Firstly Seasons Greetings to you all! I hope that 2011 is good to you and lets hope we have none of the travel hiccups that we have experienced in 2010! We managed to sort out travel delays for our clients flying within Europe over this holiday period and now we have problems with those coming from New York and the east coast of the USA - well it keeps us all on our toes but for those that are delayed it really is not a joke.
The weather in Portugal is typical of the winter with plenty of rain - normal for this time of the year but not great if walking or cycling. The Boxing Day walk was a big sucess and even this morning with the rain some die hards turned up for the walk which we manged with only getting wet for the last 20 minutes (not bad considering the terrible forecast).
I wish you all a Happy Healthy New Year!

Apologies for not blogging as frequently as I should but I have been fighting some form of virus for the past two weeks. It could be something to do with going from the freezing cold of the UK to the mild and damp Algarve. Things are still not great and it is good that we are not doing any walks early December so that I can recharge the old batteries and get fighting fit for the new year.
The weather in Europe has been all over the place with excessively cold weather in northern Europe and in Portugal there has been rain, very, very heavy at times plus in central Portugal there was a tornado which passed through Tomar. This took the roof off a local school and brought down power lines but mercifully no one was killed. The office in Madeira tells me that strong winds closed the airport in Funchal for 2 days last week!
I had to visit a new hotel that we are using close to Faro airport last Sunday and there were many people milling around looking lost - the receptionist told me they were the victims of airport closures in the UK and air traffic controller strikes in Spain and they had been stuck since Wednesday!!
Fortunately for us none of our clients been delayed or stuck - we had enough of that in April with the volcanic ash - an experience I think no one wants to repeat.

Tempus fugit - yes time does indeed fly, I just cannot understand where the time goes. We have been very busy with bookings especially the group ones with some already full and so now I have to decide whether to run extra weeks. Plus I have to put together our weekly walking programme for 2011 as we are already getting calls and e-mails regarding when we are starting after Christmas and where we are walking. A brief calculation has shown me that I need to programme in 20 Wednesday walks and 11 Saturday walks - hmmm. The number is actually not a problem its more a case of making sure we cover all areas of the Algarve and some walks are better done at different times of the year than others. Well I will work on this over the Christmas period - so check on the web site before the New Year.

I have walked my little socks off this past week, walking on 7 consecutive days for a good 4 - 5 hours and I have remained blister free!! This is the first time that over such a period that no blisters have appeared and the secret? It appears putting anti-perspirant on your feet does actually work. Not being a fan of aerosols I used a stick of antiperspirant (and deodorant)and smeared over my feet and toes before putting on my socks and voila - no blisters plus the bonus of sweet smelling feet!
I am on clould nine because also for the first time in 3 months my knee has been pain free even with all the walking. The medial ligament appears to have healed itself - to walk with no pain is just unbelievable - perhaps after all age is not catching up with me!

Its St Martins! The actual Saints day is November 11th and traditionally the days before and after the day are marked by sunshine and warm weather - the Portuguese refer to it as 'St. Martins summer'. Yes true to tradition the weather over Portugal is stable, warm and sunny - in the north of the country villages have 'fairs' where they celebrate with roast chestnuts and drinking the first 'young' wine of the years vintage - very similar to the Beaujolais nouveau in France. In the Algarve the hedgerows are full of bright red pomegranates and furry green quince with griffon vultures riding the thermals overhead before they head south for the winter. Last week a walker and keen birder told me there were at least 400 vultures circling over the Sagres peninsula - it was a sight to behold!

Firstly many thanks to all those who have responded to my blister problem - it does seem that a primary cause of blisters is perspiring feet while walking - so one recommendation is to spray the feet with antiperspirant before putting socks on. There is a also a product that you can buy 'Bodyglide' which goes on like a deodorant stick to prevent chafing or if all else fails Vaseline applied to the feet should help. I will let you know how it goes but I always carry the wonderful animal wool that I have mentioned previously.

