LONG WALKS
Two-weekly Long walks in the Silver Coast region
Friday 15th September. 2023 at 10.00 am
Walk location: Near to Vimeiro (Alcobaça)
Originator: Chris Coell
The Walk: At Quinta de Baixo. Head east up the hill on a farm track & finally into a wooded section along the ridge.
The circular walk continues along farm tracks to Vimeiro. Continue through centre ( optional coffee ) then up to a good view point at the 2 x windmills. Returning back down we make our way back north to the start point.
Note – This walk involves a total of over 30 mins. on tarmac roads.
Timing: The walk is about 12 km and is expected to take about 3 hrs
Total distance = 1184 metres Total ascent = 230 metre
82854150608181(3).gpx
Car Meeting Point: At 10:00 am by roadside parking in Quinta de Baixo – opposite the Supermercado ” Lavrador “.
Deg, Min, Secs: Latitude 39°29’25.90″N Longitude 9° 1’16.18″W
Decimal Deg: Latitude 39.490527° Longitude -9.021162°
Walk Start Point: The open roadside parking & refuse point opposite the Supermercado ” Lavrador “.
Coffee Stop :Either in Vimeiro or at the end of the walk.
Contact: Leader Chris Coell – telemovel – 933 359485
Last Walked: 30/12/2022
Barrantes, Coto ridge and Vale do Coto (mat01L)
Date & Time
Friday September 8, 10:00
The Walk
The ridge at Coto followed by the river valley between Barrantes and Salir de Matos
The walk starts with steep climb through eucalyptus woods to the ridge above Tornada. We follow the ridge into Coto with some road walking and then descend through orchards to the river valley. The track becomes a footpath, which will be rather overgrown and wet after rain, followed by open and wooded land. After walking on the road through Salir do Matos we join a firm, dry track through cultivated land and Orchards.
Timing
The walk is about 9 km and is expected to take about 2.5 hrs, plus extra for coffee.
Car meeting and start point
| Place | Coordinates |
|---|---|
Bridge in the Vale do Coto between Barrantes and Coto | 39.442219, -9.112919 |
Map
NB. The flag on the map above shows the car meeting and walk start point.
Coffee Stop
There is the opportunity for a coffee stop in Salir de Matos
Notes
- Walk leader: Geert Franken
- geert@silvercoastwalks.com
A coastal walk near West Cliffs (lag14L)
Date & Time
Friday August 25 10:00
The Walk
A circular walk along the coastal path and inland on sandy tracks
Timing
The walk is about 9 km and is expected to take about 2.5 hrs
Car meeting and start point
| Place | Coordinates |
|---|---|
| A car park next to the coast near to the Rio Cortiço Mar Bar | 39.420212 -9.245661 |
Map
Coffee Stop
After the walk , on way back
Notes
- Car share possible from: Alcobaça, São Martinho do Porto and Caldas
- Need Poles? – Your choice. Generally a moderate walk (160 metre total ascent)
- Walk leader: Chris Coell
- chris@silvercoastwalks.com
The Walk
A walk through woodlands, orchards& vineyards
A walk through farmland, wooded hills, small villages and short sections on quiet roads. There are some slopes which will be muddy after rain. So walking poles and good foot-ware are recommended.
Timing
The walk is about 9km and is expected to be about 2 hours
Car meeting and start point
| Place | Coordinates |
|---|---|
Casais do Ponte. There is parking on the main road by a bus stop & a religious statue with seating. There are additional parking areas on the roads nearby. | 39.423717, -9.101478 |
Map
Coffee Stop
After the walk – drive to cafe in Salir do Matos
Notes
- Walk leader: Chris
Mata Nacional do Vimeiro e Mata do Gaio (vim06L)
Date & Time
Friday July 21, 2023 09:00
The Walk
This forest walk takes place between two villages Vimeiro and Gaio on marked trails
The Vimeiro National Forest is located next to the village of Vimeiro, which began as a vast privileged property belonging to the Monastery of Alcobaça and existed as early as 1296. The forest extends over 267 hectares, having as main species the maritime pine (60% of the area), followed by eucalyptus (8% of the area) and cork oak (6% of the area). It consists of four forests: the Roda, Gaio, Ribeira and Canto forests.
This area was chosen for research work at the Experimental Station for Cork Oak and Eucalyptus, between 1930 and 1950, and today many stands remain as a result experiments,
not only with cork oak and other quercines but also in the field of fruit growing. The forest is currently managed by the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF).
Timing
The walk is about 11-12 km and is expected to take about 3.5 hours.
Car meeting and start point
| Place | Coordinates |
|---|---|
Parque de Merendas do Gaio, Rua do Marco Real, Gaio Car parking is next to the abandoned buildings of Casa do Guarda do Gaio, a building occupied in the past by the Forestry Services, across the road from the Parque de Merendas playground and picnic/barbeque area | 39.489612, -9.037767 |
Map
NB. The flag on the map above shows the car meeting and walk start point.
Coffee Stop
For those who wish to take refreshments after the walk, we will covene at Cafe Rodrigues in Gaio.
Notes
- Walk leader: Warren Yee
- warren@silvercoastwalks.com
Alcobaça, Aljubarrota, Carvalhal (alc11L)
Date & Time
Friday July 7 2023 09:00 (!)
