North
Portugals four corners III:The northeast
Only a
few days after leaving the sweltering Alentejo and a little stop over
in Lisbon later, we find ourself in Guarda, in the northeast of the
country. Nothing reminds of the hot times just a few days ago. The
difference in culture and landscape is undeniable. Clear sky but a
freezy wind give some winter impressions already. Well aware of the
uncertain weather in the north this is still a little shock!
Nevertheless after a hot coffee in a sheltered corner we are ready
and happy to hit the road again.
Geres - Portugals bike pearl in the high north
The true mountainbike pearl we find up
in the north of Portugal: the rocky peaks of the spanish-portuguese
National Park Geres.
Manteigas - Serra da EstrelaMountainbike Center
It's always raining when I visit
Portugals highest mountains at Serra da Estrela. So I'm little
surprised this morning, when I hear the first raindrops after the hot
portuguese summer. OK, nevertheless time to ride mountains! 8:30 am,
I catch the train from Lisbon to Covilha at the foot of Serra da
Estrela. Weather cleared up a bit, but anyway the next days will be
dominated by a mix out of sun and rain. It's only beginning of
September, but in higher locations autumn already arrived with freeze
winds. So I decided to keep it literally low this time and discover
the self-called “mountainbike center” of Manteigas, east of the
peak.
Serra da Estrela - Portugal HighEnd
Mountain biking in Portugal is about
Serra
de Sintra next to Lisbon or Monquique at the Algarve. But how to
talk about mountain biking and not mention Serra da Estrela, what
houses the highest peak of the country. Overdue to discover! I
already tried twice to conquer the summit of Portugal. Both times
stopped by heavy rain and freezing temperatures. Not this time:
Cloudy and sunny, 25°. Best bike weather is calling!
Lisbon and the center
Sintra Ericeira: Gran Lisboa a full!
I love this tour. It combines the
amazing coastline with
steep cliffs and lonesome beaches with the forrests, rivers and
untouched nature of the interior.
steep cliffs and lonesome beaches with the forrests, rivers and
untouched nature of the interior.
Discovery of Ribatejo
It´s the second time that I go for
central Portugals interior. After Alentejo
(Lisbon - Evora - Beja - Algave) last year, now I want to to go a
bit more north to Ribatejo and Serra de Aire. My feeling is the same:
Not a lot to see, but a lot to miss!
Serra de Sintra - Lissabons MTBSchatzkiste
Nationalpark Sintra Cascais. Wer nach
Lissabon
kommt, der kommt meist auch nach Sintra. Das Märchenschloss, die Maurenfestung, die Wunschgärten sind versunkene Zeitzeugen der Weltgeschichte. Bei Kulturliebhabern ist Sintra weit über Portugals Grenzen hinaus bekannt, bei Bikern eher weniger. Zu unrecht wie ich finde. Denn auf ein paar Quadratkilometern findet das Biker-Herz (fast) alles was es begehrt.
kommt, der kommt meist auch nach Sintra. Das Märchenschloss, die Maurenfestung, die Wunschgärten sind versunkene Zeitzeugen der Weltgeschichte. Bei Kulturliebhabern ist Sintra weit über Portugals Grenzen hinaus bekannt, bei Bikern eher weniger. Zu unrecht wie ich finde. Denn auf ein paar Quadratkilometern findet das Biker-Herz (fast) alles was es begehrt.
Sintra Cascais on the hard way
National Park Sintra Cascais offers a
mix out of mountain and coast with impressive views from Lisbon to
Ericeira. Riding from Sintra to Cascais is maybe the best option to
discover this region not only because it´s more downhill than
uphill.
There are uncountable ways to do it. The
one I picked this time is a quite tough one. Steep uphills makes the
pain hard but short. A well as downhills can do it!
Westcoast Trails
For surfers this coast is well known, but bikers should not miss
it either! Between 0 and 95 meters of altitute the coast offers
perfect conditions to get lost natural natural bikepark where every
corner invites to stay and stun. Crosscountry, up to the cliffs and
down to the beaches, you can get lost for days if you want and if you
are tough enough.South
Portugals four corners I: The southwest
We start our tour far away from Lisbon and it´s city rush this time: next to Odemira, at the southern Alentejo. From the beginning on the ways are roads are quiet and within a few hours we reach some of the most spectacular beaches and cliffs of Portugal at Cabo Sardao. Well known as one of Europes surfing hot spots, Costa Vicentina is also for cyclists a real pearl.
Costa Vicentina Trails
Normally I´m prepared days before a departure to a bike trip. Not so this time. I have some mixed feelings while get ready for this tour. The way along the south coast makes me think about lonely cliffs and beaches, rough sea and a plenty of different villages and landscapes, but also about flat and boring rides. A street too busy to enjoy and trails too sandy to ride.
The interior of province of Alentejo is beautiful, but boring. Trails are not built to bike and hike but for goats or trucks. Wide cork fields, sheep, goats, birds as far as you can see, as long as you can ride, not more not less. Only some lost in time villages as Beja or Cuba brought some variety in the day.
Nevertheless, both parts got amazing sceneries. Therefore, a mix seems the best solution.
