A rambler's ramble

Mapas para Passeios Pedestres em Sintra

2012-02-01T05:56:00.000-08:00

Walks in Portugal oferece uma coleção de mapas e descrições de passeios (disponível para download em formato pdf).

A primeira da série de passeios é em Sintra, Portugal.

www.walksinportugal.com

The Eagles of Cabo da Roca, Sintra, Portugal

2012-02-01T05:26:00.000-08:00

On my walk today on the beautiful headland of Cabo da Roca with Chance, our pet dog, we encountered our usual friends. A pair of Bonelli Eagles soaring high in the blue sky above, calling to each other, a high pitch screeching sound. The upper-parts of these birds of prey are dark brown and the underside is white with dark streaks. A wonderful site to see on this breathtaking coastline of Portugal.

You will be able to see the Bonelli Eagles on some of my walks which are on offer on the walksinportugal http://www.walksinportugal.com/ web site. You will be able to download these in PDF format to print at home. I am offering one of these walks free - Sintra walk 05, a walk from Peninha, a castellated building on top of the hills of Sintra (Serra da Sintra) to Anta de Adrenunes, a dolmen or Megalithic tomb from the early Neolithic period, about 3000 to 4000 years ago.

I never stop to marvel at the flora and fauna here in Sintra and look forward to the next time I meet my friends.

FREE MAP OF A WALK IN SINTRA, PORTUGAL

2012-01-25T08:20:00.000-08:00

A free map of a walk in Sintra, Portugal. Available for you to dowload in PDF format and print at home.
A 4.5 km walk in the Sintra hills (Serra de Sintra), Santuário da Peninha (a castellated stone building on the hill) to the Anta de Adrenunes (a megalithic dolmen, built more than 3,000 years ago).

http://www.walksinportugal.com/

WALKS IN PORTUGAL

2012-01-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

Walks in Portugal offers a collection of maps and descriptions of walks (available to download in pdf format).

The first in the series of walks is in Sintra, Portugal just down the coast from Lisbon.

http://www.walksinportugal.com/

Autumn walks near Marvão

2011-08-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

After a long hot summer we will return to crisp autumn days and a landscape full of rich colours with more agreeable teperatures. It's time to get your walking boots out to discover the delights of this region.

Walk through cork oak forests and olive grooves, along roman roads past ancient dolmens and through historic towns and villages.

Casa do Brasao in the small village of Barretos is perfectly placed for you to find all that this wonderful area has to offer. This stylish self catering cottage near Marvao and Castelo de Vide is the ideal base for your walking holiday, providing walking maps and other useful information to make your stay more enjoyable.

casadobrasao

A wonderful film of Marvão, a fortified town in Portugal.

2011-06-20T02:03:00.000-07:00

A wonderful film of Marvão, see link:

http://vimeo.com/25161863

Wish you were here in Marvão

2011-05-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

Near Marvão, which is on a crest overlooking the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park, is the village of Barretos in the Alto Alentejo region of Portugal. Once you drop your bags in the area, you may never want to leave. A stay at the 'self-catering cottage' Casa do Brasão is an excellent way to go.

http://wishyouwerehere.us/article/Casa-do-Bras227o/

Walking in Alentejo near Marvao

2011-02-18T09:03:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Terry and Pat for taking us on this great walk from Barretos to Beirã.
This walk (5.6 km) takes you through the beautiful Alentejo countryside to the village of Beirã where you can take a break for a snack or coffee and return back to Barretos and Casa do Brasão.
Things to see:
Medieval stone round houses
Beautiful views of Marvão on the craggy hill
Cork oak trees
Fauna and flora of the region
Typical small Alentejo hamlets

Stay at Casa do Brasão, a self catering cottage in the small village of Barretos near Marvão.

WISH YOU WERE HERE?

2010-11-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to "Wish you were here" for featuring Casa do Brasão.

http://wishyouwerehere.us/article/Casa-do-Bras227o/

World's Best Places to Live

2010-09-16T02:54:00.000-07:00

Please rate Azóia as The Word's best place to live in the Telegraph:

http://expatdirectory.telegraph.co.uk/portugal/sintra/azia/

A BOOK WITH SUPERB PHOTOS OF CABO DA ROCA, SINTRA.

