[mk-san]

So i 've got a field course in portugal in the summer and an extra week after that for loitering around Lisbon.
Im hoping to get out to sintra for a few days at least, bu obviously not going to be with any other climbers so will have to do most of my travelling there by public transport/on foot. I'l get the boulder sintra guide, but does anyone know if it has info on getting to the main areas or camping around there?
Anyone been or have any knowledge of the area? Bouldering font 7a but hoping to get that up a bit by changing up my regime of lazy punterishness this summer.

Cheers for any advice

[mk-san]

Or if i rented a car... could get one for 4-5 days (dont think my tips would take much more) for about 70quid.
I might be able to get away with sleeping in that. Obviously its a national park so would park somewhere out of the way, but anyone know if that sounds feasible/or just a recipe for getting robbed and fined?

[Dolly]

I don't think you'd get robbed.
I went there last Easter (as did Percy and Lucy so they might well have different opinions) and there just weren't that many people climbing there. All you'd need to do is drive a little way down a few of the tracks to get some peace and quiet at night.
A few walkers and people visiting the monastery but not many punters (I did see one couple behind a boulder who weren't er...climbing)
It might be pretty hot though so wouldn't hold out too many hopes of doing to much hard stuff. There's lots of good stuff at all grades though.
Sintra seems to have its own (quite wet) micro climate. We were staying close to the beach and were often cloudless and sunny when it was grey further up the mountain, so I'd look at the lower level stuff near Malveira if its wet.
Its a beautiful place to climb and I'd definitely like to go again.
There's a brilliant fresh fish restaurant on the "world's best beach" at Adraga which is worth going to if you have the time.
I'll post some pics of the climbing and beaches if you'd like any more info

[SA Chris]

I'd like to see the pics if you get a chance. Ta.

[Dolly]

Wil do Chris, but will have to be tomorrow as they're only on my work machine

[mk-san]

Sweet thats great. So i think car rental might be a decent solution, i had heard about the sintra microclimate. but baisically going to hope for the best im sure i could just about manage being forced to spend my time on "the worlds best beach" if its raining on the boulders.
Any other pics or info would be great, even if its just about where to park for one or 2 of the main climbing areas? i read the climb newcastle blog which talks about malveria and stuff further up the coast. But i guess a car's the only sensible way to get back and forth if the weathers a gamble.
cheers for the knowledge.

[Durbs]

We got mildly caught out by the Sintra bouldering, only in so far as it's not actually in Sintra (town), rather Sintra the area - about 20-30 mins drive out from town to get to Capuchos (sp? The Cork Monastery place).
Truly beauitful setting with tall trees and beautiful boulders.
There was another area near Sintra whose name I forget which was a popular picnic spot for the locals , but outside of this was empty of everyone except a few climbers and the off segway tour.

The granite wasn't that sharp, nothing compared to Dartmoor certainly.

[Dolly]

Link to my pics here.
They were taken by my son and I put them all up so you might think there are too many. Anyway...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63486119@N03/

[SA Chris]

Nice one, looks like a great spot.

[mk-san]

Thats great thanks for the pictures, looks like theres a reasonable range of stuff so i can have a bit of variety between trying to teach myself some technique and overhangy goodness.
Were these all in the same areas? the 133 and 125 rock looks pretty interesting.
looking at car hire now so that should be good, and works out about as cheap as camping?
How easy is it to find each of the little areas btw? and are the tracks passable by puny rental hatchback?

thanks for all your help.

[Dolly]

They're from the Malveiras crags, Capuchos and the rock you like is in the Albarrasintra area, sector mecca.
The areas aren't too bad to find.
Yes to the hatchback, but take it steady

[Slide]

For Mecca area come in from the North not the South.