Portugal Bike & Quintas

You will be welcomed in „Quinta no Pinhal“. This Quinta is located on the brink of the forest and a little bit outside of village Vila Nova de Poiares. Possibility to try your bike and to talk to your hosts.

Today you get to know the landscape of Beira Litoral: slightly hilly terrain, a lot of green and a lot of water. You cycle along Barrier Lake “Barragem das Fronhas”, one of many barrier lakes in Portugal. At the end of this tour you can try your climbing skills in Moura Morta. Overnight stay in “Quinta no Pinhal”.

You cycle from Vila Nova de Poiares to Ceiro dos Vales. Mostly you follow Rio Ceiro. Along the route possibility to take a bath in the river in Casal de Ermio/Praia Fluvial. You continue to Lousã which is located at the foothills of Serra de Lousã. This area offers green mountain landscapes, many trees, a lot of water and a palace from 10th century which is surrounded by small chapels. When you enter the villages you can visit “Casa de Cima” and “Casa de Quinto do Cano”, two luxury manor houses from 17th and 18th century. Overnight stay in “Além do Ribeiro”.

Today you can choose between two routes. You can go along a short route of 15 to 20 km to a nature bath in the near of a fortress. Or you make a longer tour of 60 km into Serra da Lousã up to an elevation of 1.200 m, where you can enjoy pure silence and a clear view onto Central Portugal, from the Atlantic Sea to Serra da Estrela. A tour which leads along lonesome mountain villages with old houses and offers beautiful views. The descent leads along unpaved roads back onto the road of Goís-Lousã. Overnight stay in “Além do Ribeiro”.

This tour leads from Ceira dos Vales to São Laurenco de Bairro. You pass village Penacova, which is located high above Rio Mondego and continue to national park Buçaco. Along your way see numerous springs, many villages, olive groves, fruit orchards and stone pines. In Serra do Buçaco you will find Mata do Buçaco, a forest with a size of 105 hectare. It is fenced by a wall with a length of 5 km and 11 gates. From Luso, a health-resort which is well-known for its sanative water you cycle through the wine region of “Bairrada”. Goal of today is Quinta de São Lourenço.

Today you will cycle through pine forests via Mira to Praia de Mira, broad and sandy beaches await you. The village was called Palheiros de Mira before, due to the typical houses built on piles. Some of the fishing-men still carry out the traditional fishing with nets. In summer it is a popular beach resort. Overnight stay in Quinta de São Lourenço.

You go by bicycle or take the train to the ancient University City Coimbra and then continue on the bike past old villages, some of them are already deserted, and along paddy fields at Gandara through the valley of Mondego to Quinta no Pinhal.