Activity Holidays in Portugal

One of the most enjoyable holidays I’ve ever had. Great hospitality from Cheryl and Graham. A lovely place to visit. Wonderful communal cooking experiences and fabulous food as the result. A fun and relaxing break!

"I spent a wonderful few days with Cheryl and Graham on a festive vegetarian cooking holiday. Each of the day's menus and recipes had been carefully planned out and tested in advance and, as a group, we prepared the dishes for multiple celebratory brunches and dinners with gentle guidance from our hosts. Sooo much yummy food! The accommodation was stylish and comfortable, with everything I needed."

"We had a fantastic 3 days spent with Cheryl and Graham in their beautiful home. The cooking course was great fun and very informative with hands on cooking at all times. We learnt loads and the food that we all created was truly delicious. Cannot recommend this course enough!"

What a very special place! In a beautiful riverside setting this was the perfect venue for a cooking course. Very comfortable rooms (mine had a view of the infinity pool), well equipped kitchen and charming company. Graham & Cheryl are the perfect hosts with nothing being too much trouble from arrival to departure. We worked our way through many Portuguese and Portuguese influenced dishes, my favourites being the Bacalhau com Natas and the Catapl

Just returned from a wonderful 4 day cooking retreat. It's an idyllic setting in the Algarve countryside complemented by fabulous hosts Cheryl and Graham who immediately create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere among the guests. I'm no chef but I got so much more out of the experience than expected. Great fun and conversation with the other 'cooks' and magnificent food was the output. An added bonus was to stay in one of the glamping tents which

What a lovely group to share the Ottolenghi vegetarian brunch experience! The cooking result was terrific . Graham and Cheryl are such gracious hosts.

Just spent a wonderful week on this art retreat. A truly remarkable venue with great food and top hosts. Rooms were beautiful as was the setting, and the art workshops were a great way to spend the day. Thoroughly recommend and look forward to my next stay!

Just spent an amazing week at the River House on their residential course. Very well organised and run with a great art teacher who was patient and encouraging. Excellent accommodation and wonderful food provided by Cheryl and her husband Graham. Great company and beautiful location. Can’t praise the week highly enough and hope to return again next year.

River views, fresh meals, local culture, and art lessons from a friendly skilled professional made for the perfect holiday retreat. The River House is a gem in the Algarve countryside. I spent a week relaxing to the peaceful sound of birds and goat bells, enjoying walks through the surrounding landscape, and lounging poolside after lively morning art sessions. Our host, Cheryl, and teacher, Tracy, were very knowledgeable and lovely to work with.

It was a lovely 5 days of painting and drawing with a fantastic teacher and a beautiful environment. The River House is a special hidden place in the Algarve! I was glad I was able to join the retreat as an Alagarve resident. I definitely recommend it!

This was an amazing holiday! The tuition was excellent - I learnt so much from Tracy and my confidence has increased. I am inspired to try painting more. The riverside house is a lovely villa set in beautiful surroundings. The owner Cheryl was very welcoming and an amazing cook! Perfect week.

This was a very different holiday for me and I loved it. A great relaxing location with fantastic views. Cheryl made us welcome and cooked some amazing vegetarian food from local fresh produce. Tracy our art teacher was extremely knowledgeable in a variety of techniques, gave you confidence and always made you feel at ease. A lovely break from normal life.

A fantastic retreat. The location and house and facilities are all wonderful, the food is sublime and Patricia/Zarqa are brilliant hosts. The retreat is well thought-out and balanced. Highly recommend!

Perfect break from a busy city job, would absolutely recommend!

I had a wonderful time in Sintra. The host are friendly, caring and excellent teachers. It was a week full of discovery of myself and finding a new away of life. I enjoyed the yoga sessions and meditations which I still continue. The vegetarian food was delicious and fresh. Highly recommending to visit.

"Cheryl and Graham were wonderful hosts who guided us through cooking a wide array of delectable Portuguese, Goan, South Africa and Macaun dishes. My husband made the most delicious orange cake having never baked before. The villa is in such a relaxing and picturesque spot. A beautiful setting in which to unwind in between the cookery workshops."

"Amazing cooking class, Graham and Cheryl were so hospitable and friendly. We learnt how to cook some delicious dishes and have fun with the other people who came along. I would highly recommend."

"A wonderful few days with excellent host and hostess. The cookery was fun and informative. The area was very beautiful. We learnt so much. I totally recommend staying and doing this course. I do hope to return and see them again."

What an amazing holiday we had. From the moment we arrived we felt at home and relaxed. It was a pleasure to cook the delicious food and of course to enjoy it afterwards. A big thank you for an unforgettable adventure.

What a really lovely experience, in a beautiful house having the opportunity to relax or wander in the countryside. Cooking so many fabulous dishes, alongside others in such an informal but well organised kitchen, and have the joy of eating so many different dishes. Most of all I enjoyed being part of your family and sharing a relaxed, friendly and chatty time.

What a very special place! In a beautiful riverside setting this was the perfect venue for a cooking course. Very comfortable rooms (mine had a view of the infinity pool), well equipped kitchen and charming company. Graham & Cheryl are the perfect hosts with nothing being too much trouble from arrival to departure. We worked our way through many Portuguese and Portuguese influenced dishes. There was a visit to a small local market and museum and