Introduction
In an earlier post, we took you on a short walk along the Atlantic Coast near where we live. We make that walk 3 or 4 times a week. It’s an easy walk on mostly flat ground, just long enough to get our blood pumping and our heads cleared. And the scenery along the way is always interesting – familiar, yet constantly changing.
But once every week or so, we feel more ambitious. On those mornings we continue walking into Cascais, about 6 km to the west. Here’s some of what we see along the way.
The midway point of our short walk is this large stone that we call “Turnaround Rock”. But on the long walk, we keep going past it.
The path takes us up a slight grade and onto the walkway beside the Avenida Marginal, the four lane highway that connects Lisbon and Cascais. The big house there is O Castelinho. Local lore says it’s haunted by the ghost of a young girl who lived nearby and fell off the cliffs.
The walk along the Marginal is our least favorite part of the trip. On most days, the traffic comes whizzing by at high speed with what seems like only inches between us. We hustle through this stretch.
After about 1 km, we turn down a little alley to get back to the path along the praias (beaches). At the end of the block we have a view of the Praia da Azarujinha, with Cascais in the background.
Getting down to the beach means going down this steep stone stairway. This is not the time to be distracted. Watch your step!
Once down on the beach, we walk alongside a high stone wall past this intriguing door.
It’s always locked.
We keep going for about 300 m and arrive at Praia da Poça. This is not a beach that attracts many swimmers or sunbathers.
But it does have some exercise equipment. On the weekends, there are usually a couple people working out here.
Continuing on, we come to the Piscina Oceãnica do Tamariz – a “swimming pool” in the ocean, which is protected by breakwaters. It’s a good place to catch some rays or a quick nap in the sun.
Behind us is Forte da Cruz, a 17th century fortress that was one of several built to defend the coastline from invaders.
It is now used as a wedding venue and event space.
(The 2022 wedding packages start at € 15,000 for up to 50 guests. Is that a bargain?)
And just ahead is Praia do Tamariz. We’re starting to get into the resort area, so there are more people on the beach.
On Praia do Tamariz. there are plenty of spots waiting for the tourists.
As we continue westward, we get to enjoy some artwork.
And we make a mental note of the location of each of the tsunami escape tunnels along this section of beach.
At Praia da Rata, the umbrellas are accompanied by beach chairs. There are also outdoor cafés lining the walkway.
Another 500 m and we’re at the edge of Cascais. We exit the beachfront walkway and head up the street to the train station. Along the way we get a nice view of the Praia da Duquesa and Praia da Ribeira de Cascais.
The End of The Line
Depending on our mood and appetite, we’ll either stop for breakfast or hop on the train back home. It’s about a 10 minute ride followed by a 12 minute walk back to our apartment.
Thanks for joining us on this relaxing walk along the coast.
What’s the view like where you live? Share your impressions with a comment below or with the Contact Us form.
Until next week / Até a próxima semana
Mary and Mike
The Cook and The Writer
What a beautiful read, I’ll be visiting Cascals October 1St spending a few days in Lisbon from the U.S.
Thank you!
Hi Kenny,
Thanks for your comment. We hope you enjoy your trip to Lisbon. Sorry we’ll miss you. We’ll be in Spain that weekend.
Maybe next time,
Mike
Thanks for the relaxing walk.
Hi Pat,
Glad you enjoyed it!
Mike
We fly home to Cascais in just two days!! Due to a couple family emergencies, we’ve been gone a very long 3 plus months. Thank you for walking us home today. We live in the historical center, so very close to the end of your walk.
Hi Debbi and John,
You’re probably on your way home now. We hope you have safe travels…and welcome home!
Mike
Thank you, Mike. Got home at 9pm last night. Thrilled to be back home in Cascais.
Thanks for the wonderful walk. I was remembering the beautiful beach there an the train to get there. It was a relaxing day.
Hey Alice,
I’m glad we could prompt some good memories. Have a great day!
Mike
Ah, the joys of beach walking! Thanks for sharing, I feel much better already!
Hi David,
I’m happy we could boost your spirits.
Mike
I enjoyed our walk this morning! Thank you for a lovely stroll!
Hugs,
Nan
Hi Nan,
Thanks! It was a pleasure having you join us for the walk.
Mike
Fond memories, thanks for the stroll
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.