy with donkey carts and tractors vying for right of way. Lagos,
our nearest port city throngs with bars, restaurants, galleries
and a variety of clubs, where the night life continues until the
morning.
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Versão Portuguesa