The Walk
From Alcobaça through the village of Aljubarrota and then the village of Carvalhal.
This walks starts and ends at Parque Verde in Alcobaca. It’s a combination of country and village roads and bush tracks. We will walk up to Aljubarotta which is famous for its link to the battle of August 1385 when Portugal first established independence from the Castilian Kingdom. We come down from there through the village of Carvalhal and along the Ribeiro do Mogo Valley to the birth of the river Alcoa in Chiqueda and back to Alcobaca.
Timing
The walk is about 12-13 km and is expected to take about 3.5 hours
Car meeting and start point
| Place | Coordinates |
|---|---|
Parque Verde Car Park, Rua Costa Veiga, Alcobaca 2460-028 The meeting point is at the car park on the opposite sie of the road to Pingo Doce, BP Burger King and Aldi. | 39.5465, -8.9710 |
Map
NB. The flag on the map above shows the car meeting and walk start point.
Coffee Stop
For those who wish to take refreshments after the walk, we will covene at Parkafetaria in Parque Verde next to the car park.
Notes
- Walk leader: Warren Yee
- warren@silvercoastwalks.com
Peniche Peninsular (pen01L)
Date & Time
Friday 16th June 2023 10:00
20230616_104017.jpg
The Walk
A circular coastal walk on the Peniche peninsular , with many points of interest & good ocean views.
More http://wikiloc.com/wikiloc/download.do?id=14981999text
Timing
The walk is about 12 km & expected to take 4 hours ( including a planned coffee break )
Car meeting and start point
| Place | Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Praia Quebrado / Rua Forte de Luz | 39.368185, -9.373912 |
Map…..76871.png
[sgpx gpx=”/wp-content/uploads/gpx/pen01L
NB. The flag on the map above shows the car meeting and walk start point.
Coffee Stop
Planned coffee stop ( 20 x min ) + toilets – after about 2.5 hours walk.
Notes
- Walk leader: Chris Coell
- chris@silvercoastwalks.com
Arelho to the South Side of Óbidos Lagoon (lag10L)
Date & Time
Friday 2 June 2023 10:00
The Walk
A walk from Arelho along the south side of the head of the Óbidos lagoon
The walk goes through woods and cultivated fields and eventually joins the south side of the lagoon. It continues along the lagoon edge and then turns inland through fields to Arelho. Most of the walk is fairly flat with an uphill stretch into Arelho.
Timing
The walk is about 12 km and is expected to take about 3 hrs, plus extra for coffee
Car meeting and start point
| Place | Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Parking area on the right hand side of the main road through Arelho. Turn right at the cross roads in the centre when heading towards the lagoon, take the first left and you will see an open area intended for construction of a group of houses. | 39.38724211011697, -9.184808331039715 |
Map
NB. The flag on the map above shows the car meeting and walk start point.
Coffee Stop
There are no coffee stops until the end of the walk
Notes
- Walk leader: Chris Coell
- chris@silvercoastwalks.com
The Walk
This historical route starts near the tile panel depicting the Battle of Roliça
The route takes you towards the 1st French position, in a small elevation to the north, to head from there to Columbeira. After you leave this village, you have the option to shorten the walk, following the PR1.1 variant alongside the Zambujeira River. Continuing the main route, you begin the ascent to the Picoto Mountains, where you can pay your respects to the tomb of Lieutenant Colonel Lake and discover the 2nd French position. From the Picoto viewpoint, you can look at the surrounding area and gather your strength to return to the route’s starting point through the rural paths and agricultural landscape geometrically designed by human activity. These paths were once crossed by hundreds of soldiers.
The Battle of Roliça was the first battle of the Peninsular War on Portuguese soil, taking place on August 17, 1808. On the morning of that day, Wellesley, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, ordered na all-out attack on the area around the village of Roliça against General Delaborde’s division. However, the army of 15,000 Anglo-Portuguese soldiers could not surround the 4,500 French troops, who withdrew orderly to the high ground of Columbeira, a much stronger defensive position.
During the afternoon, an attack like the one implemented in the morning was put in action. All brigades had to attack in a coordinated fashion for the siege manoeuvre to have the desired e ect. However, Colonel George Lake, at the head of the 29th regiment, decided to assault without waiting for the general order, an action that was not successful, leading to his own death. To rescue the regiment, the British Commander-in-Chief gave the general order to attack and his soldiers began the ascent to Columbeira.
At the risk of being surrounded, General Delaborde ordered a withdrawal, heading south towards Lisbon, thus saving most of his forces. He joined the reinforcements coming from the capital and participated in the decisive battle of Vimeiro on August 21, which put an end to the first French invasion of Portugal.
Timing
The walk is about 10 km and is expected to take about 3 hrs
Car meeting (09:00!) and start point
| Place | Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Next to Cemitério de Roliça, Rua Coronel Nicolau Trante (EN 8-4) | 39.3116818, -9.1847587 |
Map
NB. The flag on the map above shows the car meeting and walk start point.
Coffee Stop
After the walk in Roliça
Notes
- Walk leader: Alan Price
- alan@silvercoastwalks.com