Portugal

Description

Portugal - by Henk

It wasn't until the late nineteen-nineties that Portugal started the construction and marking of hiking paths. Long distance hiking trails are still rare. The major Grande Rota (GR's) are in part no more than a promiss. Of European long distance hiking trail E7 (GR12), 80 km on the border with Spain are ready. The GR11, Camino de Santiago, by now runs from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela. Most fully completed is the 540 km long GR22, Trail of the Old Towns. Problematic in Portugal are the often outdated maps and sometimes poor condition of paths and markings.

As a good alternative you can hike a range of shorter trails, which you will come across in all national parks and protected landscape areas. These walks last from several hours to a full day, and are marked in red and yellow. Names of these trails start with PR, Pequena Rota (= minor routes), signposts mark the trailheads, although some trails are circular. Try to buy maps and guides through the internet or in you own country in advance, because locally these are hard to come by.

Walking the shorter trails is an excellent way to explore Portugese nature. The first national park that deserves to be mentioned is Peneda-Gerês, a mountain area abounding in water, in the north of Portugal forming the border with Spain. Another good area for hiking is the Serra de Estrela, where you will find mainland Portugal's highest mountain Malhão de Estrela (1993m). Most hikers will be looking for walks in the Algarve, and on the vulcanic islands of Madeira, the Azores (with Mount Pico as the highest at 2351m) and Berlengas. These popular islands harbour bizarre plant and animal life, and offer numerous short marked trails.

Trails

Regions

Books

Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Everybody Loves Porto
  • Porto has the look of a city that’s had its ups and downs, but its beauty shines through in tile-covered buildings, unaltered shop fronts from decades past and the winding streets that tumble down to the sparkling Duoro river.But more than just elegant decay, it’s also a city in the ascendant, home to new, young businesses providing a fresh... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2021
  • DK Eyewitness Portugal
  • Welcome to Portugal, a sunseekers` paradise.Whether you`re looking for world-renowned beaches, serene hilltop villages, verdant islands, or captivating cities, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that Portugal has to offer.Small but immensely varied, Portugal offers countless opportunities for adventure. From the... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2015
  • Northern Portugal Sunflower Landscape Guide
  • Northern Portugal is the Sunflower Landscapes guide to exploring the best walking and touring possibilities in the region. The guide covers a range of routes including walks in the Serra de Arga region, Sao Miguel, Brufe, Boucas Donas and the Vilar-Avelar circuit. A fold-out touring map at the back of the book shows an overview of northern... Read more
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
2017
  • Also available from:
  • De Zwerver, Netherlands
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2017
  • Reisgids Wild Guide Portugal | Wild Things Publishing
  • Inspirerende gids voor mooie plekken en het goede leven in Portugal. Imagine a summer spent plunging into clear turquoise rivers, playing on hidden beaches, walking in wild flower-strewn cork forests, and tasting wine from boutique vineyards accompanied by the freshest seafood. In this explorer’s compendium you will discover the hidden... Read more
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Stanfords
United Kingdom
2018
  • Also available from:
  • The Book Depository, United Kingdom
  • Bol.com, Netherlands
  • Bol.com, Belgium
  • De Zwerver, Netherlands
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The Book Depository
United Kingdom
2018
Bol.com
Netherlands
2018
  • Walking in Portugal
  • Portugal is something of an undiscovered gem for hikers, offering beautiful, diverse landscapes and vast amounts of space. Thanks to its variety of micro-climates, it is possible to find pleasant walking conditions in all seasons, and the multitude of trails boast fantastic scenery and are rich in natural, historical and cultural interest. This... Read more
Bol.com
Belgium
2018
  • Walking in Portugal
  • Portugal is something of an undiscovered gem for hikers, offering beautiful, diverse landscapes and vast amounts of space. Thanks to its variety of micro-climates, it is possible to find pleasant walking conditions in all seasons, and the multitude of trails boast fantastic scenery and are rich in natural, historical and cultural interest. This... Read more
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2018
  • Wandelgids Walking in Portugal | Cicerone
  • Guidebook describing over 40 walks throughout Portugal. The mainly circular half-day and day routes cover most National and Nature Parks in Portugal including the country's highest peak in Serra da Estrela, as well as visiting traditional stone-built villages and sites of historical interest. Includes background information. Read more
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Bol.com
Netherlands
2014
  • Walking In The Algarve
  • For many years the Algarve has not been considered as a 'real' walking destination. That opinion is rapidly changing. An increasing number of people are beginning to realise that there is far more to this area than first meets the eye - besides a spectacular and dramatic coastline, there is a huge interior that sees very few visitors. Here the... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
2014
  • Walking In The Algarve
  • For many years the Algarve has not been considered as a 'real' walking destination. That opinion is rapidly changing. An increasing number of people are beginning to realise that there is far more to this area than first meets the eye - besides a spectacular and dramatic coastline, there is a huge interior that sees very few visitors. Here the... Read more
» Click to close
Bol.com
Netherlands
2018
  • Camino Portugues Maps - Sixth Edition
  • Spiritual seekers and travelers will find all the resources they need to walk the Way of St. James in this complete set of maps and town plans covering the sacred route from Lisbon, via Porto, to Santiago de Compostella, including the alternate coastal route. For the first time, the 2018 edition also includes a Spiritual Variant and a Littoral... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
2018
  • Camino Portugues Maps - Sixth Edition
  • Spiritual seekers and travelers will find all the resources they need to walk the Way of St. James in this complete set of maps and town plans covering the sacred route from Lisbon, via Porto, to Santiago de Compostella, including the alternate coastal route. For the first time, the 2018 edition also includes a Spiritual Variant and a Littoral... Read more
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Stanfords
United Kingdom
2018
  • Secret Lisbon
  • Let `Secret Lisbon` guide you around the unusual and unfamiliar. Step off the beaten track with this fascinating Lisbon guide book and let our local experts show you the well-hidden treasures of this amazing city. Ideal for local inhabitants and curious travellers alike.Now in it`s third edition, `Secret Lisbon` features 160 secret and unusual... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • De Zwerver, Netherlands
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2018
  • Reisgids Secret Lisbon | Jonglez Publishing
  • Let Secret Lisbon guide you around the unusual and unfamiliar. Step off the beaten track with this fascinating Lisbon guide book and let our local experts show you the well-hidden treasures of this amazing city. Ideal for local inhabitants and curious travellers alike.The places included in our guides are unusual and unfamiliar, allowing one to... Read more
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More books…

