With its' wild and rugged mountainous coastline, unspoilt beaches, quiet little resort towns, pilgrim paths, not to mention its strange local green wine, this area of Portugal has been largely overlooked by holidaying Brits...until now.

       Portugal's Costa Verde sees only a fraction of the crowds of the enduringly popular Algarve, though its beaches do get noticeably busier throughout the Portuguese school holidays.

       The locals know a thing or two about where to find the best spots to soak up the sun.

       The north of Portugal doesn't have the same long, sunny summer as the south. Winters there are noticeably wetter and wilder, but it does offer incredible coasts.

       Weather-wise, your best chance of seeing the region at its finest is between June and September, when the average temperature is a pleasant 18°C (65°F) and rainfall dips to just a few days per month, according to lonelyplanet.com

       The rugged coastal topography, the meeting of oceans and mountains, and the strong cortado (north wind) that blows from June onwards make it highly unpredictable.

       Don't miss...

       The pretty island with hardly any tourists that gets 30C weather in the spring [LATEST]

       Portugal’s most beautiful village is a top holiday destination [LATEST]

       Europe's most isolated town with brutal -40C winters that's a haven for dark [LATEST]

       Underrated European country that's 'spectacular' and has hardly any tourists [LATEST]

       Beaches can be soaked in fog until midmorning, which only adds to his mystique. Make sure to time your sunbathing sessions wisely and have alternate plans ready, Lonely Planet advises.

       The Costa Verde can work as a weekend escape from the hustle and bustle of a visit to the northern city of Porto, or it can be a base for a full two-week vacation.

       Short-stayers should pick one beach town and head straight there. Póvoa de Varzim has glitzy casinos and golf resorts, for example, while Ofir is for beachcombing beside the dunes, and Afife is better for surfing.

       Porto is the southernmost point of the Costa Verde, which means the region is a cinch to reach from the UK. (see below)

       Public transport-wise, the red line of the Porto Metro system can take you as far as Póvoa de Varzim, a decent starting point with its own beaches and surf breaks.

       Regional trains go all the way from Porto's Campanh？ station to the lovely river town of Caminha on the edge of the Spanish border in just 90 minutes.

       While the beaches are the undoubted highlight of the Costa Verde, they're a bit wilder than what you might be used to in Portugal, Lonely Planet warns.

       "Here, the shore jigs and jags inward and outward, carved up by big river estuaries that create long sandspits and, as you head further north, buttressed by high hills and dunes clad in pines and sea oats.

       "Families will love the accessibility of Azurara. Park just behind the dunes and stroll over the boardwalk to find a long, wide beach and beginner-level surf breaks. For isolation, wander to the tip of Ofir Norte, which has wisps of white sand that shift and reshape to the whims of the Rio Cávado. Personal favourites include Praia de Afife and Praia da Arda, two gleaming surf beaches broken up by patches of rocks just south of Vila Praia de ？ncora."

       Walkers will love the Costa Verde too. The coastline is crisscrossed by the iconic Camino de Santiago, a long-distance pilgrimage route that links Lisbon to Santiago de Compestela in Spain. There are a few variations: the central route through the forested mountains and – everyone's favorite – the coastal route, which you can join at almost any town along the shoreline of the Costa Verde.

       It's easy to get on the trail. Simply look for the shell sign that marks the pilgrimage routes and start walking. The best sections include the forest walk north of Castelo do Neiva through oak and pine woods and the boardwalks that thread along Praia de Afife.

       And after all that walking you might want to relax with a nice glass of the localwine. With Spain's legendary albari？o growing region to the north and the big reds of the Douro Valley being made to the south, the Costa Verde is also home to its very own wine.

       The sharp, citrusy vinho verde (green wine) is the one to try in this part of Portugal and the region is fast becoming a leader in experimental grape varieties.

       But if beer is more your tipple then you might want to head to church-filled, cobbled town of Caminha. This little outpost on the pilgrimage routes, hosts the Art Beer Fest in July, an annual celebration of beer, music, wine and all things counterculture. It's been voted one of the best non-music festivals in Iberia.

       Thousands pack just two squares to guzzle craft beers from across Europe. A load of Portuguese breweries attend and the music is anything from folk to punk.

       Flights from the UK to Porto start from ￡33 with Ryanair from London Stansted and there are flights with other UK airports and airlines including easyJet, TAP (Air Portugal) British Airways and Jet2.