Well it has been quite a week! On Saturday I went to the National Bike Fair at Santarem (80km north of Lisbon) and yes there were bikes, bikes and more bikes. I never realised that the top of the range bike frames could be so expensive (7 - 8,000 euro!) But there were plenty of bikes at the lower end of the price range and I did learn quite a bit.

This was followed by a short two day trip to Madeira where I had the most brilliant time. It is amazing what you can achieve in two days if you put your mind to it. I visited virtually the whole island, checking out the new flood prevention system, looking at hotels, plus walking a levada which was new to me. None of this would have been possible without the kindness and generosity of Margarete, a good friend and colleague who looks after all our clients who visit Madeira. Margarete if you read this - thank you so much!

I returned just in time to lead the Wednesday walk on the west coast - absolutely fantastic - brilliant weather, scenery and a great crowd of people.

Now it is time to rest.............

During the walk this Wednesday many were heard to comment 'they say the Algarve is over developed, well they should come here!'. We were about 15 miles inland the scenery was just brilliant, green and totally, totally unspoilt - not a new villa, golf course or apartment block in sight. We watched local women picking olives from the trees by hand (see photo) and we were invited to help them during a friendly exchange while many took photos.

I keep banging on about it and eventually people will sit up and listen! Yes parts of the Algarve are completely ruined by developments particularly along the coast and the Portuguese are in fact in danger of ruining and spoiling a coastline that has long been an attraction (you have to blame the Portuguese because they are the ones at the end of the day who give the planning permission) but beyond this is an Algarve where tradional life still goes on, where the 20 or so olive trees on the small holding matter, where the dozen or so chickens matter, where the 2 or 3 pigs by the side of the house feeding on the scraps matter - the local people who depend on the land for a living struggle everyday, life in Portugal as in many other countries is becoming more and more expensive and there is very little income. Traditions are still there to be found, in a beautiful countryside where very, very friendly people will welcome you. Go and discover for yourselves!

The latest research tells us that if we walk 5 - 8 miles a week it helps stop the degeneration of our brain cells and hence helps slow down dementia ................now what was I saying?
Ha! It does not matter how much I walk (and I walk as lot) but I am very prone to blisters, it doesnt improve with a better quality walking shoe but if anyone out there has any tips (other than soaking my feet in surgical spirit)I would appreciate hearing from them. Once the blister is on its way then the animal wool (mentioned in my last blog) is brilliant but I would love not to have the blisters to start with.
It was a great walk on Wednesday close to the Odelouca river with the sun shining and good views. For the first time in my life while walking a truck came along and stopped (in the middle of no where on a track)and told me (in Portuguese) that I was on private property (I was not) and to turn round and go back! I told him I was continuing, he swore at me and then looked up to see over 40 people enjoying the walk behind me (a hill slope had obscured his view). I continued on, he swore again and then started his truck and went off. This was the very first time I had met such an unpleasant character in this great country and I hope it is the last. The whole encounter gave everyone something to talk about over a welcome beer at the end of the walk.

A few weeks since my last post but that is because I have been away walking and for personal security reasons it is not expedient to announce that I am not at home as my regular readers know.
But to fill you in - I spent a wonderful few days in the north at Ponte de Lima staying with me good friend Isabel and her family at Casa Arrabalde, those who have stayed here know that Isabel is a wonderful host. My remit was to go over some established walks and look at some new trails (part of this has been at the invitation of the Valimar organisation) plus I wanted to find another good quality manor house to extend and improve our Minho - Costa Verde walk. This was all done and the new walk will be launched in the next few weeks under a new name.
From here I went on to lead the group walk to Santiago de Compostela - which once again was a great pleasure - thank you to everyone for the laughter, the sharing of lambs wool for blisters(I cannot begin to tell you how great this product is and is available at Boots chemists in the UK) and the support we gave each other for our aching legs, suspect knees and sore feet! This time there were far more on the Camino than at any time previously (I have now walked this 14 yes 14 times) - I know this is a Holy Year but there was never that many people in Santiago in May when I was last there.
People walk the Camino for a variety of reasons, some spiritual other just because it is a great walking experience. There is just such a sense of achievement once we finally reach our destination - I must just say a big thank you to Olga who made a DVD of her journey along the Camino with me last year - she sent me a copy this August and it brings alive the walk and the fun we shared.

