From Cape to Castle

This was another wonderful Inntravel holiday.  We really enjoyed the chance to explore this less touristy part of Portugal and the beautiful national park.  We were there in early September and it was very hot in the middle of the day, so would recommend starting walking early, and taking lots of water.  The walk along the ridge from Azeitão to Palmela, and the circular walk around Palmela were particularly spectacular.

In Sesimbra, which was busy with Portuguese visitors over the weekend, we booked in advance for Portofino restaurant, which had great fish, and Casa Mateus, which was outstanding.

In Azeitão, we had a lovely lunch at Casa Nobra d’ Azeitão and in Palmela we enjoyed some great fish at Terceira Geração.  We stayed at Casa Atalaia in Palmela and enjoyed a wine tasting in the old winery.

We really enjoyed the diversity of the hiking routes, and local fare. Once in a while we were challenged by the hiking directions but ultimately appreciated the occasional challenge of following the guided directions. We really appreciated the binder you provided with thorough reading and supplemental reading. The towns and accommodations we stayed at were excellent and the attention to detail was also terrific.

The quest for the one true Pastel de Nata passes through Casa Negrito in Azeitao.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: Pastel de Nata is a traditional Portuguese custard tart, about which they are extremely passionate.

Your note about the mud after rain was absolutely spot on, even after some light rain the adhesive qualities of the mud was quite astounding! For the nights in Sesimbra we would heartily endorse the Portofino Restaurant - far better than the other we tried locally. 

Hotel in Azeitao is a tough ask for 3 nights. Somewhere between Fawlty Towers and bankruptcy.

Highlights: Location of first hotel - wonderful seaside views, sandy beach and lovely restaurants. A busy, bustling but unspoiled place. Walks were lovely and the ridge walk a particular treat.

Loved the diversity of all the places where we stayed and the contrasting landscapes. Sesimbra was a great start and the location of the hotel directly opposite the beach a real bonus. The rooftop swimming pool was very welcome after the circular walk to the castle. We would have loved an extra day here. The grounds of Club d'Azeitao were a real oasis to return to at the end of the afternoon, have a dip in the pool and relax on a lounger. Stand out walk for us was the ridge top route to Palmela. Fabulous, long reaching views and iconic windmills. The Pousada provided a stunning location at the end of a very enjoyable holiday and we chose to eat here on the last night as well. Food was excellent in a beautiful setting. Another great Inntravel holiday.

One of the highlights was Portinho, by the time we had walked there we were tired and dirty(!) so didn’t explore it. An afternoon there would have been lovely, a stay would be ideal.

Excellent family run traditional restaurant in Palmela— very good value and excellent food- 3a Geracao restaurant - Rua Serpa Pinto - near the church tel 212350152

Lovely walks, completed quicker than estimated time so easy to replace picnic with later lunch. Go to Sabores e Enchantos de Azeitao and cool off by the laundry pool while eating local cheese and cold meats with a lager. Do not be put of by description of walk to the coast, there is a short steep bit but very manageable - maybe more tricky if wet. Lunch and a swim when you get there is so worth it. Book supper at Casa Mateus in Sesimbra, no need to taxi for supper in Azeitao when you can walk 5 minutes to O Manel. Raspberry and processo ice well worth walk back down the hill to the square in Palmela.Great fish at Geracao and good lunch at taverna at castle. Notes a bit variable, do not forget your map.

The taxi company were excellent and reliable. Helpful drivers providing lots of local knowledge. At all hotels we were made very welcome.

The hotels had real character and position, especially the hill top Pousada. And walking in brilliant sun everyday (too hot for anything but shorts), with great company, truly a very memorable holiday.

A very well designed walk which lived up to expectations. Other people doing the walk at the same time were very friendly and good company when walking and during the stay. Portugese were also all very helpful and friendly. The accommodation at Hotel Club d'Azeitao was a bit basic, compared to the other hotels on the walk, which were all very good. We got lost on the Option B walk from Azeitao (Parque de Merendas da Comenda Circuit) and by the time we had worked out where we were, it was quicker to follow the map to return to the hotel. The mistake was to miss a vital left turn which was admittedly difficult to spot on the trail, but perhaps a more careful study of the walking instructions the night before might have avoided this error!

