The first walk of the New Season.

The restaurant is well recommended so some of you may want to plan to have lunch there as well as the usual post walk coffee/beer! The restaurant prefers prior knowledge for groups of more than 10, but it should be sufficient to do this prior to the walk...hence, please come prepared to decide if you want to eat there after! Cost about 8€.

A circular walk of about 8 or 9 kms, so approx. 2 hours.

Degree of difficulty : 3 ( scale 1:5) Energetic

Start : 10.00 am

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 about 1km when there is a cafe on the left ( the 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 for about 1kms and park in the village by Casa de Vinho cafe/restaurant, which is on the right. Please note there is a carpark round the back.

There are a couple, or so, of uphill stretches...actually, about 6....some quite steep, with loose shale. Walking boots/stout trainers recommended and walking poles.

Beautiful views, ancient menhirs & tombs!

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.

There is no charge.



Please advise below if you are intending to come. These walks were very popular last year and we had to limit numbers to 20.

Any questions , please ask or ring 282 380015 preferably between 1800-1900 or 8am and 9am....but not before 29 October 2015!!

Yes please include us. May Syd and Wendy

...and Pam & Nick...

Hi Geoff, please include us two newbies, Helen & Nigel Thanks.

and Wendy and Steve...

Hi Geoff, we have just arrived back from a week in the UK, our flight was delayed two hours and it is raining very hard here. We think that the walk tomorrow will be cancelled so we will hope to see you next week, Helen & Nigel

hi all
well, it's stopped raining now and i can see some sun.....so walk is ON but bring some wet weather gear!

geoff

Well, after the torrential rain of the last 36 hours or so, the morning dawned clear(ish), without rain and even a patch of blue sky : the walk was definitely ON.

8 intrepid walkers, plus Peter the dog, set off from the cafe : we waited a bit for Paddy and Mary, but saw no sign off them...... we hope to meet up with them next week.

An early shower meant donning rainwear, but it was very transient and for the next 1h45mins we oscillated between sunshine and the odd cloud.

Posing at the menhir:



and walking up hill



and down dale



I had forgotten there was a stream to cross : usually it's barely a puddle, but today it was a bit more. Most of us managed to jump it, but Sue, Wendy and Peter decided to wade!



The last 30 mins. was abandoned as another shower loomed, so we retreated to Casa de Vinha for a well earned drink and an excellent prato do dia, where, for once, we sat in the main restaurant along with over 20 other diners:



Thanks to all who made it......with all the rain, I never thought we would! The News pictures on the TV at lunch showing a flooded Albufeira made us realise how fortunate we were.

HI Geoff, glad you had a good dry walk, the photos are great. Sorry we didn't make it but a full day of traveling back left us both exhausted. We plan to join you on the next one. Regards Helen & Nigel

Hi Helen & Nigel
Fully understand....see you next week...Geoff