Praia da Adraga

Adraga is the accessible one among the wild Sintra beaches: the road comes down to a car park at the top and steps lead straight onto the sand, so it has none of the scrambling that Ursa demands, and it still has the drama - ochre and grey cliffs closing both ends, a free-standing arch and stack at the north end, caves at the base of the cliff that can be walked into at low tide, and dark rock reefs breaking the surf. It faces west, which makes it a sunset beach. There is a lifeguard in season, and the restaurant above the sand has been serving grilled fish for decades and has a reputation well beyond the beach. The water is cold Atlantic with a shore break, and wind picks up in the afternoon as it does along this whole coast. It gets busy on summer weekends but never approaches Caparica levels.

What you actually see

• The arch and stack - free-standing rock formations at the northern end.
• The caves - openings at the cliff base, enterable at low tide.
• The cliffs - ochre and grey walls closing the beach at both ends.
• The restaurant - a long-established grill above the sand.

When to go

June to September for swimming, with a lifeguard in season. Year-round for the walk and the sunset. Half a day. Check tides for the caves.

Honest expectations

Cold water, a heavy shore break and afternoon wind. The car park fills on summer weekends. Caves flood on the rising tide - people get cut off. The restaurant needs booking in season.

Nearby

Praia da Ursa and Cabo da Roca are south; Colares and Sintra are inland.