Behind the Caparica beaches the land rises in a wall of ochre and red cliffs — the Arriba Fóssil — with a protected pine forest running along the top. Together they make an easy morning away from the sand, and both are close to our apartment at Aroeira.
The Arriba Fóssil
A line of fossil sea-cliffs, up to around 70 metres high, laid down millions of years ago when the sea reached further inland. It is a protected landscape; paths run along the base and the top, and the layers and colours in the rock are the thing to look at.
Mata Nacional dos Medos
On the plateau above the cliff, a forest of umbrella pines planted from the eighteenth century onward to hold back the shifting dunes. Flat, shaded trails for walking and cycling, and viewpoints out over the Atlantic where the trees break.
Good to know
- Access from the Fonte da Telha road and from Aroeira; there is a small interpretation centre
- Shaded and cool — a good option on a hot day
- Stay on the marked paths; the cliff edge is unstable
- The forest edge is a few minutes from our apartment