Recce Walk : Thursday 22 January 2015, Moinho da Rocha
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 11:22 am
Observant readers might be thinking they have a touch of deja vu.....didn't we do this on monday? The answer is a modified "yes" ; the Centenary Walk was here BUT it was too short at 1h 45m , I need to find an extra 45mins!
Looking at Google Earth, I think we can stay on the ridge for another 20/25 mins and then come down to the valley and back.....but recce walks are rarely as simple as that, and tracks on the ground can be confusing, so please come prepared for a longer walk, perhaps 3hours or 3.5 hours. There will also be at least 1 more water crossing and recent rains will only increase levels.
As usual for a recce walk, a few volunteers will be very useful, but not too many, so numbers limited to 10 please.
For those who weren't there on Monday, this is a slightly different part of the world , bit hilly in places but nothing too demanding with lovely views towards Monchique. There is a STEEP decline. There is a stream to cross , but there are some stepping stones.
For caffeine addicts, there isn't a cafe at the start of the walk, but there are 3 cafes on the approach road ( see below).....as I can't guarantee that O Tasco is open at about 0930 and Cafe Andre doesn't look very tempting, I would recommend Cafe A Taberna Nicola on the right ( see below) .
Start : 10.00 am
Degree of difficulty ( scale 1:5) : 3... energetic
Directions: From Lagoa, turn left on the N125 and go past the turn-off for Alvor. After a few hundred yards, there is a BP station on your right and a road signposted " Senhora do Verde, Vidigal, Casais, Alcalar, Torre" : turn right here. IF you go past the Hotal Penina on your left, you have gone too far.
Go up this road ( M532), crossing the motorway, for about 15 minutes , passing A Taberna Nicola cafe on your right, and Cafe Andre a bit later on your left. Carry on past O Tasco, on the left. Just past O Tasco, bear left and follow the Monchique sign. About 5 minutes after O Tasco, you will see a building on the right that used to be a cafe : this is what it looks like:
https://www.google.pt/maps/@37.2353011, ... !2e0?hl=en
Turn left here ( signposted Montes de Cima, Marmalete, Casais ) and park by the side of the road.
Map reference : 37°14'07.7"N ,8°35'29.3"W
Alternatively : wait just past the turn off on the N125 at 0940, just before the winery, and follow us!
Usual caveats: all walks are at your own risk, and we do not walk if it is pouring with rain.....I will endeavour to put any cancellation note on this site by 0830 on the day of the walk.
Walking boots/stout trainers , walking pole(s), hats and water recommended. No charge, of course.
Please advise if you are intending to come and whether you will want to meet us at the N125 turn-off.
Any questions , please ask below or PM me or ring 282 380015 preferably between 1800-1900 .
Looking at Google Earth, I think we can stay on the ridge for another 20/25 mins and then come down to the valley and back.....but recce walks are rarely as simple as that, and tracks on the ground can be confusing, so please come prepared for a longer walk, perhaps 3hours or 3.5 hours. There will also be at least 1 more water crossing and recent rains will only increase levels.
As usual for a recce walk, a few volunteers will be very useful, but not too many, so numbers limited to 10 please.
For those who weren't there on Monday, this is a slightly different part of the world , bit hilly in places but nothing too demanding with lovely views towards Monchique. There is a STEEP decline. There is a stream to cross , but there are some stepping stones.
For caffeine addicts, there isn't a cafe at the start of the walk, but there are 3 cafes on the approach road ( see below).....as I can't guarantee that O Tasco is open at about 0930 and Cafe Andre doesn't look very tempting, I would recommend Cafe A Taberna Nicola on the right ( see below) .
Start : 10.00 am
Degree of difficulty ( scale 1:5) : 3... energetic
Directions: From Lagoa, turn left on the N125 and go past the turn-off for Alvor. After a few hundred yards, there is a BP station on your right and a road signposted " Senhora do Verde, Vidigal, Casais, Alcalar, Torre" : turn right here. IF you go past the Hotal Penina on your left, you have gone too far.
Go up this road ( M532), crossing the motorway, for about 15 minutes , passing A Taberna Nicola cafe on your right, and Cafe Andre a bit later on your left. Carry on past O Tasco, on the left. Just past O Tasco, bear left and follow the Monchique sign. About 5 minutes after O Tasco, you will see a building on the right that used to be a cafe : this is what it looks like:
https://www.google.pt/maps/@37.2353011, ... !2e0?hl=en
Turn left here ( signposted Montes de Cima, Marmalete, Casais ) and park by the side of the road.
Map reference : 37°14'07.7"N ,8°35'29.3"W
Alternatively : wait just past the turn off on the N125 at 0940, just before the winery, and follow us!
Usual caveats: all walks are at your own risk, and we do not walk if it is pouring with rain.....I will endeavour to put any cancellation note on this site by 0830 on the day of the walk.
Walking boots/stout trainers , walking pole(s), hats and water recommended. No charge, of course.
Please advise if you are intending to come and whether you will want to meet us at the N125 turn-off.
Any questions , please ask below or PM me or ring 282 380015 preferably between 1800-1900 .