writing and hiking in the sun
Portugal is a great place for walkers, particularly during the winter when it is generally mild and sunny. Spring and autumn are also good for hiking.
There are plenty of way-marked walks, ranging from long-distance trails like the Via Algarviana and the Rota Vicentina in the Algarve and the Portuguese Way from Lisbon or Porto.
Northern Portugal is more mountainous and is home to the Peneda-Gerês National Park, while the Silver Coast and Algarve provide hikers with some spectacular coastal scenery.
Inland, there are cork forests, eucalyptus groves, white-washed villages, lakes and rivers.
Walking into Óbidos was a rather lonely affair. We had planned to catch a train, but having tired of Caldas da Rainha rather sooner than planned and facing a two-hour wait at the railway station, it seemed easier just to head off … Continued
What a difference a day makes! This morning the mist had lifted and the views from our hotel terrace and breakfast room were fabulous. The lagoa de Óbidos had always been there on my wish list, a must-see place on … Continued
We were in no hurry to leave Sitio this morning so after an unexpected offer of breakfast from Fatima (she was providing a buffet-style breakfast for two French/Portuguese couples and asked if we’d like to join them in return for a … Continued
Praia da Vieira was already bustling with visitors when we booked out of the delightful Hotel Cristal Vieira Praia & Spa at around 10am. Really, it’s a good job we’re hiking every day because I eat far too much at these amazing buffet-style breakfasts. … Continued
