Central Way

The route between Santiago do Cacém and Grândola proposed by the GR11-E9 is based on an itinerary with an extension of about 40 km, mostly on road and without any intermediate support until Santa Margarida da Serra. It might be acceptable for those who travel by mountain bike but not advisable for hikers. This is, therefore, a stage that starts as a “recourse” for walking travelers but ends up being frankly more interesting in terms of landscape, experiences, and comfort it provides.

Once we start the stage in front of the City Council building, we head to the city’s exit, passing Largo 25 de Abril and going up Rua de Lisboa until the next roundabout. There, we find a yellow building crossed by a tunnel showing a pedestrian path. We find out it’s the old Estrada Real (Royal Road) that gives access to the top of the Ermida de S. Sebastião (St Sebastian’s Hermitage). We admire the view for a moment and descend again to the Path to discover “Delícias para Ti” (Delicacies for You)!…. In this traditional atelier of cakes and biscuits, the artisan Cristina Gomes produces the famous cake “Bolo de Santiago”.

Further on, we travel a short stretch of 400 meters on the busy N120 national road, from which we turn right on the only dirt road, with the mountain ranges of Grândola and Cercal on the horizon. After 1.5 km, we find a geodesic marker and turn left for a steep descent to the tight valley of a stream, on whose banks we will follow another 1.5 km. It is an area of dense cork and holm oak forest, very fresh and of great natural beauty. We will end up deviating to the left, going up the hill and reaching a macadam road, which will take us through ridges and valleys of a pleasant rural atmosphere until the railway line.

Crossing it on the existing pedestrian walkway, we quickly reach the village of S. Bartolomeu da Serra through Avenida 25 de Abril. On the right, we find the beautiful train station of São Bartolomeu da Serra, from 1932, with yellow tones and decorated with azulejo tiles. In S. Bartolomeu we replenish our energy, with two grocery stores and two coffee shops to choose from, and we take the opportunity to visit the church of São Bartolomeu da Serra, where we can see an image of the apostle Saint Bartholomew. It is worth remembering that, until the end of the stage in Roncão (almost 11 km), we will not find any other point of support on the Path, except for an emergency, at the Hotel Rural do Monte da Ameira.

Every year in mid-July, the village becomes enlivened with the organization the Festival Nacional de Folclore, with ethnographic parades and the participation of various Portuguese choirs and “ranchos” (folkloric groups), among them the local Rancho Folclórico Ninho de Uma Aldeia.We head north and quickly exit the N121 national road, turning left on the dirt track, next to a white house with an interesting “algarvian” style chimney. We pass a rural tourism center and cross with a wide road that we’ll follow to the left, going down to the beautiful valley of the Ribeira de Corona. Passing the stream by a recent bridge, we turn left and continue to follow it until we are forced to pass it by ford, after which, at the fork, we choose the path to the right.

In the middle of abandoned hills and narrow leafy valleys, we continue along the marked trail, totally immersed in nature, until we reach the village of Roncão, where we meet the N120 national road. We turn left, walking a few meters along the road, and we finish the stage in front of Solar dos Leitões. In this manor, as in the whole village, the “Leitão Assado” (roasted suckling pig) is a central dish. We spend the night in one of the existing local accommodations, in case you haven’t preferred to stay in the field, enjoying the excellent conditions of Monte da Ameira.