Blog entry: Portugal's Off Roading paradise - Some things you must know

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Pedro Santos and I'm writing you from Portugal. I've been a Land Rover fan for almost ten years now, ever since me and my wife bought our first Discovery. Since then we're hooked.

Portugal is one of the best places in Europe for offroading, for several reasons. The diversity of the countryside ranges from rocky mountains to extensive, hot plains, almost desert like. And the great thing about it is that, being a relatively small country, you always have a city nearby, with anything you might need.

However there are some things you must know before you pack up and set out towards the Atlantic.

Off Roading is very big in Portugal. Although part of the European Union Portugal doesn't have the same limits to driving off road other EU partners have.

There are literally thousands of off roading clubs and groups in Portugal. Every weekend hundreds of people gather and spend the day in the forest. Entire families can be seen in a Land Rover Discovery or a Nissan Patrol GR or any other 4x4. Still, there are some rules you need to know before you go off roading in Portugal.

Where you can and cannot drive your 4x4.

Any road or trail that isn't on private land is a public road. That means that you can use it as long as you obey normal traffic laws like speed limits. Dirt roads are usually used by land owners to get to there farms, fire-fighters when battling a forest fire and forest patrols. You must, however, pay attention not to go in private land without the owners permission. This can be confusing as sometimes there are no markings in the road indicating you are entering private property. Pay attention to small fences because they can be the only reference. If you see someone on the trail ask if it's ok for you to use the trail. If the person is the owner f the land they will usually grant you permission to use the road and will indicate you the best way to get across the area. Just be nice and DON'T CROSS PLANTED FIELDS! You can use public roads and trails or private ones as long as you obey traffic laws and have permission on the land owner. You can cross streams, climb rocks and hills as long as you don't destroy or jeopardise wild life including protected plants and trees like pines and olive trees. Beaches and dunes near the beach. Completely off limits. No exceptions. You cannot drive on the beach or on the dunes near the beach, in any time of the year.

Exceptions - Very Important!

There are however some important exceptions to driving off road. Protected areas like national parks are off limits to big 4x4 groups. You can use the roads but cannot drive outside of the delimited trail. Large groups of 4x4s have to ask permission to the parks management staff. In the Summer and on very hot days you cannot drive in the forest as there is the danger of forest fires. This is because these fires can appear from nowhere and progress very rapidly. You can find yourself very quickly in dangerous situation or even get in trouble with the police for suspicion of causing the fire. You will usually find warning signs when entering a forest indicating if it's ok to be there that day. Obey every sign you see.

Common sense

When driving off road use your common sense and you'll do fine. Sometimes there are no signs for special conditions like private land because that particular trail may be rarely used but if you talk to people you meet they will always help you. Don't leave trash in the forest and don't light fires in any situation. Forest fires are a big problem in Portugal. Don't cross fields that might seem to be used for planting. Off Roading in Portugal Have fun Portugal is a fantastic place to do off roading with fantastic forests and different trails of different levels of difficulty. Contact local off road clubs to know more about off roading in that particular place and you will probably have a guided tour from several people leading you to the best spots and keeping you safe from trouble.

Let me know your thoughts.

Have you ever been in Portugal? How was it like? What's offroading like in your country?

Pedro