When thinking about walking or biking in Portugal the singer Leonard Cohen would not be the first person that springs to mind! However a visit to Sintra to check out walks and accommodation this week was coupled with a Leonard Cohen concert (part of his world tour)which was absolutely excellent and surprisingly the concert hall was full with fans of all ages (not just those who have fond memories of playing his album while feeling down during the late 60's and early 70's).
As for Sintra.... the town centre during the day is full of tourists which are bussed in from Lisbon and it confirmed my choice of accommdation in the quiet leafy suburb of San Pedro but the area overall is still beautiful and away from the town there are very few visitors - the real Portugal is still there on the doorstep for those who take the time to discover the area.

I spent a great few days in Porto last week, checking out hotels in the city and surrounding areas. Porto is truly a wonderful place with very friendly people, it is not particularly sophisticated but has a faded charm and elegance and caters very well for visitors.

Research published this week:

Scientists say moderate walking enhances connections between the brain's circuits, combats a drop in brain function linked to ageing and even improves performance in reasoning tasks.
By studying brain scans, psychologists at Illinois University found cognitive function levels among nearly 100 self-confessed couch potatoes improved dramatically after a year in which they walked a few times a week, compared with participants who only did stretching exercises.

And the beauty of all this was that the walking was done at the walkers own pace there was none of this power walking and confirms what I have been saying for years 'walk at your own pace' - I guess that is why I have now reached genius level on the latest IQ studies (only joking)!

My thanks to Andy G who informed me that he had spotted a Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis a aethiopicus) close to Lagos airport in the Algarve on August 5th 2010.

This week our new web site www.madeirawalks.com was launched (well sent out into cyberspace) and I am pleased with the result. The site is simple and easy to use and will be an off shoot from www.portugalwalks.com - I am told it will help to increase traffic to both!
Some new walks have been put together in the Algarve and without wishing to boast I do not think there is now any part of the west Algarve where I haven't walked. Of course there are many tracks and paths but the secret is to be able to put together a circular walk that has some interesting features that people will enjoy and that is not as easy as one thinks!
Of course I am realistic in knowing that the Algarve is not many peoples first choice for a walk for the area gets a very bad press. But this photo will show what many people are missing, the area is less then 10 miles inland from the coastal resorts of Carvoeiro and Praia da Rocha - a wilderness which in spring is awash with flowers.

My thanks for Peter and Julie for walking in the fiery heat of summer in the Douro, a couple of problems with routes were identified and the notes have now been changed. Cristina at Casa de Vilarinho looked after them very very well and they came back raving about her cooking and the wonders of her chocolate mousse!

I have discovered some great new walks these past two weeks including a fantastic unspoilt valley where cars are not allowed - it is very well hidden and will remain so. I will take walkers there but it will not become common knowledge in books etc as its anonymity allowed me to see rabbits and hares, marvel over a wide variety of butterflies and have a honey buzzard glide just above my head. I could go on about the different insects, plants and trees which also grow there but I will refrain..... however in an area where I thought I knew all the terrain this was such a bonus, it was almost as good as winning the lottery!

It is cork removal time and the newly stripped trees are so distinct with their bright orange trunks. There is so much clamor about the preservation of the cork oak with which I agree but I do have one quibble - in order to reach some of the trees the cork strippers have totally devasted the undergrowth, ripping out and mowing down trees and bushes - an important habitat for many creatures.

A brilliant holiday (non walking) has filled me with enthusiasm to improve our walks and rides - my mind is full of ideas. At the moment I am busy with the new web site www.madeirawalks.com which is taking up a great deal of my time but I am very excited about it - I cannot wait to launch it but we are several weeks away yet.

