For the walkers
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:14 pm
Just come back from 12 glorious days in Portugal and even tho' we seem to have brought the good weather back with us I still wish I was back there - just have to make do with the photos 'til next time!
If you like exploring out of the way places in the Algarve the updated Sunflower book by Brian and Eileen Anderson called 'Algarve car tours and walks' is now available. (Couldn't get hold of it last year as it was being reprinted)
My brother-in-law (being a 'serious' walker, as opposed to us who are just amateurs!) introduced the book to us a couple of years ago and having finally got hold of our own copy we tried out 3 of the walks when we were out last week and I'm looking forward to trying some of the ones further afield next time we're there. Spring is definitely a good time to enjoy the scenery on these walks - banks of wild flowers, fabulous views and rural scenery well away from the touristy stuff. The ones we tried out :
1. The Ihla do Rosario circuit just outside Silves is great for a mainly flat walk all along an irrigation channel with views of orange groves, the two rivers splitting and Silves in the distance. Nice riverbank cafe at Club Nautico about half way round the walk in the middle of nowhere - just been taken over by Gary and his wife - live music on Sunday afternoons.
2. The Marinha to Benagil walk (opposite direction to the one described in the book - then you can have a cafe break/treat yourself to one of Casa Lamy's cakes before the walk back!) has the best views of rock formations, blowholes etc that we've found as yet.
3. Our favourite so far - one called the Silves circuit. Up to the windmill behind Silves, then along several ridges with wonderful views of the hills in the distance, plus the surrounding orange groves/fields and a good view back to Silves castle before descending down through a eucalyptus forest (loads of wild flowers) back to Silves.
Anyone else done any of these walks?
If you like exploring out of the way places in the Algarve the updated Sunflower book by Brian and Eileen Anderson called 'Algarve car tours and walks' is now available. (Couldn't get hold of it last year as it was being reprinted)
My brother-in-law (being a 'serious' walker, as opposed to us who are just amateurs!) introduced the book to us a couple of years ago and having finally got hold of our own copy we tried out 3 of the walks when we were out last week and I'm looking forward to trying some of the ones further afield next time we're there. Spring is definitely a good time to enjoy the scenery on these walks - banks of wild flowers, fabulous views and rural scenery well away from the touristy stuff. The ones we tried out :
1. The Ihla do Rosario circuit just outside Silves is great for a mainly flat walk all along an irrigation channel with views of orange groves, the two rivers splitting and Silves in the distance. Nice riverbank cafe at Club Nautico about half way round the walk in the middle of nowhere - just been taken over by Gary and his wife - live music on Sunday afternoons.
2. The Marinha to Benagil walk (opposite direction to the one described in the book - then you can have a cafe break/treat yourself to one of Casa Lamy's cakes before the walk back!) has the best views of rock formations, blowholes etc that we've found as yet.
3. Our favourite so far - one called the Silves circuit. Up to the windmill behind Silves, then along several ridges with wonderful views of the hills in the distance, plus the surrounding orange groves/fields and a good view back to Silves castle before descending down through a eucalyptus forest (loads of wild flowers) back to Silves.
Anyone else done any of these walks?