Portugal ERICEIRA 2018

Transcription

1 Portugal ERICEIRA 2018

2 WELCOME TO Ericeira Situated on Portugal s dramatic Atlantic coast less than an hour away from Lisbon, Ericeira is a charming traditional fishing town with narrow lanes, fountains and white washed houses picked out with cobalt blue. A fishing fleet is still active and wonderful seafood is always available. Only minutes f rom our hotel, Ericeira s laidback centre with its pedestrianised streets has attractive shops, cafés, patisseries, bars and restaurants. Over forty sandy beaches in this part of the coast bring holidaymakers, surfers and weekenders from Lisbon. Ericeira is one of five World Surfing Reserves with regular international competitions and a strong local surfing culture. We visit Lisbon to get a taste of Portugal s capital city with its grand buildings, Moorish quarter and the maritime history of Belem. Even closer to 2 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk Ericeira is Mafra with its extraordinary former royal palace and Franciscan monastery, built in the 18th century when Portugal imported vast wealth from Brazil. And one of our walking days takes us to Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point of mainland Europe. Sintra is half an hour away, with its former royal palaces, mansions, museums and richhistory. You can visit Sintra easily on the free day. Ericeira is a great resort to relax in, to enjoy scenic bracing walks and to discover some of the history and culture of Portugal.

3 ACCOMMODATION HOTEL VILA GALÉ Largo dos Navegantes Ericeira Tel: Located in an enviable sea front location, this historic 4-star hotel is a local listed landmark with a unique green tiled roof. This beautiful hotel is built on a rocky headland next to a lovely sandy beach and is minutes away from the friendly traffic-free centre of Ericeira town. It is surrounded by garden areas with seating and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The Vila Galé group owns and runs 24 hotels in Brazil and Portugal, including one at Tavira, Algarve, also used by HF Holidays. BEDROOMS There are 202 en-suite rooms, many with balconies and sea views. All rooms have a spacious bathroom with distinctive Portuguese tiling. Each room has air conditioning, hairdryer, telephone, TV, radio, room safe (small charge), and complimentary toiletries. Tea and coffee making facilities can be provided in the bedrooms on request. FACILITIES The ground floor has a large reception area with seating. On the garden floor there is a bar, large west- facing restaurant, snooker room and access to the attractive garden and sun terraces. There is a well-equipped spa and two outdoor swimming pools. Free Wi-Fi is available. MEALS All our holidays include breakfast and evening meal. The hotel caters for most dietary needs; we advise you to discuss your requirements with the staff on arrival. Breakfast This is available from 7.30am to 10.30am and offers a wide selection of hot and cold items Evening meal A full and well stocked buffet dinner is available from 7.30pm offering plenty of freshly prepared salads, meat, fish, a wide range of vegetables and vegetarian options. This is followed by a choice of desserts, cheeses, ice creams, and tea and coffee. Lunch You may be able to purchase a picnic lunch from the hotel. Alternatively it is possible to buy ingredients from local shops or on some days to eat at one of the local cafés; your leaders will advise you of the options. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 3

4 Guided Walking ITINERARY A unique feature of our Guided Walking holidays is the daily choice of walks. Each evening your leaders will give a short talk about the options for the next day and answer any questions that you may have. In Ericeira you ll have a choice of two guided walks on each walking day. The cost of the transport to and from your walks each day is included in the cost of your holiday. Please note that the itinerary outlined below is provisional and could be subject to change. For the most up to date information, please check our website. A finalised itinerary will be available at the Easier Walks: 4 to 6 miles ( km) on good paths, with some steep descents and rocky sections. Up to 700ft (210m) of ascent in a day. 4 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk resort and your leaders will talk every evening about the next day s walks. The cost of all transport on the walking days and the Lisbon sightseeing day are included in the price of your holiday; as well as the Lisbon guide. The cost of admission to the archaeological museum on Day 4 and Mafra Palace on Day 6 are not included and you should allow 10 per person. Harder Walks: 5-9 miles (8-14.5km) on good paths with some steep ascents and descents. There are also some very rocky sections. Up to 1,200ft (360m) of ascent in a day.

