Cabo Espichel

Most visitors to the area come for the views from the cape and to visit the church and lighthouse. The more adventurous follow the marked trail to the dinosaur footprint viewing platforms on top of the northern cliffs. To do this, they walk past the steep trail down to Praia dos Lagosteiros, meaning this beach is often overlooked and consequently has very few visitors. In our opinion, this beach is well worth the walk as it's the perfect place to avoid the crowds and soak in a very special atmosphere.

 

The beach is a perfect cove that is surrounded by two completely different cliffs-a: a huge limestone slab to the south and dramatically eroded sandstone rocks to the north. This is usually a rocky beach, although in the summer months, there is a strip of sand beside the shoreline that is often sheltered from winds. This is not a beach for swimming as the currents near the cape are very strong. The beach is accessed by a safe but eroded steep track.

You can’t get much more remote than these two beautiful but completely different beaches. As you are facing the sea, Praia do Inferno is on the left and is covered by boulders and has difficult access to the sea. Praia do Temporal is on the right and is a picture-perfect sandy cove next to the azure water. Both are sheltered by some dramatic cliffs and are separated by a very impressive rock arch, which for many is the reason for coming here. So why are these beaches mostly deserted? Basically, it’s due to their challenging access.

 

The descent down from the cliffs has a stage where it seems that no further progress can be made, around the corner, some steps have been cut out and which provide an approach to Praia do Inferno. Having said that, these steps are not for the faint-hearted and should only be attempted by experienced hill walkers. Getting to the sand also requires effort and involves climbing over some boulders or using the fixed rope by the cliffs. You will be rewarded by some of the clearest waters in the region and on calm days, a swim from Praia do Temporal to the small island just offshore is a possibility

Praia da Cova da Mijonais is a 500-metre-long beach at the foot of some of Portugal's highest and most impressive cliffs. During the summer period, most people arrive by boat or kayak, but as they rarely stay, Mijonacan give you a taste of what it's like to have a reasonably large beach all to yourself. There's a good expanse of sand and also plenty of rocks and reefs to swim to and explore. The trail down to the beach is possibly the steepest of all the trails listed in this book and is only suitable for experienced hillwalkers.

 

Steps have been cut out of the rocks at its most precarious section, making the descent doable. Interestingly, there is a relatively new building on the right with its own little beach, which seems to be in some form of use. It is possible to hike from Praia da Ribeira do Cavalo to here and experience some of the best views in Arrábida

Praia da Baleeira is one of the Arrábida's hidden treasures. This pebbly narrow inlet sheltered by large limestone cliffs is difficult to access but well worth the effort as the sea here is usually wave-free and it accordingly has some of the clearest waters in the region. Being in the middle of a marine reserve, this bay is teeming with life and, in our opinion, offers the best conditions for snorkelling and diving in the whole of the Lisbon region.

 

You don’t have to snorkel far to see reefs and seagrasses that are home to many marine species. Part of the beauty of Baleeira is the trek to get down there, as the views from the cliffs are stunning. To the west of the bay is the marked trail (PR1 SSB), which takes you to the remains of a fort (Forte de São Domingos da Baralha) that once protected Praia da Baleeira and gives you an idea of the importance of the beach in times gone by.

This is one of our very favourite beaches on this stretch of coast. A tricky descent down the side of a steep, grassy embankment on the south-facing cliff ensures that the numbers on this beach are considerably lower than on its neighbour, Foz.

 

Out of season, you are likely to have this small but stunning beach all to yourself. It's a perfect cove with golden sands surrounded by cliffs and different coloured rock formations, offering shelter and privacy. On the southern side, there is a section of dark rock that is very unusual and is made up of Dolerite-a, a form of ancient magma. There are many sharp rocks to contend with when swimming or paddling, and caution is required