Óbidos

The Walk

A circular walk from Óbidos passing through Capela de Santo Antão

Park in the free, Obidos parking lot behind Prohibition Bar and gather in the front of CGD bank. We begin our hike along the northern flank of the castle wall, cross the RR track and walk along a flat agricultural trail. We’ll skirt around Arelho, through Carregal and out to some orchards and fields near Trás do Outeiro. There’s a a final, short ascent to Capela de Santo Antão with stunning views.

NOTE: bring a mask to cover your nose. Farmers are spraying and one never knows!

Timing

The walk is about 11 km. and is expected to take about 2.5 hr.

Walk start point

Car meeting point / Walk start point	Coordinates
Park in the parking area behind Prohibition Bar. Meet in front of Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD Bank) to start the walk.	39.359055, -9.157163

Map

Coffee Stop

Somewhere in Óbidos

Notes

• Walk leader: Amelie Sangmo
• Ph: +1 (225) 249-9915

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 an 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 maneuvre to have the desired e etc. 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 29.08.2025 at 10:00 a.m.

The walk is about 10 km and is expected to take about 3 hrs

Place	Coordinates
Next to the Church of Roliça	39.31385434308406, -9.18230220048527

Map

NB.  The flag on the map above shows the car meeting and walk start point.

Coffee Stop

After the walk in Roliça at the gas station

Notes

• Walk leader: René
• rene@silvercoastwalks.com