I am also mindful that walking notes should be continually updated and while I appreciate feedback from clients it is also important to check walks ourselves - while I write this I have colleagues walking in the Douro where temperatures are in the mid - high 30's! People do not realise that during the summer months temperatures in the north can be much higher than the south - that is why many from Lisbon and Porto go the Algarve for their holidays where the winds especially in the west help moderate the temperatures and make living far more comfortable.

I have just spent a great week in Madeira with a group from Photo - Travellers and yes they did all take many photos but they also enjoyed the walking and so did I. We were able to walk the levada from Ribeiro Frio to Portela which has been closed for more than 20 months and only reopened 3 weeks ago. It really is a spectacular walk high (over 800m)in the cloud forests but it is not for those who suffer from vertigo. New safety fences allow you to walk close to the cliff edge with sheer drops and panoramic vistas.
On my free day I toured the island with my partner agents who are based in Madeira, we looked at possible new accommodation high in the hills, checked up on walks and also inspected the flood damage. At Ribeira Brava in the valley the damage is severe but there is virtually no signs around the remainder of the island where the hillsides are lush with crops and flowers. There is no denying this is still a beautiful island.

Having only just completed 5 months of 2010 it is really difficult for me to think about 2011 but the reality is I have had to. There have been several enquiries this week for next years group dates as people want to plan their future tours. I do understand that so this weekend I have worked out the dates!
Much has been written about the state of the Portuguese economy which really is not in good shape. Goverments and politics aside, the Portuguese people are friendly, welcoming and long suffering - they really want you to visit their country which they are extremely proud of and there is so, so much to see that I really hope many of you will take the opportunity to come to Portugal. I will tell you now it does not have the sophistication nor the culinary delights of both Italy and France but there is a unique charm here which becomes addictive - I think that is why we have so many return clients.

This has been another interesting week which started by taking some visitors from New Zealand on a guided walk on the west coast of the Algarve. Cynics would say 'why would you want to walk in the Algarve when you have the whole of New Zealand?' - to them I would answer come and find out for yourselves. They thoroughly enjoyed the day and so did I - they were good company and interested in the countryside and economy of the Algarve.
This was followed by a morning walking with Steven Bleach a travel journalist from the Sunday Times (UK) - it was great to spend time with a journalist who was actually wearing walking boots! My remit from the Algarve Tourist Board was to show him the Via Algarviana which we walked in part beginning from Vila do Bispo and in the time we spent together we covered a whole range of local topics.
The weather in the Algarve has been uncharacteristically hot as those that turned up for the walk on Wednesday discovered! With temperatures edging up to 30C I did shorten the walk but we still had a great time with a lot of laughter and the ice cold beers at the end were much appreciated.

Because of security issues I have not been able to properly blog for the past 3 weeks - I have been away with groups but because I was burgled the last time I went away I realise that it is prudent not to detail my exact whereabouts.

The group in the Alentejo was sadly depleted because of the situation with the volcanic ash but nevertheless we had a great time. There was only one wet day (the first when the heavens really did open) but this did not diminish from the overall enjoyment of the week and I have to say that the spring flowers were absolutely spectacular.

I have just returned from the Camino to Santiago where ironically everyone made it but at the end the airport at Santiago was closed for several days which upset travel plans. The weather for the week was fantastic, perfect for walking (except for the last day when our arrival into Santiago was greeted by thunder and lightening!)and everyone made it, achieving their Compostela. Along the Camino we met more pilgrims than usual as this is a Holy year and rather than detracting it just added to the sense of camaraderie.

This has been a very difficult time for us with the disruptions caused by the flying ban. Sadly many of our clients could not make their holidays and it was really difficult to hear their disappointment on the phone while others could not fly out with one couple having to spend an extra 9 days here waiting for a flight. As one of our clients said 'sometimes life is just not fair'. It is true but what we have to do is appreciate what we have, a dear friend and fellow walker has just been diagnosed with incurable lung cancer (a lifetime non- smoker)and that just puts everything into perspective.
On Saturday my good friends from the Bolton HF walking club arrived, this is the 7th holiday I have arranged for them (I have even taken them to Spain and the French Pyrenees)and their sense of humour continues to shine. They may be getting older and cannot walk as far but my goodness we can have a good laugh and that in itself makes you feel so much better.
May the sun shine on you whereever you are.