5 Day 1: Arrival day Depending upon the time of arrival you should have time to explore the town of Ericeira and locate the shops, banks and supermarkets. On the first evening your leaders will explain more about the walking and sightseeing programme and there will be plenty of time to meet with your fellow guests. Day 2: Scenic coastal walks Both groups have a short coach journey along the coast north of Ericeira and walk back to the hotel along cliff-top paths enjoying views of the usually benign, but sometimes wild, Atlantic. Easier Walk: Our walk will start in the small village of Ribamar with its narrow streets and small cafés. We walk down to the sea and follow a cliff-top path, passing dramatic cliffs, ruined forts and sandy beaches. We will have an opportunity to stop at a popular surfing beach for refreshments before continuing on our coastal route into Ericeira, passing the harbour and traditional fishing boats. 6 miles (9.5km) with 400ft (120m) of ascent. Harder Walk: We travel a little further to start our walk in the small inland village of Quintas. Our walk will take us through quiet farmland along sandy tracks and paths and into the village of Ribamar, where we pick up the route of the easier walk. 9 miles (14.5km) with 600ft (180m) of ascent. Day 3: Mafra the palace, hunting grounds and monastery Today s walks give us the chance to visit Mafra Tapada, the former royal hunting grounds adjoining Mafra Palace. We follow good trails in the rolling hills of this entirely walled protected landscape with a chance of spotting wild boar and deer. In the afternoon a short coach journey takes us to Mafra town where we visit the former royal palace and monastery, a huge 18th century edifice reflecting the past glory of Portugal s rich kingdom. This is the most important baroque monument in Portugal. Easier Walk: Our circular trail in the hunting grounds follows a quiet track with wooded sections giving welcome shade. We pass a preserved lime kiln and visit the former royal stables, coach houses and a dining house once frequented by royal hunting parties. 6 miles (9.5km) with 700ft (210m) of ascent. Harder Walk: Our circular trail in the hunting grounds is similar to but a little longer than the easier walk. We follow a quiet track with wooded sections, passing the preserved lime kiln and visiting the former royal stables, coach houses and Day 4: Rural villages and archaeological museum Today we travel about 10 miles south of Ericeira to walk in rolling countryside, explore typical Estremadura villages and, if you wish, visit a superb archaeological museum. Easier Walk: Our walk begins near Alvarinhos and takes us along quiet tracks and paths to a remote hillside with abundant wild flowers. We visit Cabrela with its typical village café and ancient wells before continuing our circuit which takes us through Odrinhas to the archaeological museum where there is the option of a guided tour of the museum with its extensive collection of locally found Roman artifacts. 6 miles (9.5km) with 500ft (150m) of ascent. Harder Walk: We pass the archaeological museum (which we may have time to visit later) and walk to Odrinhas for a morning coffee. Our route takes us along tracks and a quiet road to Cabrela village with its typical village café and ancient wells. We descend into the valley and walk beside the Cabrela river before heading up to the ruined, deserted and isolated village of Broas. After exploring Broas we walk through Almorquim village and then make our way back to the archaeological museum and the end of the walk. 8 miles (13 km) with 900 ft (270m) of ascent Day 5: Free day Each week there is a free day when no guided Each week there is a free day when no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently or visit local places of interest. Some options for your free day may include: Ericeira: Explore this interesting town further, following its narrow winding streets and sampling the delicious pastries. Don't miss to sample the local delicacy, Pasteis de Nata, delicious small custart tarts. Sintra: You can take one of the frequent public buses to Sintra to explore some of the historic sights including the romantic hilltop Pena Palance or the National Palace with its impressive state rooms and kitchens with distinctive conical chimneys. Quinta da Regaleira has amazing grottoes, fountains and mystical creations or there s the partially restored Moorish Castle with countless airy steps and superb views. Lisbon: We do visit Lisbon later in the week but it s impossible to see everything in a day. You can take Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 5

