I have been requested to add some more thursday walks, so here goes!

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE

This is a NEW walk, only just discovered, so I want to repeat it whilst it's fresh in the mind, and do it in reverse!

It's a lovely walk by the Western Barragem do Funcho. Most of it is flat(ish) but perhaps 20% is hilly.....nothing too severe, but it probably merits a "3" category for that part.

The O Gralha has recently enhanced it's reputation and we have recently had three good meals there for about 8€.

Degree of difficulty ( scale 1:5) : 3, energetic for 20%, 1, easy for 80%.

Directions : drive from CVO to Silves, go over the bridge and turn right and follow the N124 for about 7 kms until you see a turning on the left signposted "Barragem do Arade 3 kms".......the signpost is in a small triangular traffic island, which has a large palm tree on it.

It may be easier to meet here at 09:30.....the start of the walk is another 10 minutes drive away.

If you want to meet at the start of the walk itself, then drive in the direction of the Barragem for 1km when there is a cafe on the left ( A Rainha): turn right, signposted Canestros and Gregorios.

Drive through both Canestros and Gregarios for 3kms then make a sharp left turn, almost doubling back on yourself.

Drive for 2kms until you come to a T junction at the top of the hill, turn right and drive through the village : the O Gralha cafe/restaurant is at the end of the village on the left hand side. Please park on the right.

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.

Please advise if you are intending to come, whether you want to meet at the N124 turn-off or at the cafe.

Due to the recent increase in numbers, I am limiting this walk to 20 people.

Any questions , please ask or ring 282 380015 preferably between 1800-1900 or before 0900.

Thanks Geoff - please add us to the list.
Trish and Alan

Yes please for Helen & Nigel

Please count us in Geoff. Syd,May and Wendy.

Please count us in Geoff. Syd,May and Wendy.

Please note we will be walking the Western Barragem do Funcho NEW walk, rather than the Vale de Fuzeiros Menhir walk....but same start/finish cafe. See note above.

Please add Russell to the list. I will be busy with my doggy friends.

.....and Graeme & Viv

A lovely day for walking : slight breeze, sun shining...almost too hot to sit and have a starter coffee at O Gralho....

Anyway, consensus was a good new walk, 11kms, 2h 20m, 188m assent......walking it in a clockwise direction meant an easier assent and a steeper descent, rather than v-v....but that was only for the first 20%...the rest was level around the barragem.

We welcomed Bob and Maggie for their first CVO walk, and Nina who we hadn't seen for some time:



and had a great view of the barragem as we walked around:



and to prove the sun shone and the sky was blue:



ending up with dorado or lamb chops or pork at O Gralha ( oh, and some wine):



think we spent almost as much time eating &b drinking than walking, but........