Zig-zagging down a hilly valley, following the Paiva River, the Paiva Walkways or Passadiços do Paiva as it is known locally, is a wooden walkway that takes visitors on a geology, history and nature journey through an area of abundant deposits of quartz crystals, fossils, rare flora and fauna.
The wooden walkway is designed to interfere as little as possible with the surrounding environment, but still letting visitors enjoy the topography and natural environment which would otherwise be inaccessible
Leaving the Sanctuary of Fátima behind we found ourselves heading towards the small town of Tomar (or Thomar in English). We had not heard much about this town before our visit, but it was enthusiastically recommended to us by someone we have met on our travels in Spain. The driving there from Fátima was mostly quite dull, flat, through small towns and some industrial areas. We were kept entertained by the many sights of pilgrims and their heavy backpacks walking at the side of the busy main