I am very excited (and that does not happen very often!) but there is a new group walk on the site and I think it is one that is hard to beat. The inspiration came just 2 weeks ago when walking with the group on the 'Best of the Algarve' week - we were on the west coast, far off the regulars walkers beaten track and everyone was totally 'gobsmacked' with both the scenery and also the fantastic spring flowers. The Cape St Vincent Natural Park has the most wonderful scenery and the area is totally unspoilt plus I know some wonderful walks which are not in my walking books and so are not commonly known.
You may not realise but many walking companies (including some of the big names)take walks from my book and use them for their clients and their groups - so I have to be one step ahead of the game and with this holiday I am. We can offer a unique walking experience for any one who wants to come to the Algarve for a group week.

I know I have mentioned this before but I MUST say it again - the spring flowers this year in the Algarve are really quite spectacular. The wednesday walk yesterday saw the hillsides awash with the large white flowers of the gum cistus in abundance like I have never seen before - everything is just so bright and alive. This is a real treat for our walkers and cyclists especially as the sun is shining bright and the sky is blue.

The Algarve in spring is seriously under-rated when it comes to the variety of flowers - a walk on Thursday with a quite delightful group revealed 10 different orchids, including the man orchid, green-winged orchid and saw-fly orchid - quite rare fritilleries and a large patch of magnificent scilla peruviana.
Yesterday with the same group the wildlife came to the fore - we saw a pair of golden orioles, black winged stilts, sandlings plus other waders but what did excite us was the sighting in the waters of the Alvor estuary of a mysterious 'creatures'- later research by myself identified them as sea hares .

There has been a considerable improvement in the overall weather through out Portugal and Madeira, the rains have subsided although have not yet gone completely and the temperatures are slowly rising which means the spring flowers are out in abundance - hooray! In the Algarve the hillsides are a picture as the large white blooms of the gum cistus sway in the breeze and the purples of the french lavender and rosemary peep through. The new show of flowers does really make you feel good and you realise that once again nature has gone full circle and spring is here at its best but it also makes you realise that it is 12 months since you last saw these flowers - where oh where does the time go?

Since writing about the Iberian lynx I have had several people contact me with sighting and photos of animals that they have seen - not the lynx but the Egyptian mongoose, genets and wild boar have been seen. Do please let me know if you spot something unusual, if you can include a photo that would be great.

In the Algarve this winter it has rained, rained and rained some more! Everywhere is so wet, dry river beds are now raging torrents and naturally the weather is the favourite topic of conversation for everyone including the Portuguese. For the walks we have had to change routes and sometimes the walks themselves but this has not dimmed the spirit and enthusiasm of those who have come walking these past weeks - in fact quite the opposite. The numbers of walkers have risen and last Wednesday we had a phenomenal 58 people who came to walk arguably one of the best walks in the Algarve which includes part of the Algibre river valley - it was truly spectacular and we managed to see quite a few spring flowers including the naked man orchid and the peonies in bud.

I have had many people enquiring about the situation in Madeira which was indeed a tragedy but also one of those 'one off'(force majeur)events. The photos in many ways give a distorted picture of what is happening on the island where for the majority of islanders life continues as normal (maybe some travel is a bit longer due to road damage). The floods and mudslides occured in part of Funchal and Ribeira Brava to the west, the north and west of the island may be damp but suffered no real damage.

The agents we use in Madeira have urged us not to cancel holidays as the majority of walks can go ahead, where there is a doubt there are other options as obviously clients safety is our prime concern. Madeira is dependant on tourists and the best way you can support the islanders is to visit them and I can guarantee you will receive a warm welcome.

