The Montesinho National Park – home to some of the best walks in northern Portugal

Walking in northern Portugal – Nature as it always was and as it was always meant to be!

Whilst northern Portugal has many areas of outstanding natural beauty, which are paradisiacal for walkers and hikers, one of the best walks in northern Portugal is one of the most seldom-visited areas – A natural park in the north-eastern corner of Portugal, which is known as one of the last great wilderness areas of Europe.

With tranquil lakes, mightily jagged mountain tops, deep gorges and lush green valleys, one wonders why the Montesinho National Park is infrequently visited.

Whilst visited somewhat occasionally by humans, the same cannot be said about the park’s population of wildlife, of which the Iberian wolf and the Spanish imperial eagle are both residents. Stumbling upon the villages in the park is another treasured pleasure, are these timeless hamlets are as they were centuries ago and you can easily lose yourself in a twenty first century time warp.

Other great walking areas in northern Portugal are the Lima valley and the Peneda National Park, which are both stunning and unspoilt. One great walk in the area starts at the coastal town of Viana de castelo and then heads off inland towards the oldest town in Portugal, Ponte de Lima.

You may want to break up the walk by staying overnight at wonderful small northern Portuguese town. Asides witnessing the architecturally-stunning old Roman Bridge at Ponte de Lima, in early June a festival takes place here, which is believed to have originated in Egypt and was brought to northern Portugal by the Phoenicians. This well-attended event is known as Vaca das Cordas  – ‘Cow of the Ropes,’ – the mind boggles!

Whilst festivals and architecture are wonderful to see in this truly unspoilt region of Portugal, it is the countryside which is the real star attraction in this part of Europe.

Imagine seeing an eagle in flight, seemingly chasing a pack of wolves? In our modern world the ground is being eaten up by man’s need to advance and progress- the rivers and streams are being killed off along with the wildlife. Here in northern Portugal you have a chance to see real nature as it always was and as it was always meant to be.

After all that walking, you deserve a rest like no other! Why not take a look at Vintage Travel’s collection of villas in northern Portugal?