It is defintely worth including a couple of night's stay in Lisbon either before or after the walk, especially if this is a city which you have not seen before. 

Inntravel were very helpful throughout, particularly in making a late change to the travel arrangements and the timing of the return trip to the airport.

We enjoyed the mix of activities available on this holiday.  This was especially true for those of us who didn't want to walk long distances in temperatures of 30 degrees plus.

Walking through the peaceful cork oak groves, visiting the local vineyard and walking along the ridge past the Roman ruins and the old windmills, made this both an interesting and relaxing holiday.

Very enjoyable walks with splendid views also excellent opportunities to sample the local wines. Visits to the wineries were good fun and interesting.

Very much enjoyed this holiday despite temperatures in the 30's, which made for some challenging walking at times. We also enjoyed good meals at Casa Mateus in Sesimbra and Casa das Tortas in Azeitao. The only restaurant open in Portinho after 6pm was O Farol which was nice if basic. 

We also had a very good simple lunch at the Bom Petisco on the Portinho walk.

We had a fabulous week again - this time walking from 'Cape to Castle'. Previous reviews were helpful especially regarding the walking conditions. We enjoyed marvellous views from our rooms in Sesimbra and Palmela as well as relaxing comfort. The final long walk along the windmill studded ridge to Palmela was exhilarating. We relished all the delicious meals. Covas taxis were very reliable and their drivers friendly. Both hotels at the start (Britania, Lisbon) and the end (Pousada, Palmela) are delightful. Thanks again to Inntravel.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers enjoyed our Lisbon city add-on before our From Cape to Castle self-guided walking holiday.

Lovely hike ... great hotels on this route ... great literature ... all in all really great holiday.

In Sesimbra we ate at your recommendations - Portofino was excellent, great fresh Bass and helpful service - O Velho e O Mar was fine but not outstanding. Not on your list but nearby is Mateus which was also excellent - tasty food and again friendly service. In Vila Nogueira de Azeitao we aimed for Casa de Tortas for lunch on Sunday but it was fully booked - might be worth suggesting that walkers book in advance, but may be fine on a weekday. Casa Nobra D'Azeitao was great for dinner, lovely fish and veal - the owner even ran us back to the hotel after dinner as taxis seemed very hard to come by. In Portinho we went to Galeao and had a delicious whole grilled fish - service was fine and very friendly. 

Highlight was meeting other interesting Inntravel walkers. Wine tasting experience was interesting, although the arrangements for engaging with the tour were rather bizarre, requiring a number of Uber transfers. Both Sesimbra (sea view) and Palmela hotels (second floor corner room) were excellent.

 What a little gem! really super holiday through varied rural terrain with outstanding views with lots of things of interest along the way. It was a hidden, gentle and unspoilt area with most friendly and helpful people in the villages. Having the choice of options of walks and activtities eg. winetasting and tile factory added to the experience. Stand out walks- coast walk, circular walk to river estuary and windmill ridge walk to Palmela. The pastel de nata should be enjoyed at every stop! Loved your choice of restaurants particularly for fish -fish restaurant nearest to hotel in Sesimbra, O Manel in Azeitao, and Chapito near castle in Lisbon. We highly recommend day or two in Lisbon at end of holiday.

Excellent holiday in an area that we didn’t know at all. Worth adding on some days in Lisbon.

A really good holiday. The excellent walking notes led us through remarkable and picturesque terrain with some breathtaking views.

One real highlight was our visit to the Bacalhoa winery, where the owner's art collection was as stunning as it was unexpected - and the subsequent visit to Bacalhoa Palace was also really interesting, not least because of the Guide's comprehensive knowledge of relevant history. The "windmill ridge" walk was another highlight. A tip based on our own and others' experience: double check bus timetables - especially those to and from Sesimbra. We feel that if you are able to extend this walk to include a spell in Lisbon you will not be disappointed - an attractive city with loads of things to do.

The walks to Portinho and the ridge walk to Palmela were outstanding.  The Sana Sesimbra hotel and location was stunning

The peace and quiet and the scenery on the walks was wonderful. The coastline is beautiful and unspoilt in many places. The little towns are charming and the people are friendly and welcoming. 

