Still trying to post this and see it on site. I will spend the month of March in Carvoeiro and would like to find a walking group for a good energetic walk at least once a week. Not mountain climbin, not ridge walking, but a walk of a couple of hours.

Try Julie Statham's site, www.portugalwalks.com (Day and half day walks - Algarve)
We have done several walks with Julie's group and intend to join them again next week when we are in Carvoeiro. Most of the walks are within an easy drive of Carvoeiro. They are 2-3 hour walks in the countryside and not too strenuous. No booking needed - just turn up.

Many thanks. I will definitely check it out and hope to take part. I think I have read about her before.

You could also purchase the latest edition of Julie Stratham's book entitled "Let's Walk" which describes 23 different self-guided walking tours around the Algarve. We purchased our copy at the bookstore in Carvoeiro near the top of the in-road but I'm sure that it's available at many other locations. You would need a car to get to most of the tour locations, though.

We took several of the walks last year (to the menhirs near Vila do Bispo and to the Fontes de Benemola) and they were great. We found the directions to be fairly accurate but make sure you have a good roadmap that you can use for reference. The descriptions of the various features provided good context. Going on our own, we could walk as slow or as fast as we wished.

If you have high-speed internet access, you can use Google Earth (as we did) to pre-view directions before going and then to review your walk after you return if that sort of thing interests you. Most of Google Earth's digital coverage for the Algarve is now detailed-enough that you can get the fine detail necessary.

You could even upload pictures to Google Earth that you may have taken on the walk.

Enjoy your stay in Carvoeiro. I wish we were going this year but, alas, it will be another year before we make it back.

Thanks to those who replied to me re Julie Stratham's walking organization and about self guided walks. I hope there might be something more local. Perhaps I will find out when I get there in early March via a community bulletin board, etc. But thanks for the input and if you have something more to advise feel free to get in touch. Waggs, Toronto, Ontario

With the £/euro parity , Julie's walks are a bit pricey at 5 euro each. We have found both her books & the Cornflower guides to walks good , but it ought to be possible to arrange an ad hoc group for a walk.
We are out in March again & would be happy to meet up with any others for a 2 hr walk , we can recommend a number.

Good idea Geoff - we would be interested in an ad hoc group too. However I must say that I still think 5 euros is good value for Julie's walks. We went on her walk last Wed at Vila do Bispo which lasted about 3 hours. Had a fascinating chat with the chap who used to own Schreiber's furniture and now lives in Jerusalem. Got an interesting local insight into current events in Israel. Well worth 5 euros. Sometimes it isn't the walk but the people you meet ....

I think E5 is a fair price to join a walk if the leader is also assuming the role of guide. It can be money well spent to learn some info on the region and excercise at the same time.

Any more for an ad hoc walking group from roughly 9-26 March then?

I arrive in Carvoeiro March 1 from Canada, but would be interested in a walk before March 6, then have commitments until March 18. Very interested in ad hoc walking from the town for two hours with a group who know the area. Is there a logical meeting place for such a group say on March 4?

You can do some great walks along the cliffs from Carvoeiro. I often go from O Boteco. If you go past their terrace, there's a trail and you can walk all the way to Ferragudo (although I've never made it that far). Breathtaking views!

Thanks. Will look for that trail when I get my bearings in Carvoeiro.

Thunderbolt wrote:You can do some great walks along the cliffs from Carvoeiro. I often go from O Boteco. If you go past their terrace, there's a trail and you can walk all the way to Ferragudo (although I've never made it that far). Breathtaking views!

I did try that pathway Thdblt but only went couple 100 metres.

Oh to be back walking well once more.. its so good for you.

To try & get the ball rolling , can I suggest Thursday 12 March at 1000.

Meet outside the cemetary in Silves & walk up to the windmill & loop back via the beautiful countyside beyond. About 2 hours. (Directions: driving from CVO to Silves , go over the bridge & turn right. At the roundabout , turn left towards the town & the cemetary is about 100m on the right).

Perhaps we can call ourselves the CVO Ramblers : I will put it up as a new topic on the forum. No charge , of course.

Hi Waggs
Have a look at the CVO Ramblers page......