2010-04-22T03:46:00.000-07:00

A great book called CABO DA ROCA, IMAGES OF THE WESTERNMOST POINT OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE

This book has amazing photographs of the nature around Cabo da Roca taken by José Romão.

see link:

http://www.milcores.pt/livros/cr_livro_apresent.htm

The legend of "Praia da Ursa" Bears Beach, Cabo da Roca, Sintra.

2010-04-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

Only a few will dare to descend to the westernmost beach in mainland Europe, “Praia da Ursa” (Bears Beach) an apt name due to the naturists in the summer and the difficult access. But those who have visited this beach, near Cabo da Roca, can not forget the outstanding and overwhelming wild beauty that surrounds the small (and sometimes unexisting) sand crescent. Two enormous sea stacks stand in the wild Atlantic Ocean, one of them at a certain angle looks like a bear posing with pride.
There is a legend that, a few thousands of years ago, when the Earth was still covered in ice, a mother bear and her young lived here. When the ice started melting the Gods told all the animals to leave the sea shore but the stubborn bear refused to do so, because she was born there and she would stay.
The angry Gods transformed the bear into rock and her young into smaller rocks dispersed around the mother and there they stood, giving the name to this beach.
A wonderful paradise of natural beauty.
An adventure not to be missed!

See the link for the walk:

http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=747436

A walk to see the flowers of Cabo da Roca.

2010-04-21T05:04:00.000-07:00

This time of year the walks along the cliff tops of Cabo da Roca in Portugal, the westernmost tip of mainland Europe is a canvas of colour brimming with fauna and flora.
One of the many flowers you can see is the Sea-thrift (Armeria Pseudarmeria) The name Armeria is derived from the Latin word for Dianthus to the plant's resemblance to Dianthus. This variety is very common, conspicuous and and can be found in wild coastal areas. The old British threepence coin issued between 1937 and 1952 had a design of the flower on the reverse.
The Pink Ball Thrift and other rare plants of this region are under threat from the invasive Hottentot Fig or Ice Plant (Carpobrotus Edulis)) imported from South Africa, which you will see all over the headland.
So it's time to get those walking boots out of the cupboard for a day of discovery and a breath of Atlantic sea air to see some of these fantastic sights.

See the walk

http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=747436

I would be interested in any other walking stories from Portugal or any other information about walks.
I am thinking of organizing a walk in Sintra and would like to know if anyone is interested?

A local walk near Marvao

2010-02-17T03:29:00.000-08:00

A local walk near Marvao from Casa do Brasão, our holiday home in Barretos and back. An 8 kilometer walk along ancient paths through typical Alentejo countryside past small hamlets and farms with plenty of farm animals and interesting terrain to keep the children amused.
see the link:

http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?&id=747406

The Peregrine Falcons of Cabo da Roca, Sintra.

2010-01-29T05:49:00.000-08:00

The Peregrine Falcons of Cabo da Roca, Sintra.
We now have dog called Chance and on our walks across the headland we often see a beautiful sight in the skies above, the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus brookei).
I never get tired of watching these amazing birds of prey, they can reach speeds of over 320km/h in a stoop, making it the fastest animal on the planet. The Peregrine Falcon is a raptor, or bird of prey. Adults have blue-gray wings, dark brown backs, a buff colored underside with brown spots, and white faces with a black tear stripe on their cheeks. It has long, broad, pointed wingspan and a relatively short tail and they have hooked beaks and strong talons. Their name comes from the Latin word peregrinus, which means "to wander." They are commonly referred to as the Duck Hawk. We see at least one nearly every day and I love to watch them hover in the sky and suddenly they will stoop reaching amazing speeds to catch their prey.
Sometimes we see one close up perched on a telegraph pole at the side of the road.
They were on the endangered species in many areas in the 70's and now thankfully the populations have recovered.
One of the many species of wildlife you can see on the walks in Sintra.

