Two weeks ago I was so distracted by all the wildflowers I never got round to talking about Alcoutim, well yesterday we took my wonderful sister-in-law Lisa up into the hills. Again we stopped at our favourite pull in just before the village of Fonte do Penedo and I found myself in macro mode for a short while, but for once I took more photographs in Alcoutim than I did on the journey there.
You do need a car if you are visiting Alcoutim for the day as it is impossible to travel by public transport on a Sunday and almost impossible to get there and back in a day on a weekday. However if you have access to a car it is a relatively easy and quick drive up as long as you are not like us and get distracted by the views and wildflowers! Alternatively the river is navigable between Vila Real de Santo António and Mértola, so you could always arrive by boat. Would love to do that one day. Another way to arrive if you happen to be in Spain is by zip-line! Just check out this video from Joage Soares.
Alcoutim as with many of the towns and villages on the Guadiana has a long history of human habitation from the neolithic period through to Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors and finally the Christians. Signs of the various occupations are evident in the churches, castle and chimneys. I particularly though love the tiles which depict more recent history.
Even on a Sunday in winter there is plenty to do in Alcoutim: there’s the castle, the river beach and enough cafes to while away a couple of hours. You can also take the 10minute ferry ride to Spain or simply do what we do which is stroll around this pretty town. My other love when in Alcoutim are all the cats. I miss my cats when here in the Algarve and so am a sucker for all the friendly faces here.
Not brave enough for the zip wire but love the beach. Was there with my grandsons over Easter. Glorious day and we had the beach to ourselves fishing and watching frogs leaping in the algae.
I was tempted until I saw the finish . . I have a fear of falling and when you land they actual unharness you when there are no barriers around you. Definitely too scary for me then!!
How wonderful to be able to have the beach to yourselves (apart from the frogs!!), and at Easter too.
It’s such a nice, gentle place, isn’t it? (zip-line apart 🙂 ) I’ve always meant to do the boat trip too. The list never ends! Have a happy week!
Maybe we can do the boat trip together one of these days!
Ah-ha! Planning required 🙂
What a beautiful post and sunday trip… Fascinated me. I love nature, cats, and yes these blue tiles… Sounds it is a great place… I supposed that you went down by the zip-line 🙂 The view is amazing but I can’t do this dear becky 🙂 Thank you, have a nice new week, Love, nia
I wasn’t brave enough to try the zip line!! It’s the but at the end which scares me – they take off the harness before you are behind a barrier.
Oh dear I can gıuess, I am joking… They are crazyy. Thank you, Love, nia