Day 1 Option B. Despite high of 37 degrees, as we climbed up to the castle, hundreds of runners of all ages were going up and down as part of a croos country run, 40 and 20 kilometres!! We felt quite cool compared to them!

All three hotels were a pleasure to stay in. Rooms and included meals all to a high quality. Walks were very enjoyable but would suggest the wearing of long trousers if attempting the walk to Portinho from Azeitao as just under 4 kilometres of path is enclosed in very scratchy vegetation. The whole holiday was very pleasant and although as stated, all hotels were excellent the Castelo De Palmela was quite exceptional.

As ever a lovely and varied walk; aided by gorgeous weather, fine fish and good wines! One brief comment regarding the walking notes which are generally very good: in some places a distance to the next way-mark may not be given (which is fine) and in those case just trust the notes as ultimately you will get there! In Palmela on the Monday night there appeared to be very few restaurants open. 

This was a very enjoyable holiday.  The wild flowers and birdsong were amazing on every walk.  We would recommend Casa Matteus in Sesimbra the food and service was excellent, and the town Museum's history of the fishing industry most interesting.  We would have preferred an extra night here, and one less at Club d'Azeitao.

We didn't do all of the optional walks as the weather was exceptionally hot.  From Club d'Azeitao we caught the bus outside the hotel to Lisbon for the day at a reasonable cost of eight euros each way.  The restaurant O Manel provided good value fresh fish meals.

At Palmela we ate very well at Terceira Geracao and Casa do Castelo.

Loved Sesimbra - we arrived at the hotel at 9.30 pm but a short walk to the waterfront restaurant have us great service. We speak no Portuguese but managed to order excellent food. The local cheese is delicious but very generous portions. They readily wrapped this up and it supplemented our picnic the next day. The fishing harbour is fascinating. The tapas at the Tap House overlooking the sea was great. Our waiter was a joy and he brought us blankets when it got a bit chilly.

The walk to Portinho from Azeitao was a highlight despite very high temperatures. We ate at the second restaurant as you get to the bay but can't recall the name. I think it must be one with Basil Fawlty style service but we had a great table in the shade and eventually ate fabulous clams; can't say I enjoyed the choco fritto but felt obliged to order it sometime in the trip given that it is ubiquitous.

The trip to the Adega in Azeitao was great. We had an informative tour through the beautiful cellars and generous tasting of the Perquita Red and the Moscatel. Ate in the restaurant in the corner of the square. Friendly service and although limited menu was delicious.

I think it was definitely a case of saving the best until last - the location and accommodation at Palmela was superb. We ate in the Pousada itself and the little bar/restaurant in the castle grounds. Fun service from an English speaking waiter. It was a long lunch of tapas from a short menu but all delicious. When the place was closing we were told by our waiter that she going to have her lunch but if we wanted anything else we should just pop our head round the bar and she'd re-fill our carafe! Fabulous food and delightful service. 

Excellent hotels with amazing views. The walk and visit to Sesimbra castle was a great start. Definitely visit the oddly named tap house for a beer (food was good too). Lovely fish meal at Casa Nobre d Azeitao the owner told us what we were having "clams fish and wine". Bobo da Corte was fantastic for a wet day (try the prawns). Great little pizza place in Palmela with the thinnest and tastiest pizzas I have eaten, called Pizza Vila on Main Street down to the square. The wine tasting at Bacalhoa should not be missed! Great art, great guide and a ridiculous amount of alcohol. A real bargain and great fun.

We thoroughly enjoyed the walk, maybe a bit tough for two octogenarians in temperatures one day upto 31C, but we proudly managed it with the help of only one extra bus and one taxi. The Sesimbra to Azeitao walk was perhaps the best, beautiful spring flowers, nice countryside and very few people so close to Lisbon. Weekends and public holidays are very different, pretty crowded. The hotels were acceptable, but no memorable treasures as we have sometime found on other Inntravel trips. 

Again another excellent holiday from Inntravel.

