Portugal’s coasts hide challenging but priceless treasures. When we think of the Portuguese coastline, we often think of rocky cliffs and the crashing waves of the Atlantic. However, behind this rugged facade, there are other extreme beauties that the Portuguese coastline can surprise us with.
Here you can find secluded and picturesque coves and beaches – tranquil havens from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Places that have been a refuge from the threats of the outside world for both those by the sea and those on land.
Famous landmarks such as Praia Guincho near Sintra are complemented by secluded beaches such as Praia da Ursa. Bike&Ride® bike hire can be found right in Cascais, where you can enjoy the tranquillity, or head to Lisbon and visit its narrow suspension bridge to see the navigational beacons perched high on the cliffs, guiding ships from the open sea.
Cycling Among Giants
Nowhere in Portugal compares to the heights of the Sintra region when it comes to a sense of scale. We are fortunate to be able to explore areas that once seemed like an insurmountable barrier to most people.
The summit of Sintra towers over holidaymakers, giving a mixture of awe and grandeur that is impossible to convey unless you see it in person. Rounding the top
Portugal’s coastlines hide hard-earned treasures. When you think of the Portuguese coastline, the first word that comes to mind is often ‘rugged’. Images of towering cliffs and crashing waves as the force of the Atlantic Ocean thunders down on the Iberian Peninsula. However, behind this rugged exterior, there are other extremes that the Portuguese coastline has to offer.
Remote, tranquil and iconic coves and beaches. An escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life in the 21st century but filled with a history of refuge from the threats of the outside world for those on and off the water.
Famous landmarks like Praia Grande near Sintra are complemented by beaches at Praia da Ursa, where our riders’ campsite is located right at the water’s edge. The tranquil Berrideira, where you cross a narrow suspension footbridge to learn about the navigational beacons perched high above you on the cliffs that guided ships safely home from the open sea.
Rugged coastal views can be seen while cycling through the Portuguese highlands.
Cycling Among Giants
Nowhere in Portugal can you feel scale like the mountainous terrain of the Sintra highlands. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy exploring places that once served as Mother Nature’s hostile barrier to all but the bravest.
As you skirt the peaks, valleys and ravines that crisscross the vast landscape like the wide corridors of a stately home the size of a country estate, you can expect each distant horizon to hold new surprises. Not least the towering peaks of Madeira Island as you gaze down on the water far below from the Pena Pass, the wildest and most spectacular climb in all of Portugal.
Under the Wheels of Mountain Biking
While the surrounding scenery is inevitably conspicuous, those who explore By bike the sinuous contours of the uplands are treated to the kind of pleasure that first notices the absence of something before you can enjoy what has replaced it.
A thin, twisting ribbon of asphalt. Taking off from the front wheel, heading towards the distant sky and pointing you towards experiences yet unknown. A space to take a deep breath and truly feel what it means to ride a bike. What it means to feel the gradient up or down. A gust of wind to support your efforts or as an invisible challenge that you must find the spirit within to overcome.