6 an express bus from Ericeira along the motorway to Lisbon and use the city s efficient Metro system to explore attractions such as St George s Castle, the cathedral, historic churches, aquarium, fine shops and several world class museums including the Gulbenkian. Take a ride on a vintage city tram, an experience not to be missed. Local information website: For information on Ericeira please visit Day 6: Sightseeing day Our day begins with a coach ride to the centre of Lisbon where we meet our local guide who will take us around the principal attractions, historic buildings and places of interest in the city centre. There will also be time to explore, shop or have lunch before taking our coach down the River Tagus to Belem. Here our guide will show us some of the places which represent Portugal s proud and exciting maritime history and discoveries. Day 7: Walking to Cabo da Roca Today both groups travel south of Ericeira to walk to Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point of mainland Europe. Easier Walk: We begin our day exploring the authentically Portuguese village of Almocageme with its cafés and supermarket. We walk down a quiet road to Praia da Adraga with its sandy beach and dramatic cliffs (and another café!) before making our way up a track to view a cliff- top blowhole a deep fissure in the rocky cliff where 6 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk waves create a water spout. We continue up a quiet track to the charming village of Ulgueira where we can enjoy our picnics. After lunch we continue our walk to Cabo da Roca where we can celebrate the lofty views above this windswept headland. 5 miles (8km) with 700ft (210m) of ascent. Harder Walk: Our walk begins at Rodizio near Colares and takes us through dunes to see the remains of a recently excavated Roman sanctuary, then we walk along a clifftop path to the huge beach of Praia Grande. We continue high above the waves and take a sandy path down to Adraga beach. We detour to view the cliff- top blowhole and take a quiet track to Ulgueira where we can explore before continuing our walk to Cabo da Roca on the route of the easier walk. 8 miles (13km) with 1,200ft (360m) of ascent. Day 8: Departure day In the evenings In Europe our walking holidays continue into the evening. Enjoy a glass of wine or local beer whilst listening to your leaders outlining the next day's walks. After a relaxed evening meal you can chat with your fellow guests in the bar area, join your group taking a walk along the beach. One evening there is a local speaker who will entertain you with some interesting facts and history of the local area.

7 WALKING INFORMATION Your walking leaders: HF Holidays leaders are a pivotal feature of our Guided Walking holidays. During the day they will guide you on the walks in a caring and considerate way, showing you places of interest en route. All our leaders have been selected on an intensive residential course so you can relax and enjoy your holiday knowing that you are in safe hands. Our leaders welcome your comments on the holiday survey; constructive suggestions for things that they might do differently are very helpful. We take pride in the quality of our holidays and work closely with all our providers to ensure our holidays meet your expectations. If for any reason you are not satisfied with any element of your holiday, our leaders are the best people to help. Local interest guides: In some of our resorts we may employ the services of a local interest guide who will accompany you on a walk to enrich and enhance your enjoyment of the area by giving you an insight into its history and culture. Tips for local interest guides have not been included in the price of your holiday. This is at your own discretion and we invite you to do this directly with the local guide. Maps: Your leaders will of course carry all the maps and detailed walk instructions needed for the walks. The maps available for this area are Carta Militar de Portugal Numbers 388, 402 and 415, scale 1:25,000 published by Instituto Geográfico do Exército. Maps can be obtained by mail order from The Map Shop, tel: or visit Children: We welcome unaccompanied children of 14 or over on our walks on the basis that they can take full responsibility for themselves. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 7

