AS we made our way across the wooden bridge, the calming sound of the Atlantic Ocean slowly filled our ears. Then I finally clapped eyes on something I had waited a while to see.

I’ve been to countless beaches, but this one was special. It was the pristine Praia da Quinta do Lago in Portugal, and more importantly, it wasn’t just any day - it was Christmas morning.

My wife Rachel and I decided to get away from seasonal stress and, with our daughters Isla and Evelyn, traded sleet and snow for sand and shells, and battered brollies for parasol pine trees. Our destination was the resort town of Quinta do Lago, a 20-minute drive from Faro airport on the sun-drenched Algarve.

Quinta was founded half a century ago by property developer André Jordan. Rumour has it he sat on a hillside by an old stone farmhouse one sunny day and dreamt of a place where velvety green golf courses were woven between pristine white villas overlooking the Atlantic and Ria Formosa lagoon.

Half a century on, Quinta signifies one of the three corners of Algarve’s ‘Golden Triangle’, along with the resort-town of Vilamoura and the village of Almancil. A playground for the rich and famous, the area is regularly visited by sports stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Rory McIlroy, and celebrities such as Niall Horan and Madonna.

Nestled in the heart of the Quinta development is Four Seasons Fairways. Combining the space and privacy of a self-catering apartment complex with the luxury of a five-star hotel resort, FSF prides itself on “home from home” hospitality. Over the past two years, it has undergone an extensive refurb, the results are spectacular - sunset colour schemes and cool minimalist styling complement traditional Portuguese architecture.

We checked into a family apartment comprising two large bedrooms, three bathrooms and an open-plan kitchen. On arrival, groceries we’d ordered from the mini-mart before we left England were in the fridge. Out on the terracotta-tiled terrace, we had a gas-fired barbecue. One lunchtime we ordered sausages and burgers from the restaurant to pop onto the grill.

Our large hot tub was ideal for a dip, and there’s a full roster of English, Irish and sports channels on TV sets inside.

The newly renovated clubhouse has indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, a sauna, steam room, gym and Kids Club. Meanwhile, the snooker room is a great place for kids like Isla and Evelyn to hang out.

You’re probably thinking all this sounds expensive, but with a family stay at FSF less than an equivalent break at a UK holiday park, it’s a snip. The resort is also great for health and wellbeing. Last year Amy Williams took over from Helen Glover as the resort’s Active Living Ambassador, and guests can join up with the Olympic skeleton gold-medallist during selected weeks for classes and workouts.

Breakfast is served in the Fairways’ Vivo restaurant, which also provides snacks, lunches and cocktails by the pool. Its dinner menu is more extensive, with wood-fired home-made pizzas, sea bass and fillet steak their specialities. There’s live music most evenings. We had a delightful Christmas lunch at à la carte restaurant, Amara. Gazing out over the golf course through floor-to-ceiling windows, we enjoyed a buffet of salad, soup, roast turkey and desserts, washed down with bubbly.

Beyond the FSF grounds, there’s plenty to do. Public transport isn’t really an option in Quinta but most places are within walking or biking distance. Just up Avenida André Jordan is Quinta Shopping, a boutique mall with fashion stores and eateries, including gastro/Irish bar Cheeky Pup. Back down Avenida Ayrton Senna, past some of Quinta’s most spectacular villas, is The Campus sports facility, with on-site sports bar Dano’s.

Our morning stroll took us over the spectacular bridge and boardwalk spanning the Rio Formosa marshlands. After the girls splashed in the ocean, we made our way back through the Passadico do Ancao hiking area. For those with a car, Vilamoura and Almancil are great days out, as is ‘Pearl of the Algarve’, Faro.

You can’t really visit southern Portugal without a bit of golf. After hitting a few balls on the range at the Paul McGinley Academy, I played a round on Quinta South, included in ‘Europe’s top courses’ lists. Its breathtaking signature hole, the 15th, is one of the most photographed of the Algarve, and requires players to hit a challenging 200m tee shot over a lake onto a green shaded by pine and palm trees. Residents at FSF have reduced green fees at local courses. During our stay, the Four Seasons Fairways Masters was taking place, we were invited to the gala dinner following the tournament.

Our family trip to Portugal provided unforgettable festive memories. On our last day the temperature was in the 20s, I looked out from the terrace to manicured lawns beneath the umbrella pines, the peace only broken by a cheeping sparrow. As I took a sip of my Portugal’s most famous seasonal tipple, port, it felt like all my Christmases had come at once.

* Richard Jones and family were guests at Four Seasons Fairways in Quinta do Lago, southern Portugal (fourseasonsfairways.com). It offers seven nights in a three-bed villa (sleeps six) with a private pool, self-catering, from £1,086, based on travel in November 2022 not including transfers or flights. Go to jet2.com for flights to Faro, starting in November from £112 per person return.