Vila Nova de Milfontes-Vila Nova de Milfontes

The Milfontes walk starts actually between the town and the fish harbour NW of the town. V.N. (Vila Nova) de Milfontes is lying about 20 km below the town of Sines. Nearby villages are Porto Covo (north of Milfontes) and Cercal more inland. Milfontes itself has a great position regarding to the estuary of the Mira river. The village dated from the year 1468, founded by the king D.Joao II. The first settlers were prisoned people for minor delicts. In the ancient times it has been attacked several times by pirates. For that reason a fortress was build in 1602. The fortress is called Saint Clement's Castle.

You start your walking tour outside of Milfontes. If you enter the city follow the sign " Praia's". At the end of signed street you turn left and straight on. You enter more or less the lower parts of Milfontes and follow the sign to the fish harbour ( turn right). The road brings you to the outskirts of Milfontes and follow the paved road. You can park your car halfway to the fish harbour. On your right you see sandy roads crossing the landscape. Pick up one of those tracks ( it is possible to do it by car) and head for the coastline. At this point you have to follow the pathes at the top of the cliffs. After an hour walk you enter the beaches of " Praia de Malhao" . There are some obsticles on the beach to walk all the way through but not impossible to cross a few small cliffs. At a certain point on the beach you notice Porto Covo and "Ilha de Pessegueiro". Here you have to decide to walk to the top of the cliffs. From this point you can follow the sandy path inlands and just before you enter the forest you have to go to your right, heading for Milfontes. Because the landscape is rather flat you can keep an eye on the ocean to follow the right track back to your car. The area is lovely, easy to walk, sandy dunes, predatory birds, rabbits and a lot of small birds, populating the bushes underway. The duration of the walk is more or less 4 hours, of course depending on the speed you walking. After your walk there are enough opportunities to visit the town and have a coffee or late lunch breake. Enjoy it!!

Miranda do Douro, Atras os Montes, NE Portugal

Terra de Miranda (Tierra de Miranda in Mirandese) the historical name of a 500km2 mesa in the northeastern part of Portugal, lying on the border of Spain. It used to be an administrative division and although it does not correspond to a madern day regions's borders, there are some cultural chareacteristics particular to Terra de Miranda that kepp the name in use to the present day. It has been a border region between different administrative areas of the Roman Empire the kingdoms of the Visigoths and the Suevi, the Arabs and the Christians. Although the etymology of the word Miranda is stil debated, it is beleived to mean "border". Among the best know cultural features particular to this area there is the Mirandese language, the Pauliteiros, the pagan rituals practiced from Christmas to Easter, namely the farandulo and the bagpipe music. And, don't forget the castle in the village, with an impressive old cathedral and lovely small streets.

Now the walk (click on "photo" above for the map). The walk is from Miranda do Douro, Vale de Aguia, Aldeia Nova and back again. The route is approx. 10 miles incl return. In Aldeia Nova you can take the bus back to Miranda.

You leave the city in NE direction in a way that you can see the Douro on your right hand. There is a path, sometimes marked, which you can follow all along the Doura until Vale de Aguia. This is also one the most beautiful parts of the walk. Passing small houses, villages where the age of the people are far over 60's, and even a little church, restored in the beginning of 2000. As bird life is concerned, you can watch, if you have a lucky day, the big owl and the Golden Eagle cruising over the mountains tops. In the beginning there is an open field where you have the scenic views, later on there are bushes and especially in springtime flowers. The whole route has a different landscape of course created and structured by the Douro in the past centuries.

Take for your walk water and something te eat because there are hardly any shops, so be prepared!

Enjoy the special character of this landscape with the top of view, the Golden Eagle.

The islands of Madeira

Dear Friends, walking on Madeira is a spectacular experience. You have the oppertunity to walk a " thousand miles" track on the levada's around the island and in the mountains. Funchal is the best starting point for walks for the east side. Ribereira da Brava, app. 10 miles from Funchal a very good starting point for the west side of the island. We have been here to celebrate the "Reveillion 2009/2010" with fireworks not seen before in the world.