8 WALKING SAFETY We are committed to running our Guided Walking holidays in a safe manner and your co-operation with this is much appreciated. No outdoor activity can be 100% risk free; however, if you take sensible precautions and adhere to your leaders instructions, your holiday will be both safe and enjoyable. On the first evening of your holiday (dependent on arrival time), the leaders will give a short talk about safety on the walks we would ask everyone to attend. Walking as a group: Our leaders always consider the safety of the group as a whole, and will show more caution over potential risks (such as bad or exceptionally hot weather) than an individual or couple might make on a private outing. Walks may be modified or cancelled following the leaders assessment of the day-to-day situation. Your leaders will refuse to accept any guest whose clothing, equipment, behaviour or walking ability is considered unsuitable, and where it could affect the safety and enjoyment of other guests on the proposed walk. It is your responsibility to follow the leader s guidelines, for the benefit and safety of the group as a whole. If you leave the group, then your leader will no longer have responsibility for you. For safety reasons, we stipulate a minimum party size of two guests in addition to the leader. First aid: In line with current practice, each leader carries a group first aid kit but is not able to supply any medication, including aspirin, paracetamol, antihistamines and antiseptic cream. Hydration: In warm weather it is very important to keep hydrated. You will need to carry a minimum of two litres of water with you on walks, more during hot weather or on more demanding walks. One good way of hydrating is to use a two litre hydration pack which allows drinking without constant stopping. This can then be filled up from additional water sources as required. Your leader will inform you of the possibilities for replenishing your water during the walks. Your health: It is essential that you describe on your guest registration form any health condition or disability you may have. The leaders will treat this confidentially and may be able to take it into account on the walks; for example, by not delaying lunch if they know they have someone with diabetes in their party. EU citizens should ensure they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) prior to their holiday. There can be problems with medical authorities and 8 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk insurance companies if you cannot produce this when you require treatment details are available at dh.gov. uk/travellers EHIC cards have an expiry date please check yours is valid before you travel. Insurance: Insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so, and advise us of the insurance company and policy number. We have negotiated special holiday insurance and full details of this cover can be found in our brochure or at hfholidays.co.uk. There is no extra charge for pre-existing illnesses. If you would like to purchase insurance from us please call us on or holidayservices@hfholidays.co.uk. Even with an EHIC card, medicines and out-patient treatment normally have to be paid for at the time and the costs reclaimed afterwards details are available at dh.gov.uk/travellers. Therefore insurance is extremely important, as is access to emergency money, preferably a credit card. In Montenegro, there are reciprocal healthcare agreements with the UK that allow free emergency treatment. In non urgent cases payment (normally in cash) may be required. Further details are available at dh.gov.uk/travellers. Turkey has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, and doctors generally expect payment in cash. Find out in advance if your insurance plan will make payments directly to providers or reimburse you later for overseas health expenditures. Money: Access to emergency money, preferably via a credit card, is very important as you never know when an emergency may arise. HOLIDAY TIPS Language: Portuguese Currency: Euro Changing money: There are several ATM machines in Ericeira where you can obtain money. Electricity: 220 Volt AC with round two pin plugs; you will need an adaptor for any appliances brought from the UK. Tap water: Is considered safe to drink, but if you prefer, bottled mineral water can be purchased from the hotel or local supermarkets. Telephone code: If the international number you wish to call starts with a 0, you must drop the starting digit when dialling the number. To dial a UK number 0044 To dial a Portuguese number 00351

9 WHAT TO WEAR & BRING To enjoy your walking comfortably and safely, it is essential that your footwear, clothing and equipment are suitable for the conditions likely to be encountered. Please note that some of our Atlantic island and Mediterranean destinations are also in mountainous areas and at high (up to 4,000ft) the temperatures can be as low as 0 C. You will need: comfortable outdoor clothing ankle supporting footwear with non-slip soles water bottle (at least 2 litres, more for hot climates) and a thermos flask if you wish sunhat, sun cream and sunglasses small rucksack The following are also recommended to all walkers, and are essential for mountainous and hilly areas: walking boots spare pullover or fleece hat and gloves spare high-energy food e.g. chocolate bar or Kendal mint cake torch You may also wish to consider bringing: camera personal first aid kit walking pole(s) many guests find these useful, particularly for descents FOOTWEAR We recommend wearing walking boots on all our walks, as these provide the best ankle support and grip. Modern approach shoes offer appropriate levels of grip and may be worn on some low level walks, but users should be aware that they offer less ankle support. Lightweight trainers, denim jeans and waterproof capes are not recommended for any walks. TRANSFER INFORMATION If you have booked your holiday with flight you will arrive at Lisbon Airport. From the UK we offer flights from several airports which may arrive at different times.. Please note that meals are not provided on most European flights, although some airlines may offer a small snack. Where possible you will be met in the arrivals hall by an HF Holidays leader. The onward journey to Ericeira by coach takes approximately 40 minutes. For independent travellers: For guests who have booked their holiday without flight HF Holidays can help you to reach the hotel in the following ways: HF Holidays transfer coach from Lisbon airport. These are timed to meet the HF Holidays flights (provisional HF Holidays flight times can be found on or by calling +44 (0) ). Cost per single journey is 18. Please note that HF Holidays is not responsible for your onward travel if you fail to meet the transfer coach under any circumstance. Our Airport Taxi service service operates at this resort, offering quick and easy transfers for guests booking their own flights. All prices are per taxi for single journeys, allowing you to mix and match different transfer options. From Lisbon Airport by taxi transfer 70 per taxi single journey Transfers and taxis must be pre-booked. If you have not already booked your transfer or taxi please call +44 (0) Airport parking and accommodation If you require airport parking or accommodation before your flight, we recommend our partner Holiday Extras. Call and quote HX031 or book online at holidayextras.co.uk/hfholidays Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 9

