I think Teresa rather enjoys finding me new places to swim in Portugal. As a blogger, I feel I should write about them properly so other people can find them too – and get a feel for what it is actually like to swim there before they set off.

A hot afternoon in Portugal

On a hot afternoon, with the temperature reaching 32 degrees, being near the water was exactly what we needed. I had already been in the water earlier at a natural swimming spot; Praia Fluvial São Simão, and from there Teresa decided to drive on towards the area around Pedrógão Grande. On the way, we stopped in a small town square in Figueiró dos Vinhos, for coffee and a tosta mista – that Portuguese combination of ham and cheese toasted sandwich!

There was not much going on in the square, so we carried on to Pedrógão Grande, to see what it might be like for a swim, at Praia do Cabril

Wild Fires of Pedrógão Grande

Most of what we knew about Pedrógão Grande was tied to the devastating wildfires that tore through this part of central Portugal in 2017. The fires destroyed homes, changed lives and left a deep mark on the region, with the loss of 62 people when the fire swept through the area. To make things worse the wind and thus the fire changed direction and caught them as they tried to evacuate. These fires came within touching distance of Teresa’s mum’s house, near Tabua. So we heard about the devastation first hand.

Driving through the area now, much of the landscape has grown back, although knowing about the fires, does change the way you look at the hills, the trees and the open land around you.

The place we were heading for was Praia Fluvial do Cabril, on Cabril Lake – a huge reservoir created by the Cabril Dam on the Zêzere River. It stretches for around 55 kilometres and sits on the border of Pedrógão Grande and Serta. It is one of those inland places that feels vast and peaceful.

Swimming in Cabril Lake

There is a floating pool area with a shallow section for children, But I chose to access the water down a slipway straight into the Lake. This suits my wild swimming, natural dip approach. The water looked clean, calm and very inviting, especially on such a hot day.

For stronger swimmers, it is the sort of place that makes you look across the water and start wondering how far it really is to the other side. I did briefly think about swimming across, as I have been reading a novel by Carley Fortune, whose main character, swims across a lake, onece each year. However I am not a strong swimmer so it was only a brief thought! For me, It definitely felt more like the kind of place to enjoy a relaxed swim and a float in the heat.

Future visits

It also looked ideal for kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding, which immediately felt like a note for October when we will be back in Portugal. Apparently the lake is also known for fishing, especially large-mouth bass, and it even hosts annual triathlon events, which tells you something about the scale of the place.

There also seemed to be a good camping spot on the opposite side, which added to the sense that this is somewhere you could easily make a longer day of it – or even stay over and explore the area.

Is Praia Fluvial do Cabril worth visiting?

Practicalities: There are toilets, and when we visited there were also ice cream, coffee, cocktail and pizza trucks nearby.

If you are looking for wild swimming in Portugal, or simply somewhere scenic and calm for a freshwater swim, Praia Fluvial do Cabril in Pedrógão Grande is well worth adding to the list.

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