The Blue Coast Of Portugal

The coastline of Portugal is one of Europe’s finest, with its craggy rock faces, long sandy beaches and atmospheric castles seen from afar. This bike tour takes in the ever expanding seaside landscape, coastal habitats and some lovely whitewashed villages which still hang onto the vestiges of the Moorish peoples who cultivated this area for many hundreds of years.

This Portuguese cycle tour starts south of the great capital of Lisbon, leaving its lovely fado music and dynamic streets of history and intrigue. Cycle the Moscatel wine district, almost tasting it in the succulent air of the passing vineyards before arriving at the Arrabida Natural Park. It is a place of green and gorgeous landscape of pine trees, swooping storks and of course some tempting views of fine sandy beaches. Cross the Sado river estuary, home of dolphins and many types of bird life. It is an alluring area and the Romans were once very busy here with their clay pottery fabrications!

From here you cycle your way through millenniums of history, Iberian, Roman, Visigoth and Moorish to the south-westerly point of Europe, where the very brave set out to see what was over the horizon and onto the Golden era of Exploration. End in the Algarve’s famous bustling and vibrant southerly city of Lagos which still holds its ancient roots being one of the oldest settlements in this area. Lift up a glass of vinho to celebrate this most lovely cycle through this pretty coastal route.

Highlights

• Succulent air of the passing vineyards before arriving at the Arrabida Natural Park. It is a place of green and gorgeous landscape of hillside cliffs, pine trees.
• Cycle a wild and untamed coastline full of uncrowded beaches and incredible visitas out to sea
• The most south-westerly point of Europe, where the very brave set out to see what was over the horizon and onto the Golden era of Exploration.
• Algarve’s famous bustling and vibrant southerly city of Lagos which still holds its ancient roots being one of the oldest settlements in this area.

Distances are a daily average of 60km. Please note this is very hilly countryside with some longer and steeper climbs. It is classed as Moderate as the distances are shorter than those associated with a longer Challenging ride, but be prepared for many ascents.