Hi all...a NEW walk....but now closed, see below.

About 2 hours 10mins, mainly flat(tish) but with a couple of gentle slopes.

Degree of Difficulty ( scale 1:5) : 2 Moderate

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). After going through a single lane tunnel and after about another 1/4 mile, make sure you follow the road bending left signed Alcalar ; do NOT go straight on.
You should then soon be crossing the motorway. Carry on, 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/@37.235301, ... !2e0?hl=en

Turn left here ( signposted Montes de Cima, Marmalete, Casais ) and drive on for about 3kms till you get to Montes de Cima. Follow the road round to the right to the cafe Taberna da Manel ; park opposite, or a bit further up the road.Please do not park just outside the cafe.

GPS : 37.241448, -8.611435

Alternatively : wait just past the turn off on the N125 at 0930, 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.

The cafe has a good range of sandwiches/tostas etc and sells honey in jars of all shapes and sizes. Depending upon numbers, we can have lunch ( optional) at either of the good restaurants, a few miles back down the road.

If there only a few going on the walk, my preference would be for Solar do Farelo BUT we would need to book if we want the views : 2 courses there are 16€ with an excellent choice of dishes.
If there are a reasonable number coming, then Amadeus Gardens is the better choice : 3 courses for 16€, but again, need to book.

Please advise if:
(a) you are intending to come
(b) whether you will want to meet us at the N125 turn-off
(c) whether you want lunch.
As these walks were quite popular , we may have to limit numbers to about 20 , so it is important to say if you intend to come.

Any questions , please ask below or PM me or ring 282 380015 preferably between 1800-1900.

Please put us down for the walk and lunch Geoff. We would prefer Solar do Farelo if poss, even if we had to sit inside!
Will meet you at Montes de Cima.
Trish and Alan

Hi Geoff
Please include Margaret and Ian.We have 2 friends staying that week who would like to walk as well.
Will it be ok for them to join us?
We will meet you at the start of the walk and would all be staying for lunch.

We have 2 friends staying that week who would like to walk as well.

that's fine.....did they want to come on the 22 Feb one as well?

Hi Geoff,

Julia and I arrive back this weekend, so will be up for the walk on Thursday, probably along with our friend Sarah.
We'll be staying for lunch.

Love to Sue x

Good evening could you please book Jim & Marion Moulson on the walk and we will stay for lunch. We are on holiday for a month. Regards Jim

Is there any room for two on the walk for 22 Feb? Jim Moulson

Is there any room for two on the walk for 22 Feb? Jim Moulson

I expect we will be having a vacancy or two, so can squeeze you in....

I have managed to book 2 tables at the Solar do Farelo for 13, so am now closing this walk.

I would appreciate confirmation from all the above that they will be coming , soonest please. The weather looks good BUT even if it isn't, we still need to honour the booking.

I will PM you all.

Just to say that Jim & Marian can't make it, but Rob and Sarah ( no connection!) can...so 13 still.

We ended up on as 18 walkers on a cloudy but dry day, welcoming Kate and John as newcomers and Kevin & Judith as retournees



Walk was just on 2 hours ( memo: must find a 20 minute detour somewhere) and was uneventful other than Bruce and some others thought it merited a "3 energetic" rather than a "2 moderate" grading....think the majority verdict is still with a 2.

Anyway, we adjourned to the local cafe, with some braving a wan sun :



and others finding great amusement inside :



Before retiring to Solar do Farelo:







enjoying wild boar stew, lamb shanks, baked fish and various other dishes, not forgetting an everlasting couple of barrels of wine!

Somehow, space was found for pudding:




Think we had 2 hours walking, half hour at the cafe and 3 hours at the restaurant...good job it wasn't too sunny!

Just to add that Sue & I have now found an extra 35 minute loop that adds some glorious views, making the new total 2.5 hours and upgrading it to a "3"......will do the walk in May.
Anyway, here is the map of the track we walked, curtesy of Alan