Geo-trekking in Marvão

2010-01-13T06:25:00.001-08:00

Incentivos Outdoor with the Council of Marvão are organizing themed walks in the Marvão area for February.
These themed walks are: cultural, heritage, flora & fauna, birdwatching, night and others.
The price of the guided walks are 12.50 euros including coffee.
see: http://geo-trekking.blogspot.com
or telephone: 966504149

A Incentivos Outdoor, empresa de animação turistica a operar em Marvão, vai organizar no proximo mês de Fevereiro em parceria com a Camara Municipal de Marvão, um programa de Passeios Pedestres no territorio de Marvão.Estes passeios são realizados diariamente com diversas tematicas, culturais, patrimonio, observação de fauna e flora, observação de aves, passeios noctirnos, entre outras.
O preço por passeio é de 12,50 euros estando incluido welcome coffe, acompanhamento de monitores e seguros.O calendario de passeios pode ser consultado no nosso site http://geo-trekking.blogspot.com sendo as inscrições e informações através do email visitmarvao@gmail.com ou pelo telefone 966504149
Esperamos por si em Marvão

Walking in Portugal (Marvão, Alentejo)

2009-10-13T05:55:00.000-07:00

Walks
The region of Marvão and the Serra da São Mamede, a protected nature reserve, is a wonderful place for walking. A mountain range with the highest point of 1025 meters, is a treasure of rich and diversified flora and fauna. A microclimate with thick vegetation, megalithic stones, ancient roman roads and pathways, full of wildlife including rare birds of prey such as the vulture, kite or Bonelli eagle. And with a some luck you might see wild boar or deer.
In this nature park there are 5 walks listed below:

Walking Tours of the Natural Park of Serra de S. Mamede

- Esperança Route - 18 kms. Point of departure and arrival: Esperança. (Arronches)
- Marvão Route - 8 kms. Point of departure and arrival: Portagem. (Marvão)
- Galegos Route - 17 kms. Point of departure and arrival: Galegos. (Marvão)
- Carreiras Route - 10 kms. Point of departure and arrival: Carreiras. (Portalegre/Castelo de Vide)
- Reguengo Route - 10 kms. Point of departure and arrival: Reguengo. (Portalegre)

You can ask for maps in the Marvão tourist office or you can download some of these walks by sending your E-mail to us.

Stay at 'Casa do Brasão', The Coat of Arms Cottage, originally built in 1856, a fully restored and stylishly decorated cottage situated near Marvão and in the natural park of 'Serra de São Mamede', an area of outstanding natural beauty.

http://www.casabrasao.com/

See the guest book:
http://www.casabrasao.com/guest-book.php

The walk link:

http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?&id=747362

Castelo de Vide, well worth a visit.

2009-05-07T05:45:00.000-07:00

A small medieval hill town in the North Alentejo region of Portugal, a delightful place for a holiday with its 14th century castle, Gothic doorways, small white houses and cobbled streets. A place where you can step back in time from the era of the Romans and Visigoths to the Moors and Christian crusaders.
Don't forget to visit the 13th century synagogue and covered fountain in the famous Jewish quarter.
One of our favourite places in Portugal
The surrounding countryside with the mountain range of the "Serra de São Mamede" with its abundance of flora and fauna is a great excuse to get out the walking boots.
A self-catering cottage near Marvão and Castelo de Vide
http://www.casabrasao.com/

A great family walk around Barretos, Marvaõ.

2009-04-27T02:15:00.000-07:00

A short 2.7 km family walk in beautiful Alto Alentejo countryside along ancient pathways with olive groves and cork oak trees.
Starting at the typical Alentejo village of Barretos, along cobbled roads which merge into ancient pathways only wide enough for donkeys and carts. As you look up you will see the dramatic, impossing town and castle of Marvão on the mountain rage of the "Serra de São Mamede". Continue and you will pass through the little sleepy hamlets of Vale do Milho and Fonte Salgueiro de Cima and finally returning to the village of Barretos.
This is a short walk recommended for families where there is an abundance of flora and fauna, from farm animals, including sheep and pigs to the wonderful Alentejo countryside of wild flowers and trees. Plenty to keep the kids occupied.

