This Is A Lovely Run Along The Gorgeous Cliffs...

Sagres, Portugal

This is a lovely run along the gorgeous cliffs near Sagres. Located at the far western end of the Algarve, Sagres offers more natural beauty and solitude and much less clutter than the rest of the region. An excellent place to stay and to start your run (you can park there even if you are not a guest) is the Pousada do Infante in Sagres. Walk south about 50 meters from the hotel until you are at the edge of the cliff that drops off into the Atlantic. Be careful, the path runs right next to these sheer cliffs and there are no barriers. Start at the point that is about 400 meters up the coast, east of the hotel. Run back along the cliffs toward and past the Pousada. In a few kilometers you will encounter a steep path down to the beach. Either follow this path down and run across the beach, or turn slightly inland and run through the small town, staying above the beach. After the beach (about 2 kilometers), pick up the path along the cliffs again and continue towards the point. Eventually, staying as close to the ocean as possible, you will reach and can run past Cabo St. Vincent. This is the southwestern most point in Europe, and where many famous explorers began their careers. You can see this point on your globe at home. This run was so beautiful - the golden cliffs, the turquoise sea, the solitude - that I lost track of time and distance. I am pretty sure you can continue indefinitely up the Atlantic Coast, but I only ran for about 10k and then returned. Water and food is available in the small town of Sagres and at small stands outside of the lighthouse at Cabo St. Vincent.