There was great excitiement this week when a young couple from Philadelphia told me they had seen a lynx on their walk but sadly it was dead. Because of the rather wet conditions they didnt take a photo but they were adamant that is was and it seemed to fit all the criteria. I was so intrigued that I was going to make a special visit to the scene to record and log the details but upon reviewing again the description the following day there was a big loophole in their story - one said the 'cat' had a short bobby tail, the other said it was very long. When showing them a photo of possible animals it became clear that what they had actually seen was a genet - a wild cat with a long ringed tail however with the animal being dead the tail had become partially hidden but it definitely was not bobbed.

My brother while out jogging early in the morning in the west Algarve did see a lynx and this prompted a visit from 3 members of the Nature Conservancy group from Lisbon. My brother had returned home but I took them to the spot where they collected droppings which later confirmed that these were indeed from the Iberian Lynx. They also showed me how to look for, possible identify and collect droppings while out walking so these days where ever I go I have in my rucksack small plastic bags. Sadly I have yet to see one of these wonderful creatures.

A freak accident has left me with one sprained knee and the other badly bruised which is extremely frustrating. I led the walk last Saturday limping and having to use a walking stick much to the amusement of everybody (well at least the pace was slow)but it was such a glorious afternoon with the sun shining and a blue sky - quite a rare event in the Algarve this winter.
A week later and progress on the injured knee is frustratingly slow, walking yesterday left me in considerable pain and showed my that for the time being unless absolutely necessary I have to rest - not one of my strong points I'm afraid......

I cannot believe that it is almost two weeks since my last post - not sure where the time goes but we have been so busy with enquiries and bookings plus I am still going to the gym (see last blog) - the novelty has not worn off yet!
Last week I received an e-mail news letter from Flora and Fauna International of which I am a member, the main feature was promoting the use of cork stoppers in wine bottles in order to save the cork oak forests in Portugal. These forests are the main habitat for the Iberian lynx which is close to extinction. Personally I believe that while individual action is good it is the need to change the attitude of the government towards environment protection. There is only one National Park in Portugal that has full protection status that is the Penedes - Geres Park in the north most other parks have the status of 'natural' here the protection is much less and frequent encroachments by builders is common (as in the Algarve).
This government appears to be commited to installing wind turbines whereever it wants but I would have to question whether 3 wind turbines for example in one area is really making a contribution to the environment - I am thinking of Pico Alto in the Algarve where the habitat of some rare bee orchids has been totally destroyed for the installation of 3 turbines which due to a lack of wind are frequently motionless!!

New Year, New resolutions and for most us that usually means attempts to lose weight or get fit. Well I am no exception to this rule as I write this after just returning from the gym. Really this not my favourite place but in a strange way working out becomes addictive as each piece of equipment tells us how many calories we have used up, how many miles we have biked or walked and the next time we go there is a determination to beat yesterdays total. The only reason I am in the gym is that I have a busy year ahead and years of walking have taken a toll on the tendons in my legs culminating in acute tendinitis not that long ago - this year I am determined it will not happen again.
All our walking and biking holidays are not particularly difficult but they do require a certain amount of fitness. Occasionally we get people come for a weeks holiday that have never walked or biked before - they think it will be easy! They soon realise this is not the case, for while the distances may not be long if one is not used to walking or biking everyday for 6 - 7 days muscles soon begin to play up. But do not be put off! Just some form of regular exercise even walking the dog everyday should be enough for you to come and enjoy your holiday.

Northern Europe especially the UK is experiencing extreme cold which is prolonged and has had serious consequences on everyday life. Whereas in Portugal there has been excessive rainfall also too in Brazil where hundreds have died from mud slides caused by torrential rain. People may wonder with such cold and wet how can there be global warming ............ a good question!
Websters dictionary defines climate as:
the prevailing or average weather conditions of a place, as determined by the temperature and meteorological changes over a period of years.
and weather as:
the general condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place, with regard to the temperature, moisture, cloudiness, etc.
Weather therefore is something experienced everyday and climate is long term. There is no doubt that global warming is being experienced by the planet and a consequence of this is a disruption to general weather conditions. We are frequently asked what the weather will be like during a particular month and these days our answer is always the same - we do not know!