WALKING IN MARVÃO

2009-02-24T09:02:00.000-08:00

A great walk in Marvão, Alto Alentejo, Portugal with fantastic panoramic views, wonderful countryside and interesting historical sites.
This walk is 7.38 km and is easy to moderate. The map/guide we bought earlier from the tourist office in Marvão, and the start is from Portagem near the public swimming pool.
The four of us, two adults and two children aged 12 and 14, set off from the 16 century bridge and tower in Portagem. The guide informs you to follow the trail by posts with green markers and we realised after a few kilometres there are none. Instead follow the normal markers of a red and yellow rectangles.
This walk took us about two and a half hours with regular stops to see the sights such as:
The 16 century bridge and tower next to the river Sever.
The mediaeval cobbled road, possibly of Roman origin.
Views of the imposing town and castle of Marvão, the mountain range of Serra de São Mamede and the granite plains of the Alentejo countryside.
The Convent and Church of the Lady of the Star (Igreja do Convento de Nossa Senhora da Estrela).
Typical small Alentejo hamlets.
The 16 century derelict chapel and mediaeval tombs cut into the rock at Fonte Souto.
Oak, Walnut, Olive,Chestnut and Horse-Chestnut trees.
Plenty of farm animals and the wonderful fauna and flora of this region.
At the end of the walk why not have lunch at O Sever restaurant at Portagem for a hearty typical Alentejo lunch washed down with a bottle of Conventual Red wine.
This is a perfect day out in this great region of Portugal.
For more information on this region see:
http://marvaoholidayhome.blogspot.com/
For a place to stay see:
http://www.casabrasao.com/

A walk taken from the Sintra Guide book - Azoia to Peninha

2008-02-17T08:09:00.001-08:00

Last week I decided to retake a favourite walk of mine, which is featured inside the Sintra Guide Book - Lookgofind Discover Sintra.

It was a very bright sunny morning, perfect weather for my walk. Starting on the main 247 road to Sintra at the junction to Azoia I headed in the direction of Sintra and took a right turn signposted Convento da Peninha. The distance of this walk is about 7.3 kilometers and takes in some of the beauty of the Sintra hills with fantastic views of the coastline. As I continued my walk through a of canopy pine trees I saw one of the biggest spider webs ever, with droplets of water sparkling in the sunlight. Most of the begining of this walk is along forest tracks, as I reached some small stones and a small pool I went off the track to climb up through trees and reach the main surfaced road to Peninha. I crossed this road to continue though the forest. I passed the huge impossing boulders which are everywhere on these hills to reach the road and continued to Peninha. What marvelous views from this place, I could see all the way to Lisbon and the 25th of April bridge. As I looked up I saw two Peregrine falcons circling, no doubt looking for their breakfast, which reminded me to stop for a snack. The Convento Peninha is a castellated fort-like building on top of the mountain as you look up from Cabo da Roca. This historical site stands on the ruins of a medieval chapel - Ermida de São Saturnino and the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Pena. There is a great legend about this place:
It is told that, during the reign of king João III, in the land of Almoinhos Velhos, there was a mute sherperdess who used to take her flock to the top of the mountain. One day, one of her sheep ran away leaving the sherpdess desperate to find it. After much searching she saw a lady bringing her lost sheep. The sherperdess thanked her in her own way. The lady took the opportunity to ask the girl for some bread. The sherperdess gestured that it had been a bad year and she was always hungry. The lady gave her the following advice: when you arrive home, call your mother and look for bread. The girl tried to explain that this was impossible since she was sure that there was no bread in the house and was unable to call her mother as she was mute. however the lady was so insistant that the girl decided to do as she said.
Upon her arrival she called for her mother and her voice resounded througout the house. She recounted the story to her mother and hurried to find the bread. And to their surprise they found inside a trunk enough bread to feed the entire village.
The very next day the whole village went up the mountain, to the very spot where the sherperdess met the lady to give thanks. They found a cave with the image of Our lady.
The place became sacred and a chapel known as the Chapel of Our lady of Peninha was built there.

Now there is a pilgrimage every year up to Peninha made by the locals with a young woman traveling by donkey.

After my snack I head down the hill in the direction of the Atlantic, cross the main road along a gravel track to a place we call The Great Valley, to our kids. I admire the view along the fertile valley where you can see the small hotel Convento de São Saturnino, a beautiful restored and converted 12th century monastery.
At last I reached the end, and decide that I deserved a well earned drink in the Bar of Moinho Dom Quixote, a restored windmill. I order a bottle of red and called my wife to join me.
You can find this walk along with 8 others in my Sintra guide book - Lookgofind Discover Sintra.
www.lookgofind.com

