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There is still one last corner of Europe remaining to be discovered... a place where time has stood still and tourism hasn’t intruded on the local way of life. That place is Portugal’s Minho region, in the north of the country. Forget the Algarve with its golf courses, Brits and nightclubs... this is the real Portugal.

Green Portugal

The Minho is a land of such greenery, lushness and abundance that the trees and fields groan under the weight of organic fruit and vegetables. It’s a land known as the cradle of Portugal and a place that the Portuguese call home. The county of Terras de Bouro is in the heart of “Green Portugal” and is a centre of sustainable eco-tourism.

Casa do Campo

This traditional granite Minho cottage lies in the sleepy village of Ribeira de São Mateus. Just two kilometres away is the small town of Terras de Bouro... the gateway to Portugal’s only National Park. The Peneda-Gerês National Park is one of the last great wildernesses of Europe. Its green countryside is home to a farming community that has changed little over the centuries. Farmers still pull their carts with pairs of yoked long-horned oxen, villagers bake bread in communal bread ovens and old women wash their clothes in village streams.

Rustic yet comfortable

Casa do Campo is owned by an English couple. Its solid granite walls offer a cool haven from the summer sun. The shaded veranda and large balcony provide the perfect opportunity to sit around and do nothing... except perhaps to sip on a chilled glass of the local vinho verde wine.

A haven from the bustle of the busy and hectic world

Long-horn cattle still do much of the work in the Minho

Hams and sausages are a speciality of the Minho region