With a vast castle atop one hill, the Fort of St. Sebastian on another, and pretty white houses sprawled out between them, Castro Marim has a lot to offer.

This headland near the town of Lagos is home to one of Europe's most spectacular sections of coastline. Here you will find unusual limestone sea stacks towering up from the sea and many beautiful golden sandy beaches spread out around the peninsula.

Sagres is located on the Ponta de Sagres headland near the most westerly point of mainland Europe. It is a good base for exploring the nearby beaches and the Cabo de São Vincente.

Honey coloured cliffs and golden sand, rock arches in a turquoise sea, gorse bushes and sweet smelling thyme, are all aspects of the extraordinary Marinha beach.

This extraordinary beach is popular with surfers thanks to the crashing Atlantic surf. As well as its sporting possibilities Praia do Castelejo also has unusual rocks and some unique coastal scenery to photograph.

Close to the popular holiday resort of Albufeira, Praia Sao Rafael is a typical beach of the Algarve with brilliant turquoise water lapping onto smooth golden sand. Sea stacks with holes and curious forms add to the photographic potential of the area.