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.
Four days ago, we’d glimpsed the twin peaks of Fóia (902 metres) and Picota (774 metres) in the Serra de Monchique for the first time. Later this afternoon – towards the end of a very long day’s hiking – we … Continued
We hadn’t paid much attention to the football last night, but we guessed the result had pleased local people because the partying had gone on long after our heads hit the pillow. Whether it was the noise, too much wine … Continued
Now we were entering more populated areas, it seemed unlikely we’d have any problem finding a room for the night. We were pretty sure the German couple on the Alcoutim bus were hiking the trail – Antonio had described … Continued
If we’d been impressed with Casa da Mãe yesterday, we were even more appreciative of its charms on this glorious morning when the air was filled with birdsong and the scent of eucalyptus. Breakfast was a lavish affair with warm croissants … Continued