A family walk

2007-05-15T13:20:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning we woke up to a sunny day. It was time for a family walk from Malveira da Serra to Biscaia.
My wife, my children, who are tewlve and ten and I took two cars, left one at the finish, near the county border between Sintra and Cascais on the N 247 main road near a farm. Then we drove down to Malveira da Serra and left the other car near the church.
We walked in the direction of Sintra along the main road and turned left signed with the official markings PR3 to Biscaia.
The walk took us through the small village of Almoinhas Velhas where a large dog nearly jumped over a gate giving all of us a huge fright. Every home we passed seem to have a barking dog.
We followed the official yellow and red rectangle markings, eventually meeting a single track to go through trees and an array of wild flowers including foxgloves and hottentot figs.
The walk took us through the natural park along the coastline with great views of the Atlantic Ocean , Guincho beach and the fort.
We saw plenty of lizards, flying ducks and fortunately a very flat dead snake on the track. We also passed an old small quarry with very large granite stones, we though they must have used a cart and horses to transport them back up the hill.
We finished the walk in approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes taking our time.
There was enough time left in the morning for a second breakfast down in Colares.
Suggestion: If you do not have the advantage of having two cars you can leave your car in Malveira da Serra, follow the walk all the way to the village of Azoia. (You can walk further along the coast to various beaches - coastal walk GR11, or see the guidebook Lookgofind discover Sintra for more walks).
You can either carry on walking to Cabo da Roca or take lunch at the Bar Moinho Dom Quixote, a restored and extended windmill with a tropical style interior and beautiful landscaped gardens, Sit back, relax, try the Caipirinha and enjoy the view.
Then take the bus (403) back down to Malveira da Serra and your car.

The best lamb chops

2007-03-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

I am sorry to say I haven't made the walk to Pedra Amarela yet. I had a hernia operation a little while ago and still have some pain when I run. The doctor told me to take it easy, so I am hoping the next post will be about this walk as I am really looking forward to it and discovering all about the eggy boulder legend.
Last week my family and I visited one of our favourite restaurants, Mariazinha Casa de Pasto in Almoçageme, Sintra. Situated in the centre of the village, close to the typical charming main square. It is a small restaurant frequented by the locals and the interior is decorated with some interesting poems and sketches by the clientele.
The restaurant offers typical Portuguese home cooking accompanied by jugs of wine. Excellent value for money and a very friendly service.
We had the local cheese and bread for starters followed by lamb chops, chips and green beans and plenty of red wine, which never seems gives me a hang over - yet! Always ask what is available and how you want it cooked, they are happy to oblige.
You can't beat it for the price.

A rambler’s ramble!

2007-02-26T13:17:00.000-08:00

Walking in the hills of Sintra, Portugal

Welcome to my walking blog.
My name is Dewi Jones and this is a blog about my walks in Sintra, one of the most beautiful, historic and natural places in Portugal.
I live in Azóia near Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point of mainland Europe - “where the land ends and the sea begins”. I can see the farol lighthouse through my window and soon this spring the cliff tops will be covered with a carpet of colour - the hottentot fig (Carpobrotus chilensis), also known as the highway ice plant. It is a sight worth seeing.
I have already completed several walks, some alone and some with my family, my wife Clare and my children Joshua and India.
My intention is to share these walks with you and hope that this could be of some interest to any of you out there? I will supply some of these walks for you with a detailed map and instructions free. Just send me your Email and I will Email the map back.
The first two walks I will supply will be walk 4. Adraga beach to Praia Grande beach and back, and walk 5. Colares to Azemhas do Mar and back to Colares.
The walk to from Praia da Adraga to Praia Grande and back (walk 4) is about 3.5 km in distance, about a 50 minute walk. I have done this walk several times with my family (a good short walk for kids but be careful on the cliff tops) and there are great views from of the Atlantic Ocean. When you reach the steps that go down to Praia Grande beach look on the side of the cliff and you will notice dinosaur footprints imprinted into the cliff face, made about 120 million years ago by Sauropods dinosaurs.
The walk from colares to Azenha do Mar and back (walk5) is 11.7 km and will take about 2 hours and 50 minutes. You will walk through the pine forest, see some of the oldest grape vines in Europe, visit Azenha do Mar (watermills by the sea) cross over Praia da Maças
(apple beach), up the cliffs towards Praia Grande (big beach) and through the pine trees and apple orchards and back to Colares.

My next blog will be about my walk from the Barragem do Rio da Mula to Pedra Amarela and the legend of the Eggy Boulder!