Variation of PR8 SNT Percurso do Vinho de Colares 18-10-2020

This is a variation of the waymarked trail " PR8 SNT Percurso do Vinho de Colares".
You won't see any vineyards on this variation, though, because the part of the original PR8 SNT that passes through them is replaced by following the Caminho do Atlântico further to the south. This increases the length from 14.0 km to 18.5 km, but you are rewarded by great views from the top of the cliffs in between Azenhas do Mar and Praia das Maçãs.
Also the walk is done in the opposite sense of PR8 SNT, which I find more rewarding since the most interesting part, the coastal walk along the Caminho do Atlântico comes further towards the end.
You start the walk in Varzea de Colares, from where you follow the waymarked PR8 in reverse, mostly on roads or forest roads, that lead through an area of pine forest sprinkled with houses and villas.
Around 4.1 km into the walk you can visit the chapel of São Mamede, that is interesting to see but can be left out when pressed for time, saving about 0.5 h.
You cross through the village of Fontanelas in order to descend towards the coastal cliffs, where you join the Caminho do Atlântico.
Walk on top of the cliffs until you reach the village of Azenhas do Mar with its pitoresque water mills, where at 10.5 km you divert from the waymarked PR8 SNT and follow the Caminho do Atlântico (which is also signposted as GR11) further to the South, until reaching the village above Praia das Maçãs, where I went to the beach in order to have a picnic.
You then follow some sideroads until at 17.1 km you join PR8 SNT again, that takes you back to the starting point at Varzea de Colares.