National Park Sintra Cascais offers a mix out of mountain and coast with impressive views from Lisbon to Ericeira. Riding from Sintra to Cascais is maybe the best option to discover this region not only because it´s more downhill than uphill.
There are uncountable ways to do it. The one I picked this time is a quite tough one. Steep uphills makes the pain hard but short. A well as downhills can do it!
Distance: 36 km
Fall: 1.150 m
Downhill: 1.150 m
Duration: 3-5 h
Caracter: difficult
We leave Sintra in direction Sao Pedro de Penaferrim and climb to Miradouro Eufémia. After 2.5 km we leave the paved road behind after 2.5 km and follow the unpaved track. 2 km later we find the road again and turn left until the first exit to the left, indicated by an information board. That is where the first downhill begins. We always follow the main track down, in case of doubt we turn right. It´s steep and water damages make it tricky sometimes, but all in all it´s easy to drive. Finally we come to an crossroad where we turn right again and start a slight and short uphill. On that´s end we find a little lake that we drive around on his right. When we left the lake behind we reached the second and longest uphill this day. On it´s top we got a great view from Lisbon to Guincho. On the peak after 3 km we the first singletrails on our tour. A steep singletrail through the forrest. Sometimes big rocks block the way, some ramps and little jumps bring some extra fun. After a 3 km downhill, crossing an unpaved road twice we reach a wider trail. Turning right we start a hard uphill almost until the Santuário da Peninha. After a kilometer we turn left on a flat doubletrail. After a short while we find a narrow singletrail along a fence. Beginning slight and easy the trail becomes more technical. In the middle of the downhill we cross the street by turning right and leaving on the street on the first unpaved road on the left. From there we search for a direct line down to the coast. After 21 km we finally reach the coast on the west end of Guincho Beach.
When we reach Guincho we find the cycling lane that leads us flat along the cost to Cascais. More than all during the sunset this lane is the best roll out ever! 13 km later we arrive Cascais where a the train back to Lisbon and a after tour beer are waiting.
