I love the fact that my work includes developing walking holidays with a Portuguese tour operator. I get to go on amazing hikes in the Portuguese countryside and write the descriptions and route instructions for their clients. And blog about the experience! One of their latest self-guided hiking tours coversRead More →
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 →
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 →
If you’re trying to choose between the Coastal Portuguese Camino de Santiago and the more widely-known Central Camino Portugues, this article is for you. I’ve walked both of these routes north of Porto, starting with part of the Coastal route. Both have their plus points and I can’t say thatRead More →
Since hiking both of the two main Portuguese Camino de Santiago pilgrim routes between Porto and Santiago de Compostela, I have advised hundreds of people on their Camino itineraries. This article, as well as the other Camino related guides I’ve written have helped thousands of hikers to plan their ownRead More →
Imagine a cluster of rust-coloured stone cottages nestled in the hills, seemingly untouched by modern life. Surrounded by forests, mountain streams and river beaches, the schist villages of Central Portugal are idyllic and special. As you walk from village to village on this self-guided or guided walking holiday, you’ll experienceRead More →
If the idea of spending a week walking from village to village in the mountains of northern Portugal appeals to you, this could be the tour for you. In the Peneda-Gerês National Park, you’ll get a variety of landscapes and terrains and stunning views as well as the chance toRead More →
The Central Portuguese Camino de Santiago is the most established route and the second most popular Camino route after the French Way. But is it the right one for you? Hopefully, this article will help you make that decision. As well as giving you information about the Central Portuguese CaminoRead More →
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 →