Casa Valhal - Forest

November 15, 2022

A DAY TRIP TO PASSADIÇOS DO MONDEGO

I have been eagerly and patiently awaiting the final completion of the Passadiços do Mondego (Mondego Walkway), located in...

November 8, 2022

RIBEIRA DE ARCOS HIKING TRAIL (PENACOVA PR4 PCV)

All Saints’ Day fell on a Tuesday this year and hubby had a well deserved day off work so...

October 12, 2022

CAMINHO DO XISTO DA BARRAGEM DE SANTA LUZIA HIKING TRAIL (PAMPILHOSA DA SERRA PR3 PPS)

Now that I am over the worst of my tooth drama I decided to make the most out of...

July 14, 2022

A DAY TRIP TO CASCATA ÁGUA D’ALTE & CASCATA DA AGUALVA

When the weather is predicted to be a scorching 40 degrees there is only one place to be and...

June 29, 2022

CAMINHOS DO SOL NASCENTE HIKING TRAIL (AROUCA PR3 ARC)

I love Arouca Geopark and the enchanted Serra da Freita with endless mountain landscapes and breathtaking viewpoints. It is...

May 9, 2022

ROTA DAS PONTES HIKING TRAIL (CORTES DO MEIO – COVILHÃ PR17 CVL)

After a full weekend of DIY and gardening we rewarded ourselves with a Bank Holiday Monday hiking trip. A...

May 4, 2022

AN AFTERNOON TRIP TO PARQUE E PALÁCIO DE MONSERRATE

I really wanted to visit Monserrate Palace during our 2021 trip to Sintra but we just didn’t have enough...

February 4, 2022

TRILHO DA POMBEIRA HIKING TRAIL (CASTRO DAIRE PR8 CDR)

Another day, another hike, this time the wonderful PR8 CDR 10 km circular Trail of Pombeira. The starting point...

January 19, 2022

ROTA DA CABRA E DO LOBO HIKING TRAIL (SÃO PEDRO DO SUL PR4 SPS)

Time for a change so instead of chasing more waterfalls I opted for something a little different. I discovered...

January 5, 2022

AN AFTERNOON TRIP TO CASCATA DO RIO DE MOURA

Hubby had a rare weekday off of work so we decided to chase more waterfalls. Cascata do Rio de...

January 5, 2022

NA VEREDA DO PASTOR HIKING TRAIL (VALE DE CAMBRA PR3 VLC)

What better way to cure a hangover than a hiking trip to Vale de Cambra! It is the 1st...

December 21, 2021

TRILHO DAS CASCATAS (VILA DE REI PR1 VLR)

I had originally planned to embark on this trail on Christmas Day but the weather forecast is not looking...

December 15, 2021

ROTA DO JAVALI HIKING TRAIL (MANTEIGAS, SERRA DA ESTRELA PR2 MTG)

We are very blessed to live so close to the Serra da Estrela Natural Park with it’s magical mountains....

December 15, 2021

AN AFTERNOON TRIP TO CASCATA DA FILVEDA & CASCATA DO RIO GRESSO

We enjoyed our recent trip to Sever do Vouga so much that I decided to plan a return trip...

November 23, 2021

AN AFTERNOON TRIP TO POÇO AZUL (BLUE WELL) & POÇO NEGRO (BLACK WELL)

The weather here in Central Portugal has been very mild for November so I planned an awesome day trip...

November 16, 2021

ROTA DA PINHA E DO PINHÃO HIKING TRAIL (CARREGAL DO SAL PR1 CRS)

I was super excited to venture on the amazing PR1 CRS 7.85 km circular trail which is located in...

October 27, 2021

CANIÇA HIKING TRAIL (SEIA, SERRA DA ESTRELA PR10 SEI)

We live very close to the wonderful Serra da Estrela natural park and it only takes 1 hour to...