Maps

Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Cap de Creus Park Natural Editorial Alpina
  • Cap de Creus Natural Park on the Costa Brava at 1:25,000 on a contoured and GPS compatible map from Editorial Alpina, plus a booklet which includes English language descriptions several recommended hiking trails, accommodation details, etc.Topography is presented by contours at10m intervals with relief shading and plenty of spot heights, plus... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Portugal IGN POR01
  • Topographic survey of France at 1:25,000 in IGN`s excellent TOP25 / Série Bleue series. All the maps are GPS compatible, with a 1km UTM grid plus latitude and longitude lines at 5’ intervals. Contours are at 5m intervals except for mountainous areas where the maps have contours at 10m intervals, vividly enhanced by hill shading and graphics for... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Gois
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Stanfords, United Kingdom
» Click to open
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Gois
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
» Click to close
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Odemira
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:100,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 50m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Stanfords, United Kingdom
» Click to open
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Odemira
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
» Click to close
Stanfords
United Kingdom
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Vinhais
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Moncao
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Castelo de Vide
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Stanfords, United Kingdom
» Click to open
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Castelo de Vide
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
» Click to close
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Caminha IGEOE Topo 1-3
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Leiria
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Ferreira do Zezere
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Portel
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Stanfords, United Kingdom
» Click to open
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Portel
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército, the country’s military survey organisation. The maps have contours at 20m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of terrain or vegetation (sand, terraces, rocks, woodlands,... Read more
» Click to close
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • S. Bras de Alportel
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Montalegre
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Sintra
  • Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50,000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals and in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an... Read more
More maps…

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