Oceanfront Reformer Pilates & Movement Week in Ericeira, Portugal

Days follow a loose pattern rather than a packed schedule. Pilates runs at 08:00 on four mornings (60-75 minutes, Reformer and mat mixed), and on two mornings there's a longer 90-minute session. Between classes, breakfast is served from 08:30 to 10:00 — eggs, fruit, yoghurt, granola, bread, coffee. After that, the day is open until dinner. The studio is in the guesthouse, so you can also book a private one-to-one session or use the space for your own stretching during free hours.

What separates this from a generic Pilates holiday is the class size and the instructor. Group sessions cap at eight people on eight Reformers, which is small enough that the instructor can adjust the springs on your machine mid-exercise and actually tell you what your ribcage is doing. The instructor is STOTT-certified and has also trained in pre- and postnatal Pilates, so if you're returning to exercise after a baby or managing a back issue, this is a week where you can say so and get a modified programme rather than being told to sit it out.

Ericeira itself is a working surf town, not a resort strip. The guesthouse sits on the coastal road facing the ocean — you can hear the waves from the terrace. Praia do Sul and Praia da Baleia are both a short walk, and Ribeira d'Ilhas, one of Portugal's most consistent right-hand point breaks, is about 3 km up the coast on the cliff trail. A world surfing reserve stretches along this stretch of coast, so there are board rentals, surf schools and beach cafés within walking distance. The old town is whitewashed houses, tiled streets, seafood restaurants and a daily market — small enough to cover in an afternoon, with enough going on for a week.

Lisbon is an hour away by bus or 40 minutes by car. Many guests fly into Lisbon and either take the direct bus from Campo Grande or split a transfer. Once you're in Ericeira you can walk almost everywhere, though a car helps if you want to explore the coast further north to Peniche or Sintra.

The four included dinners are cooked at the guesthouse — typically grilled fish, salads, rice, vegetables and Portuguese wine or a non-alcoholic alternative. On the two free evenings, guests usually head into town together for seafood, and the instructor will point you at her favourite spots. The week ends with a Saturday morning class and a slow breakfast before check-out at 11:00.

What's included

- 6 nights oceanfront accommodation - Daily breakfast at the guesthouse - 4 group dinners at the guesthouse - 5-6 Reformer Pilates group classes (60-90 minutes each) - Use of the Pilates studio, mats, blocks and props outside class hours - One optional stretch and mobility session on the rest day - Welcome meeting and tea on arrival day - Guided coastal walk to Praia do Sul - Free Wi-Fi throughout the property - Towels and bed linen - Free on-site parking

What's not included

- Flights and airport transfers - Travel insurance - Lunches and 2 dinners in town - One-to-one Pilates sessions - Massage and spa treatments - Surf lessons and board rental - Bicycle hire - Personal expenses and drinks outside included meals - Laundry service