October 26, 2021

CABREIA CASCATA & MINAS DO BRAÇAL HIKING TRAIL (SEVER DO VOUGA PR2.3 SVV)

I decided to plan an epic day trip for my hubby’s birthday. His employer gives everyone their birthday off...

October 18, 2021

PAREDES WATERFALLS HIKING TRAIL (MORTÁGUA PR1 MRT)

The Paredes Waterfalls are located near to the small village of Paredes, in the municipality of Mortágua. If you...

October 11, 2021

A DAY TRIP TO CABRIL DO CEIRA GORGE & CASCATA DO CANDAL

I love exploring gorges, canyons and waterfalls so I planned a super Saturday visiting the wonderful Lousã. We love...

October 5, 2021

CASCATA DA PEDRA FERIDA

We decided to visit the Artisan food and craft market in Penela which is a 1hr 15min drive each...

September 24, 2021

A DAY TRIP TO LAGOA DA VELA

We are always searching out new places to paddle board and I found this perfect Lagoon (Lagoa da Vela)...

September 14, 2021

PASSADIÇO DAS QUELLHAS (SERRA DA LOUSÃ)

The weather was pretty hot during Teanna’s 8 week summer visit so we didn’t embark on much hiking. To...

September 10, 2021

A DAY TRIP TO JARDINS DA QUINTA DAS LÁGRIMAS, COIMBRA

We recently visited the wonderful Quinta das Lágrimas Gardens (House of Tears). The gardens are located on the left...

September 1, 2021

5 DAY ROAD TRIP (DAY 1 SINTRA)

I am beyond excited to share our 5 day road trip with you all. Our long awaited trip to...

August 17, 2021

SCHIST VILLAGES HIKING TRAIL (LOUSÃ PR2 LSA)

I love hiking and we are spoiled for choice with so many different hiking trails in Portugal. Back in...

June 2, 2021

A DAY TRIP TO PASSADIÇOS DO PAIVA

The Passadiços do Paiva Trailhead is located on the left bank of the Paiva River, in the municipality of Arouca, district of Aveiro. I...

May 4, 2021

A DAY TRIP TO FRAGAS DE SÃO SIMÃO

On the 1st May we ventured out on our first proper day trip of 2021. I was so excited...

October 19, 2020

A DAY TRIP TO MATA NACIONAL DO BUÇACO

A snipet of History Buçaco National Forest is an ancient, arboretum in Luso, a protected area located in Serra do...

October 12, 2020

EUROPARADISE PARQUE ZOOLÓGICO

Hubby decided to take me on a mystery tour which included a trip to Europaradise Zoological Park then onto...

September 15, 2020

ZONA DE LAZER DA BARRIL DO ALVA

This leisure zone area is located in the village of Barril de Alva, next to the bridge and on...

September 15, 2020

SCHIST AVÔ WALKING TRAIL

On Sunday afternoon I had a great idea of going on one of the official hiking routes along the...

September 15, 2020

A DAY TRIP TO PRAIA FLUVIAL DE SÃO SEBASTIÃO DA FEIRA

The river beach season is coming to an end so we decided to explore one more local treasure. The...

September 10, 2020

PENEDA-GERÊS NATIONAL PARK

Peneda-Gerês National Park is located in the North West of Portugal near to the Spanish boarder and is known...

September 9, 2020

SERRA DE ESTRELA

Serra De Estrela Natural Park Serra da Estrela is one of the greenest regions in Portugal. It has an...

September 9, 2020

FIGUEIRA DA FOZ

Figueira da Foz is a city located in Coimbra and is famous for it’s stretch of beautiful golden beaches...

September 7, 2020

A VISIT FROM MY DAUGHTER TO CELEBRATE HER 18TH BIRTHDAY

My daughter was only 17 when we relocated to Portugal on 31/12/19. She stayed in the U.K and moved...

August 4, 2020

A LATE AFTERNOON TRIP TO MATA DA MARGARAÇA

The enchanted forest Mata da Margaraça is a spectacular forest and one of the most notable deciduous forests in...

Hi, I'm Helen

Forest