Review of Quinta das Abelhas Yurt Camp, Coimbra, Portugal

> For contact details and to check availability, see our full listing of: Quinta das Abelhas

Yurt with a lovely balcony, perfect for relaxing with views of the farm. Photo: Anouk van den Eijnde

The place
Quinta das Abelhas yurt camp is in the 'Green Heart of Portugal', surrounded by impressive mountain ranges, national parks,Fresh home-grown pumpkins ready to make a tasty meal: Photo: Anouk van den Eijnde forests, valleys and rivers. Getting there may be a bit of a trek, but you won't want to budge much once you're there. The Quinta overlooks a working organic farm with horses, chickens, elaborate fruit & vegetable patches, a few stylish and secluded yurts and a spectacular view of Portugal's highest mountain range the Serra da Estrela. This is a place to come to get away from it all, reconnect with nature and live off the land. Originally from South East England, hosts Andy and Sophie came to Portugal 10 years ago with a camper van, their kids in tow and a vision to build their own smallholding. They are now close to being self-sufficient, growing all their own fruit and vegetables, making their own organic wine & olive oil, raising chickens for meat and eggs and using water from the well.

Accommodation
There are three gorgeous yurts to choose from, each in its own hidden spot with stunning views of the valley. We stayed in the Woodland Yurt, just a short walk from the main house. After an evening of delicious food and organic Portuguese wine, we 

The pretty and romantic interior of the yurt. Photo: Anouk van den Eijndesunk in the comfortable bed and drifted off to sleep with not a sound to be heard. I particularly enjoyed the red-ish light that shone through the colourful fabrics in the morning and our own little balcony to enjoy the views.

There's also a 5m Mongolian yurt with a double bed and two single sofa beds, ideal for families or bigger groups and there's the lovely pixie yurt with a single bed. The rest of the facilities are relatively basic. There's one loo for the camp (a loo with a view!) - a compost toilet in a little house that has a large window from which you can appreciate the panorama. You can also pitch your tent on the grounds for just €5 a night.

Food and activities
Food is a definite highlight here. We were welcomed at dinner time with a feast of home-grown goodies including roast pumpkin, salad, potatoes and roast vegetables from the garden, and a seasonal blackberry & pear crumble washed down with their own organic wine. The hosts provide evening meals between June-August for €10. You can also cook your own

Being immersed in the farm life. Photo: Anouk van den Eijndemeals in the caravan kitchen near the Mongolian yurt which has a wooden table, benches and all the facilities to cook. You can purchase fresh, seasonal and organic fruit & veg, eggs and basic foods for cooking there. We enjoyed a tour of the farm and marveled at the giant sunflowers, pumpkins, juicy tomatoes and deliciously sweet raspberries. 

Andy and Sophie encourage people who are keen to learn to get stuck in and help out at the farm, whether that's helping feed the animals or olive oil harvesting. Their mission is to create a self sufficient community and spread the word about permaculture. They often have Wwoofers (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) volunteering on the farm, in exchange for free camping and meals. With their in depth knowledge of and passion for permaculture, you couldn't really pick a better place to learn. The sunny climate, wild swimming spots nearby, fishing and horse-riding when not working make it all the more enticing. 

What makes it green
You can't really get more green than Quinta das Abelhas. The house and farm have been designed with sustainability top of 

Relaxing in the colourful hammock and enjoying the peace and quiet. Photo: Anouk van den Eijndemind. For example the house is south facing so that it is warmed in winter when the sun is low and cool in summer when the sun is high. All of the energy is generated by solar panels (installed two years ago), there's a solar oven and all water from the sink and washing machine is reused to water the plants outside. There's a compost loo (which to be honest for a city dweller like me took some getting used to) and a solar shower. They live off the land as much as possible, which means abundant produce in the summer, and lots of preserving, ratatouille-making and jam-making in time for winter. 

Top tip
It gets very dark at night so don't forget your flashlight (provided in each yurt) for midnight loo breaks. I would recommend taking advantage of your balcony for spectacular star-gazing.

Getting there
Cooking the eco way by using a satellite dish to direct the sun's rays. Photo: Anouk van den EijndeIf coming from Lisbon, go to Oriente or Santa Appolonia train station and from there take the train to Santa Comba Dão. The hosts can drive you to/from Santa Comba Dão or Carregal do Sal train stations (both about 20 mins drive from the quinta). They ask for €10 to cover their time and fuel.

See full itinerary and booking details: Train from London to Lisbon

Verdict
For all those who love the outdoors, growing their own food and staying in beautiful yurts, this is paradise. For those looking for luxury camping without forgoing creature comforts, this may not be your cup of tea. Whatever you're into, you'll certainly take a bit of Andy and Sophie's passion back home and start planning next season's strawberries.

For contact details and to check availability, see our full listing of: Quinta das Abelhas