The hotels were all different and special in some way, whether it be the view (Sana Sesimbra), the atmosphere (Palmela Pousada), the food, the facilities, the location. The walks were varied and the right level of length and difficulty to be enjoyable. I liked the idea of combining both coastal walks with the opportunity to paddle or swim with inland walks with great views.  In the spring the wild flowers were beautiful and we had superb weather with wall to wall sunshine. Most evenings we ate local fish and seafood and every meal was delicious. In Sesimbra there were many restaurants to choose from. Turn right out of the hotel and up the steep hill and steps to the top. A small local restaurant with great seafood. In Palmela the tapas in the castle grounds served very tasty tapas but is only open certain evenings. A very enjoyable holiday. 

Fabulous holiday as always with Inntravel.

Some of our many highlights from this trip were the walk through the Cork Oaks, the wonderful wild flowers that were in bloom mid-April, wine tasting at Bacalhoa and the amazing Pousada at Pamela. The walking was perfect for a grade 1-2 and as usual with Inntravel all of the arrangements worked perfectly.

Sana Sesimbra was a true delight with the beach and sea just across the road. We would recommend Casa Matteus for food and wished we could have gone back on the second night when it was closed. This was by far the best meal we had, including our extended stay at Lisbon. The walk to Azeitao was lovely with so many wild flowers and much birdsong and was our favourite walk. At Azeitao definitely try Casa Nobra D'Azeitao for quality fresh fish and Casa das Tortas for portion size on the steak! At Palmela do not miss out on Taverna O Bobo da Corte: real quality and service. We made it for two late lunches (on arrival and after the Around Palmela walk) as we wanted to keep exploring the menu.

As ever with your holidays, Inntravel, (and this is now our 13th with you!) your choice of routes, the contrasting locations and varied landscapes combined with high quality hotels enables us to truly 'walk into a country' and get an insight into its people, culture and values. 

As always with Inntravel an excellent holiday with excellent service from the staff. The walks around Palmela were stunning (if more up and down than we prefer!) We so like not having to think about what we are doing next because Inntravel have thought of everything in advance.

You start by the sea at Sesimbra and the walk out to the lighthouse at Cabo Espichel from Azoia on Day 1 is delightful, once you have worked out the buses. (But don't wear shorts as lots of prickly bushes on the steep and narrow descent to the fort!). We took bus 201 out at 08.55 but there is also a bus around 12 noon. We got the 5.30pm bus back from Azoia - there is a friendly bar to enjoy a beer while you wait. To eat in Sesimbra we recommend O Pescador - just off the sea front beyond the fort. Friendly and unpretentious. The picnic provided by the hotel Sana was rather meagre so you might want to supplement it.

The walk to Azeitao was good too. NB if you are arriving at the Hotel Club Azeitao on a Sunday, be warned that the hotel does not do meals on Sunday evenings and nor does the restaurant O Manel in the village across the road. There is nowhere else to eat except back in in Azeitao so you might want to have an early dinner there before going on to the hotel, or buy some food there to eat later? There are a couple of supermarkets. If you go for the Option B walk at Azeitao, it was very muddy (wet red clay nearly all day, so hard going!) when we were there. This had also been churned up by vehicles. We enjoyed an evening meal at O Manel in Vila Fresca and a wonderful BBQ lunch at Casa das Tortas in Azeitao. NB this IS open in the evenings (except on Sundays).

It is definitely worth fitting in a visit to Palacio Bacalhoa and its Winery - we managed to fit this in on our final morning at Azeitao before walking on to Palmela. Ask the hotel to make you a booking if you want to visit, it takes 2h30m and there was a tour starting at 10am. Not open Sundays. You will need to walk or take a taxi to the winery which is back in Azeitao to start the tour. We had an English speaking guide.

The walk to Palmela was lovely, as was the walk on the last day, but we must admit we didn't do the last ascent to the windmill ridge as very similar to the previous day's walk. Instead we walked back to Palmela along the almost traffic-free valley bottom road to Palmela. Wild flowers and birds! The restaurant in the castle was not open when we were there (though it should have been). Our restaurant suggestion in Palmela: Terceira Geracao in Rua Serpa Pinto. Friendly with delicious food.