The Mount of Oaks/Monte dos Carvalhos is the original name given to the piece of land where we can be found. Hidden in the agricultural lands below the Serra de Gardunha mountains, we are situated between the historic villages of Castelo Novo, Alpedrinha and Povoa de Atalaia in the municipality of Fundão. Our nearest bigger cities are Covilhã to the north and Castelo Branco to the south.
GETTING HERE..by car, train or coach.
Train
Our nearest train station is Alpedrinha and there is a direct route to Lisbon. The journey takes about 4 1/2 hours and on average costs 17E, sometimes less if booked in advance. There are ‘faster’ trains to Fundão – there are times when we can co-ordinate lifts from there, but we ask a little money to cover the extra costs of fuel! You can arrive by train from Porto to Alpedrinha. There is a change required, it takes longer than coming by bus, but it is still possible.
For details about the train services in Portugal check http://www.cp.pt
There is a button to switch to English.
Coach
There is an international and national bus station in our local market town of Fundão. For people coming from Porto, there are buses to Fundão and then a connection to Alpedrinha via train. From Porto to Fundão takes 4 hours by coach, there are several services daily. To arrive with us the same day, you are best to catch a bus around 10am or 2pm.
From the Sete Rios bus terminal in Lisbon you can also take a coach to Fundão – again at least 4 buses a day. We prefer if you take the earlier buses and if you can co-ordinate the bus and trains so they can arrive in Alpedrinha train station.
Check the bus website for travel within Portugal http://www.rede-expressos.pt/ This too has an option for English.
By car
The GPS co-ordinates for the Mount of Oaks community are:
LAT 40.06072LONG – 7.28198 – check these details and make sure that you are coming to Castelo Novo/Alpedrinha/Povoa de Atalaia please.
If you are coming from Lisbon or Porto, and taking the motorway allow approximately 2 1/2 hours for the trip. Madrid is 4 about 4 hours away by car.
For the GOOGLE MAP to the edge of the land click here
On the A23 you want to take the exit for CASTELO NOVO/ ALPEDRINHA. Follow the directions ALPEDRINHA- ESTAÇÃO CAMINHO FERRO…
You will come to a T-junction onto the N18, there you TURN LEFT towards Alpedrinha.
After about 500 meters you need to slow down and start indicating to the right as you want the next RIGHT TURN. There is an old abandoned building on the corner of the tarmac track.
So you know you are turning at the correct track – also look out for warning sign with a cow.
Then go straight ahead along the tarmac track, crossing over the train lines and going ahead.
Simply keep following the tarmac road until there is a t-junction.
TURN RIGHT at the t- junction following the blue MOO signs.
Then continue through the walls slowly – the road is not the best!
Following the blue signs for MOO.
There is a Portuguese rule which says, where there is no sign, just keep going straight. However, whenever there is an option for two roads the sign will show the way.
You can park your car up top on the right under the eucalyptus trees and walk the rest – or if you prefer, carry on into the land, and then up to the marked parking places.
BELOW IS A GOOGLE MAP TO FOLLOW
If you are coming from Lisbon or Porto, and taking the motorway allow approximately 2 1/2 hours for the trip. Madrid is 4 about 4 hours away by car.