10 linger a little LONGER Two weeks or more Make the most of your break and enjoy a longer holiday either two weeks of walking at some of our resorts or by combining complementary holidays, such as Altamura, in the Puglia region of southern Italy, and Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast. We arrange the transfers between the resorts so that you don t have to. See our brochure or website for more information. Self-guided Walking For those who prefer to explore independently, on our Self-guided Walking holidays, in selected European destinations, you can discover unspoiled scenery, historic sites and the local culture at your own pace by following our carefully planned walking routes. Leisure Activities We offer a range of Leisure Activities holidays at some of our European destinations, including Discovery or Garden Tours, Photography, Painting, or Yoga. Worldwide From Alaska to Australia our Worldwide Journeys invite you to explore world famous destinations, and some lesser known gems, on six continents including Europe. SAVE ON OUTDOOR CLOTHING From time to time our outdoor clothing partners have special offers for our guests. Visit hfholidays.co.uk/partnerships to see the current offers. 10 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

11 RECOMMEND A FRIEND AND SAVE 50 Do you know someone who would enjoy our holidays as much as you do? Invite them to book a holiday and you ll receive 50! If you recommend HF Holidays to a friend who subsequently makes their first ever booking with us, we will give you 50 off your next holiday for each person recommended. Plus, as a welcome, we will also give your recommended friend or friends 50 per person off their holiday, meaning savings for everyone! Claim your 50 in three easy steps When your friend books a holiday, ask them to mention at time of booking your name and address. If they have never travelled with us before, we will give them a discount of 50 per person. We will send you a 50 voucher off a future HF Holidays break for each friend you have recommended. Terms & conditions apply, visit hfholidays.co.uk/raf for details. PATHWAYS FUND Last year guests donated 19,500 to our Pathways Fund and we spent 25,000 on projects. For more information on the projects the Pathways Fund has supported, plus how to donate, please visit hfholidays.co.uk/pathways HF Holidays continues to work in partnership with the Family Holiday Association to provide Feel Good Breaks designed to reward families who could not otherwise afford it with the gift of a break in the outdoors and the chance to spend quality time together. Help us continue this work by donating to the Pathways Fund. JOIN US TODAY AND BENEFIT TOMORROW HF Holidays is the only UK holiday provider that s a co-operative. We re owned by our members who help shape our business for future generations. Join our award-winning and sociably responsible society that s passionate about helping others to enjoy holidays in beautiful countryside. For a minimum purchase of shares you can benefit from: Members loyalty scheme earn points on your holidays and use as a discount on your next holiday Member-only events and holidays Members come first with advance registration for the holiday you want 10% discount at our country house bars 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor 15% discount at Rohan 25% discount at Hi-Tec Annual interest on your shares ALREADY A MEMBER? There are many ways for you to further your support: Help choose our Board Attend member events Encourage others to join us Increase your shares at any time Top up to 1,000 shares to become an investment member with enhanced benefits Give membership as a gift To join or increase your investment call our Membership team on , membership@hfholidays.co.uk or visit hfholidays.co.uk/membership Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 11

12 Contact details HF Holidays Ltd Catalyst House 720 Centennial Court Centennial Park Elstree Borehamwood, WD6 3SY hfholidays.co.uk For any questions before your holiday, we re here to help, so please contact us on: (local rate) +44 (0) (from outside the UK) Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm. Emergency contact details: In all instances during your holiday, your first point of contact should be our HF Holidays leaders. If for any reason this is not possible, HF Holidays emergency contact details are as above or between the hours of Friday 7pm to Monday 9am are: +44 (0) or