Curral das Freiras nestled in mountains. One of 3 easy walks in Madeira, Portugal

With its dramatic volcanic mountains and craters, Madeira island really is a paradise for walkers. You won’t catch me scaling the peaks of Pico do Areiro or Pico Ruivo any time soon but I have now done five fairly easy walks in Madeira. (Originally, this article contained just 3 walks but I’ve updatedRead More →

Peneda-Gêres waterfalls and lagoon

One highly underrated hiking destination in Europe is Portugal’s only National Park, Peneda-Gerês. Boasting minimal crowds plus secret lagoons and waterfalls to discover, this is one experience that you don’t want to miss out on. In Peneda-Gerês you can experience seemingly untouched nature as well as a healthy dose ofRead More →

Views from the top of the hill. Douro walking holiday

The southern side of the Douro Valley gets far less attention than the north, which makes it perfect for an off-the-beaten-track walking holiday. I had the privilege of experiencing this 1-week, self-guided hiking vacation in the Douro wine region while working on the written descriptions and route instructions that theRead More →

Man on a rock gazing at mountains on a Portugal hiking trail in Peneda-Gerês National Park

Portugal has many spectacular hiking trails to offer, with a range of difficulty levels and a huge variety in landscapes. I’ve had the pleasure of walking in every region of mainland Portugal as well as many of the islands of Madeira and the Azores. Here are some of my favouriteRead More →

Man hiking. Pico Ruivo and Pico do Areeiro mountain peaks in Madeira, Portugal

As a leisure activity, hiking in Portugal has become much more popular in the last few years. When I first moved here, it was mainly foreigners who went for long walks just for fun. Nowadays, there are more Portuguese hikers out and about and lots of visitors are keen toRead More →

View of the Douro Valley on a hike from Ervedosa do Douro

I get lots of enquiries from people who are interested in hiking in the Douro Valley. After all, it’s a stunning part of Portugal with its ever-changing mosaic of terraced vineyards, olive groves and small villages. When the weather is not at its extremes, exploring this region on foot canRead More →

Walking trail above São Cristovão Do Douro

Knowing how hilly the Douro wine region is, I was a little apprehensive about doing a week-long walking holiday in the Douro Valley. Nevertheless, the promise of spectacular views and the experience of hiking from village to village were enticing enough to push myself beyond my normal comfort zone. (Don’t letRead More →