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.