A short explanation of the "levada" walks. At the beginning of the century there were about 200 levada's with a total lenght of 800 miles. In 1970 the Portuguese governement started to reniew and made an inventory of all the canals. The function of the levada's is to distribute the water to the small canals from 1000 meters. From their to a level of 600 meters and irrigate the land. The banana plantations on Madeira is one of the major activities besides wine and vegetables.

Some instructions for walking:

• Don't go on your own, always in a group. Leave your mobile phone and route behind in hotel or with friends


• Take warm clothes with you and take for rain coverage


• Good walking boots, compass and something to eat. Weather can change very quickly.


• Because of the walking distancies in rural aerias, don't under estimate the length of your walking trips. Take enough time to end at a village before dark.

I will describe one levada walking, one is near at Funchal, the capital of Madeira The "Levada dos Piornais", connected to the "Levada do Curral".

Talke a bus to "Rua dos Estados Unidos, which ends at the football stadium. Walk along the road uphill and after approx. 500 meters on your left side there is a small stair which is the starting point of the levada dos Piornais. The Levada is dated around 16th century. On your left hand side down you see the development areas of hotels but you are walking high enough on the mountain to enjoy the local houses and plantations. After 20 minutes you get a much nicer view and you see in the sea the Cabo Girao. After 30 minutes you reach Amparo. Here seems the levada to stop, but after a littel cafe you cross the street and follow the canal again. After you reach Quebras you have to cross a road, keep right until you find a school on your left hand. 30 meters after the school on your right hand you can follow the track. You walk along a small valley where in the distance you can see a bridge over the valley which is called " Scorridos". Suddenly the levada is going north with breath taking views of the river " Ribeira dos Socorridos". From here the nuns were fleeing from the monestry of Santa Clara through the sugar cane fields to Curral. After 10 minutes you have to decide what to do. Or going down along the river and climb the stair after approx. 1 kilomter or take the tunnels. The tunnels are narrow, so if you don't trust yourself going along steep cliffs, I recommend the detour along the river and climb the stairs later on. At the end of the levada you have to climb concrete stairs to a house ( do not take the sign " gate 1,5 kim) but hold right to climb the stairs. If your at the house on the top, go right on the road to " Pinheiros das Voltas". From here you can easily take the bus, which has an excellent connection to Funchal again. (This track from the stadium of Funchal to Pinheiros takes you 4 hours, more or less.

If you want to c0ntinue your walk, in Pinheiros there is sign at the cafe on your left hand pointing to the Levada do Curral.

For more information, consult the Tourist Information op de Avenida Arriaga, in the centre of Funchal. It is also possible to take a guide, from 20 to 30 EUR per person you can hire a guide which also includes transport.

Tip: take a day to Porto Santo with the ferry.

Walking (SW) Portugal

Dear walking friends,

Living now in the southwest of Portugal, there are fantastic opportunities to make nature walks along the coast-line from Sagres up to Vila Nova de Milfontes, near the Atlantic Ocean. It is very easy to go from the coastline to the inland of the Algarve and Alentejo. But not only in the SW Algarve there are opportunities, as in the centre of the Portuguese mountains Estrelas and more in the NorthEast of Portugal in the provence of Atras os Montes, for instance Miranda do Douro and above Braganca. What I am trying to do with this Blogspot to show the opportunities of walking in Europe. Mostly based on my own experience walking the routes myself. If you have questions, remarks, good ideas, contact me through my e-mail.
Beside the walking tracks, you can use our beautiful house in Espartal/Aljezur as your B&B "base" and make from here your daily trips! Our B&B prices are up from €50 to €60 per night for a room in the summertime, including breakfast. There is one familyroom and two rooms with 2 single beds. From October to March the prices are lower.
I wish you very nice and interesting trips in Portugal and maybe we meet at Espartal!
Roel