Praia das Maçãs

A small bay a couple of kilometres north of Praia Grande, with rock on both sides and sand through the middle. It is the gentler of the two main Sintra beaches and the default classroom for the local schools. Low tide is when it works: the bay opens out, the banks shape up, and a wedging left runs off the cliffs at the southern end. Mid to high tide it turns dumpy and short.