updates

updates to Walking in Portugal appear in page order.

ICN web site (page 7)
The Instituto da Conservação (ICN)'s web site has changed. To reach information about individual parks on the website (www.icn.pt), click on the map of Portugal in the top menu bar.

Visa requirements - Australians (page 25)
Australian? You no longer need a visa to enter Portugal, provided you stay for 90 days or less.

E111 form (page 25) The E111 form has been replaced by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), available from the UK Department of Health (www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Healthadvicefortravellers/index.htm).

Bicycles on trains (page 28)
The Portuguese National Railway no longer accepts bicycles on trains, except on commuter routes to and from Lisbon (Sintra, Cascais, etc).

Rio de Froufe walk (page 44)
When you arrive at the village of Lourida, be sure to turn left on reaching the road. Thanks to Ben de Rydt for the reminder. Ben also suggests doing this walk in reverse in hot weather, so that you enjoy the shady, wooded part of the walk when the sun is strongest - make sure you take a map!

Parque de Cerdeira Campsite (page 51)
In August 2001, the campsite did not distribute 1:25,000 maps, although they did have a photocopy of the immediate area. Ben de Rydt also says that the campsite staff do not recommend walking in the mountains. If you decide to ignore them, remember to take a map and long trousers, and be prepared for overgrown paths.

Transport to Gerês (page 51)
Matthew Holmes reports that the bus service from Braga now runs only to Campo do Gerês, and doesn't link with Caldas do Gerês.

Serra do Gerês Traverse (page 59)
Matthew Holmes suggests an alternative route, which ends up back at the Parque de Cerdeira camp site. From the high plateau before Roca Negra, head left from the saddle with the many large cairns, following a path that eventually brings you out at the Vilarinho reservoir. You can then follow the quiet road alongside the reservoir back to the camp site.

Baçal & Rabal walk (page 68)
Martin Mölhoff wrote that there's a road being built between Baçal and Rabal, over the top of the track between the two villages. Roadworks currently make this part of the walk unpleasant.

Montesinho - Other walks (page 77)
Ben de Rydt wrote to us with a suggestion for another walk around Montesinho. Ben says that the walk is quite tiring because of the absence of trails, and that long trousers are essential.
Drive up to Lama Grande and park the car. Begin the walk by heading east, following a dirt track. You start climbing up the mountains, and the dirt track will gradually disappear. On some of the mountains there are concrete bricks, which mark the border between Spain and Portugal. On top of these mountains, you will see a valley, leading towards the big lake which lies north of the village of Montesinho. Cross the valley by making a large circle to the north and east and then finally start heading down the valley to the south. There are no tracks here, but the views are gorgeous and you see your destination (the lake) before you all the time. Upon arriving at the lake, follow the dirt track back towards Lama Grande.

Camping in the Beira Litoral (page 94)
The campsite at Lousã is apparently closed as of August 2001, but the Belgian owners are opening a new site at Castanheira de Pêra, some 30km south. Check which campsite is open before you go. Thanks again to Ben de Rydt for the information.
Matthew Holmes confirms (in April 2004) that the campsite at Lousã is closed. He notes that the nearest camp site is a small riverside site (with excellent showers!) at Serpins, about 7km further up the valley. The train from Coimbra also stops at Serpins.

Serra da Estrela Traverse (page 109)
Ben de Rydt suggests taking 6 days over this walk, and beginning the circuit at either Gouveia or Valhelhas. The section between Valhelhas and Verdelhos (page 114) has sadly been decimated by a recent forest fire. Ben also says that the false path mentioned in the Manteigas Loop walk (page 117) evenrually leads to the village of Cova (page 115).

Serra da São Mamede accommodation (page 147)
Quinta Azenha do Ramalho provides accommodation and self-guided walking tours in the Serra da São Mamede. You can also stay at the turismo rural Pomar Velho, near Marvão.

Capuchos & Monserrate Walk (page 162)
The Convento dos Capuchos has now reopened after lengthy refurbishment. Note that you can only visit the convent on a guided tour, and that the entrance has been moved - thanks once more to Ben de Rydt for the update.
Stavros Fotiadis also says that, in the walk description on page 163, the fork in the trail after the white building (5th paragraph) is a junction rather than a fork.

Picheleiros walk (page 174)
Begin this walk by turning left out of the campsite. Many thanks to Stavros Fotiadis for the clarification.