Trekking in Portugal, your self guided trekking holiday made easy.

Take a self guided country trekking holiday in Portugal using the best 1/25000 trekking maps and route guides for the Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede, Alentejo.

Self guided trekking holidays in Portugal
Self guided trekking holiday in Portugal, route notes

The Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede on Portugal's border with Spain is one of Europe's most beautiful and unspoilt areas and is ideal for self guided trekking holidays. It is a region of forest, wooded hills, rocky ridges, olive and chestnut groves and fertile valleys intermingled with a maze of medieval tracks, medieval and roman roads and the plain around the hilly park is replete with megalithic sites. Some of Portugal's prettiest villages and medieval fortress towns are located here including Marvão seen in the picture above perched on the rock to the right.

Few tourists and walkers have discovered this secluded and beautiful part of Portugal yet it is a perfect place for a trekking, hiking or rambling vacation. It is rare to meet many other people trekking the countryside trails.

There are waymarked trekking routes within the park and nearly all of them are circular walks. Even though the trails are within a single natural park they are varied in terms of ambience and terrain and the grade is easy to moderate. Fine country trekking.

Maps for Portugal trekking

We provide you with 1/25000 scale route maps marked up with the trekking route and points of interest accompanied by detailed trekking notes. For points of interest and for navigation we are continually adding GPS way-points to the maps and notes.

The walks that we undertook were guided by wonderfully detailed instructions provided by the owners. Formerly reviewed at Holiday Rentals by "The over 50s thrill-seekers club"

As a group we did four of the recommended trails, which meandered through olive groves, vineyards, local farms and picturesque hill top towns. The evening invariably found us sitting on the sun terrace sampling the regions wine and cooking the local produce. By weeks end we all agreed we would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a break away from the hassle of modern day life, to an area with an authentic charm all of its own.

The Wee Binnians Walkers, Northern Ireland & Eire.

Self guided trekking, route map for Marvao

Trekking in all seasons. Portugal has a great climate for trekking all year round.

From late March through to early summer the countryside is carpeted with wild flowers displaying a gradually changing sequence of colours. You will see why they say the Alentejo is the Provence of Portugal. A self guided trekking holiday is a joy in spring.

If it gets too warm for trekking, take a day off to stroll around the interesting historic sites such as Marvão and Castelo de Vide in the Natural Park or dangle your feet in the Ribeira de Arronches at the Quinta.

Although the winter months are cooler there are many days with clear blue skies and lots of sunshine. Rainy days tend to be occasional and most weeks will enjoy some sunny days. Some of the best trekking is to be had in winter.

Quinta Azenha do Ramalho provides quality self catering for your self guided trekking holiday.

We just wanted to let you know what a fabulous time we had when we were at the Quinta. I cannot enthuse enough over it and we were all so impressed by the way you have equipped the house. We have rented several self catering properties over the years in both the U.K. (to walk), in Austria (also to walk) and in France (to ski) and we have never had such comfort. You have thought of everything.

Diane Evans, Lisbon

What the walkers think. In June 2007 eight Wee Binnian Walkers from Northern Ireland stayed at the Quinta and walked in the hills of São Mamede.   Look for the Portugal Report on the Wee Binnians Newsletter page to see what they thought.

Our pages for the Galegos and Reguengo walks give a good idea of the flavour of the region.

The Trekking routes

Reguengo Galegos Alegrete Esperanca Carreiras
Marvão Ribeira de Nisa Mosteiros Castelo de Vide to Marvão Vale Lourenço

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The geology of São Mamede Home Links & WebRing Trekking in Galegos
Quinta Azenha do Ramalho, Vale Lourenço, São Mamede, Portugal