Look at Salema or Burgau, both west of Lagos; I think they might provide what you're looking for.

We stayed in a lovley little resort in may last year called Praia Da Vau.Lovley beach and nice resturants,in between Alvor and Praia Da Rocha.

I would also like to recommend Praia do Vau ,quiet but within easy reach of busier places if you want .There are 2 places almost on the beach one is the Coral do Vau which you can book through Style holidays or independently or Jardim do Vau which you can book through Algarve Select or again independently.And the beach is wonderful

Hi Batch4
We have just arrived back from a holiday in the tiny fishing village of Ferragudo, just across the water from Portimao. You can't get much more typically Portugese than this, very quiet, only 1 hotel that is outside of the village anyway. We booked a four bedroom villa at the Vila Castelo development which overlooks the fishermans beach and only a five minute walk up slope to Praia Grande beach. Would recommend looking the the vila castelo site or at holiday-rentals for apartments at Clube Rio, which front the beach. You do not need a car, small grocery shop nearby and walk to at least 14 different restaurants in the village. You can walk from fishermans beach around the headland (when the tide allows at certain times of the day) to the Praia Grande beach and because there is a breakwater there are no huge waves crashing onto the shore. During school times you see lots of young schoolchildren having lessons on the beach because the water is shallow. Walk to the far end of the beach and you may be the only ones there. It was a great place and no brash english louts or bars anywhere.
I see someone has recommended Jardim do Vau, my parents have been going there for almost 23 years and speak very highly of it.
Hope you have a good time.

I've just come back from Salema and it's a lovely resort. Very small and quiet. Fishing boats bring their catches in of a morning on the beach, the little bread van arrives around 8am where you can buy fresh bread.

There's about 7 restaurants, 2 bars and another bar in the one hotel. 2 small supermarkets.

The beach is lovely and as long as you ensure you get accommodation near the beach everything is no more than 4 mins walk away.

Hi Glynis,

Where did you stay? I've toyed with the idea of both Salema and Burgau a couple of times - we visited by bus some years ago when staying in Alvor but prefer SC rather than a hotel and haven't had much luck finding somewhere suitable at a reasonable price.

SM