The 7 Schist Villages Walking Tour

A transfer will leave you at Ferraria São João, your first schist village, right in the centre of Portugal. Briefing at Vale do Ninho Nature Houses, followed by a short transfer and a walking loop in Casal São Simão. Relax at Fragas river beach and/or visit the village, a schist village located in a small crest overlooking the impressive Fragas de São Simão canyon where you pass by during the walking loop and where you can jump into the really freshwater rock pools. There is a nice restaurant and local shop in this one street village. Transfer to back to Ferraria São João. Dinner and overnight at Vale do Ninho Nature Houses.

After a delicious breakfast, start the day by participating in the Fresh Goat Cheese making workshop where you will milk the goats with a local shepherdess and learn all the manual process to produce the local cheese that you can taste later in the day. While waiting for it, do a walking loop starting at your house door, and passing by the village gardens (still in use), following the stream, and walking the crest of the São João Mountain to have incredible views over the valley and surrounding mountains. End the walk in the centuries’ old cork tree forest, the perfect spot for a picnic or an afternoon nap. Dinner and overnight at Vale do Ninho Nature Houses.
(7km; -547m +238m, 3 hours with extra 1 hour option)

On this day you will walk from Ferraria to Gondramaz passing by Louçainha Fluvial Beach mid-way where you can swim or have a snack in the local restaurant. There is a good chance to see some wild deer on the ascent to the mountain ridge while having a top view over your destination village. Gondramaz is waiting for you surrounded by chestnuts and beautiful schist houses. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Whisper Houses.
(20km; +850m -900m; optional shorter option with 5 min transfer)

Today you will do a walk that starts at your house from Gondramaz to Talasnal village. This trail is shady and marked by the entrance in the typical forest of the Lousã Mountain core area. It is inside this forest that you pass by the “witch land”, a picnic spot well known in the area perfect for a rest break. Just before descending to Casal Novo you have the chance to detour 1 km and visit another village called Chiqueiro. In the end of the walk you will find Talasnal, one of the most famous schist villages, with narrow streets and stairways. Transfer back to Gondramaz (20 minutes); dinner and overnight at Mountain Whisper Houses.
(11,5km; +705m -828m) 

Once you are more familiar with Lousã, a transfer will make the transport to Talasnal where you will start walking continuing to Cerdeira village by a single track cutting the slope of the mountain and passing by the typical villages of Vaqueirinho and Catarredor. You will arrive to the schist village of Candal where a great fountain, a local shop and a small, but great restaurant, will allow you to refresh and have a snack. From here you will climb a final section to Cerdeira, located just below Trevim, the highest point of Lousã Mountain (1241m). Dinner and overnight at Cerdeira Village.
(10km; +970m -739m)

Cerdeira is the arts village, where artists stay for some periods, to create and inspire themselves. It is a magical place, fully integrated with nature, where wood, stone and pottery craft work is done, among others. You will have the chance to participate in a cookery lesson dinner to learn and taste the Portuguese traditional food Chanfana. In the afternoon, get ready for a unique workshop on how to make Schist House Miniatures. Overnight at Cerdeira Village.

After your breakfast, walk from Cerdeira down to Lousã Castle by the levada (waterway) and find Senhora da Piedade fluvial beach. It is a different scenario, facing the valley and following the fresh water stream, ending in a great natural pool area. In this free dinner day, you may want to try one of the best restaurants in the area, located just in front of the beach where you will end your walk (“O Burgo”). Transfer to Coimbra and overnight at Sapientia Boutique Hotel.
(7Km; +280m -686m)