Just a 20 minutes drive from our Quinta, you will find a horse riding farm and kilometres and kilometres of mountain tracks: beautiful rock sculptures, valleys and forests, Roman bridges, little rivers, authentic villages with shepherds and their flocks….
Horseback riding in the breath taking nature of Portugal, for children and adults with and without experience! Hour rides, picnic rides or 20 to 40 min rides for inexperienced riders and children from 4 years old.
You like riding in small groups?
Enjoy your horse riding experience in pure authentic nature?
Here you are at the right place!
For experienced horse riders they even offer the unique experience to ride in the full moon, trust your horse completely while you canter in the moonlight.
Romantic getaway
Horse riding during your holiday in Portugal and stay in a romantic getaway right in the heart of Portugal: Quinta da Palmeira – Country House Retreat & Spa.
Their horses form a true herd, always being together and almost always grazing in the meadows, having around 25 hectares available to live, that is, not only eat but also run and play, being in fact real happy horses.
When they have to work, they are temporarily in their stables, which have the particularity of being open so they can see, touch and smell each other. In winter, when it rains a lot and it´s cold, they go to their stables to sleep and eat, but during the day they go to the meadow again, rain or shine.
All of their horses are what is usually said “barefoot”, that is, they have not used horseshoes since 2006. They believe that they are therefore healthier and happier. The hooves are trimmed every 6 weeks by Tom de Graeve, the Bare foot trimmer from Portugal, a specialist in “bare foot trimming”. When derived from the work they usually do, especially in the summer, when they start to have the most sensitive hooves they wear hoof boots, from the brand “Renegade“.
They currently have 12 horses, of which nine horses are available for riding and three are spending their well deserved pension or have a permanent injury.
Two are Haflingers, four Lusitano thoroughbreds, four Portuguese Cross, one Garrano, one KWPN and one Selle Français. They all have a unique character, being calm, gentle and loving horses, but with a lot of spirit and inner energy giving many joys to all types of riders.
You ride with English saddles and all of them have sheep skins, in order to make the rides more comfortable. For longer rides we also have saddlebags available.
The horse riding farm can be reached within a 25 minute drive from Quinta da Palmeira – Country House Retreat & Spa.
The Serra do Açor is dotted with numerous villages, their rustic brown schist buildings blending seamlessly with the surrounding terrain. The steep slopes make agriculture challenging, but the locals have adapted by building stone terraces and walls to hold the soil in place, creating a unique and picturesque landscape. The presence of quartzite rock formations adds a rugged contrast to the otherwise rounded peaks of the schist mountains, particularly noticeable in areas like Penedos do Fajão and Serra do Vidual, the latter crossed by the Unhais River, now dammed at Santa Luzia.
PR1 AGN – Caminho do Xisto da Benfeita: The Freshness of Waterfalls
One of the most popular hiking routes in Serra do Açor is the “Caminho do Xisto da Benfeita,” a 10-kilometer circular trail that starts in the village of Benfeita. This route is known for its vigorous but rounded terrain, sculpted by the folding and fracturing of the schist rocks. The trail winds through valleys with steep drops, where streams carve deep paths and create impressive geological features, including the stunning waterfalls of Fraga da Pena.
As you walk this trail, you’ll encounter several small but beautiful waterfalls and witness the transformation of the landscape, shaped over centuries by human activity. The trail climbs to a rocky crest offering breathtaking views over the valley below, making the effort worthwhile. The route passes through the Protected Landscape Area of Serra do Açor, with a short detour leading to the Fraga da Pena, where you can marvel at the impressive cascades.
PR2 and PR3 AGN – Hiking from Piódão to Foz d’Égua and Chaz d’Égua
Another must-do hike in the Serra do Açor connects the iconic village of Piódão with the hamlets of Foz d’Égua and Chaz d’Égua. This circular route begins and ends in Largo Cónego Manuel Nogueira, linking Piódão with these nearby villages. The trail is relatively gentle, with only a few steeper sections.
As you walk, you’ll pass by abandoned houses, a reminder of the area’s pastoral past, and you might spot beehives in the clearings, evidence of the still-active beekeeping traditions in the Serra do Açor. The trail offers a serene and immersive experience in one of Portugal’s most beautiful and lesser-known regions, where the harmony between nature and human heritage is palpable.