AWW Around the river beach of Alte Oct 14th 2026

Around the Alte River Beach Oct 14th 2026

On an unusually warm morning the grand total of 21 hikers and 2 dogs gathered at Alte for our hike along the river beach and hills surrounding. Sadly, O Folkore was not yet open but a few enterprising souls found a nearby coffee stop.

After a stroll through the village we stopped at the river beach for a group photo:

Our hikers were:

Richard and Christine, Tim, Linda and dog Toby, Alan and Carol, Liam, Gill and Jim, Mark and Bev, Miriam and Ken and dog Bica, Susan and John, Debbie, Jan, David, Wendy and Don and myself Martin.

After admiring the river beach we set off  up a rather steep long hill to the north providing great views back to Alter and the south.

Many ups and downs later we arrived at an old wash point which provided welcome shade from the hot sun and  a convenient lunch stop.

After lunch we climbed up to the hamlet of Benefim Pequeno and the long straight hike back to Alte.

Some of our hikers were aware I was using this opportunity to test my Meta smartglasses incorporating a (almost hidden) camera and with the ability to as a very simple associated AI some questions about what I was seeing. Safe to say the photos captured were more successful than the answers. It is capable of also capturing videos but this seemed like a bridge too far.

Check out some of the close up photos taken with this especially the faces of Jan, Ken and Tim!

We all gathered for a final drink in O Folclore.

Many thanks to everyone for and especially to Alan for all the photos.

The hike was approx. 12.4km.

Views, Hills & Shiggy

 

Twelve intrepid walkers — Alan, Carol, Tony, Julie, Linda, Jan, John, Susan, Mark, Beverley, Karen and Stephen — plus Toby the dog, assembled at Pastelaria Bom Gosto in the centre of Santa Bárbara de Nexe for our Wednesday outing.

Well, most of us assembled there. A few had an unexpected preliminary challenge locating the car park, but eventually everyone was accounted for, suitably equipped and ready to tackle the hills.

Our first objective was the col in the hills behind the village. 

In a moment of generosity, the walkers were offered the option of a slightly different, un-reccied route out of the village, designed to take some of the sting out of the initial climb. 

Whether this was an act of kindness or a cunning way of introducing a little uncertainty into proceedings is open to debate!

Having reached the col, there was another democratic decision to make. Would anyone like to take the additional detour up to the windmill on the hilltop? The response was a resounding lack of enthusiasm, so the windmill was left undisturbed and we headed downhill into the Gorjões valley.

This took us through what can only be described as the local goat herd's toilet facilities. Fortunately, nobody appeared keen to linger and admire the surroundings, and we continued down to the road at the bottom of the valley.

It was then time for a little off-piste exploration. Leaving the comfort of established tracks, we picked our way across fields through gorse and prickly bushes. A few scratches and some careful footwork later, we eventually emerged back onto the road, with everyone still present and correct.

And some off the wall silliness!

An uphill tarmac stretch brought us to Snack Bar Tapas & Petiscos at Charneca. Despite the tempting prospect of refreshments, nobody showed the slightest inclination to stop. Clearly this was a group determined to get its exercise in before indulging in anything enjoyable!

Crossing the road, we took to the tracks climbing towards Agostos, passing through the familiar Algarve landscape of dry-stone walls, olive trees, scrubland and scattered houses. The weather was lovely, with sunshine, blue skies and some excellent views across the surrounding hills.

From Agostos, we descended along the trail to an old ruined building that provided a suitably rustic setting for our lunch stop. With everyone finding a convenient stone or bit of wall to perch on, sandwiches appeared and we enjoyed a welcome rest in the shade. Toby, meanwhile, seemed perfectly content with the arrangements.

Lunch over, we continued down across the valley before climbing the road towards Cerro do Guilhim. By this stage, the prospect of another summit was perhaps less appealing than it might have been earlier in the morning, so in another display of leadership generosity we spared the group the climb to the top.

Instead, we turned downhill towards Santa Bárbara de Nexe, following a succession of winding tracks and delightful tree-covered glades. The shade was particularly welcome, and the changing scenery made for a pleasant final section of the walk.

Watch out for the dreaded bees though!

Eventually, the countryside gave way to the streets of Santa Bárbara de Nexe and, more importantly, the welcoming sight of Pastelaria Bom Gosto, where we had started our adventure several hours earlier.

This time there was rather more enthusiasm for refreshments! We settled down for a well-earned drink, a chat and the usual post-walk reflections before saying our farewells.

All in all, a very enjoyable outing with excellent company, beautiful countryside, a little adventurous route-finding and just enough climbing to remind everyone that the Algarve isn't entirely flat.

Thanks to everyone for coming along, and especially to Toby for keeping the group entertained.

Stephen and Karen

AWW Walk – 7 OCTOBER 2026 – Pine Forests and Baragems

 

AWW Walk report – 7 OCTOBER 2026 – Pine Forests and Baragems

 

7 walkers and 2 x dogs.  David, Martin, Gill, Ros, Tim, Jim, Linda (photographer) Plus the dogs Toby and Raffa.

We met at the café then drove the 3kms further upto the start of the walk.  We lost a car on route and thought it must be a record to lose walkers before the start of the walk.  Tim had forgotten his bag at the café!

We set off in the sunshine, fit as a fiddle, the dogs having the time of their lives running on in front.

We trudged beneath the pine trees enjoying the shade and the soft carpet of pine needles under foot.

The first baragem looked fair grand, calm water, blue skies and pine trees reflected on the surface.  Proper post card stuff.  We stopped to admire the view whilst the dogs had a dip.

On we trudged through more shady pine trees and came to a section of over 200 trees (they were all individually numbered) that were being harvested for their sap.  Probably for use in waterproof resin or first aid products.

Down a bit further to the next shimmering baragem, even Gill said it looked enticing for a swim.

Further along we said our goodbyes to David, Martin and Raffa and sent them on their way back the shorter route.

The remaining famous five, plus dog headed down t 'hill, passing the rustic campsite that may be in need of some of the waterproof resin.

Then past the small church, a short stretch of tarmac and back on the dirt tracks.

We stopped for lunch at a shady watering hole.

A couple of rough looking dogs came to check us out.  Toby greeted them with respect so they decided we were no threat and decided to join our walk for a short while.

Then it were back up t' hill, round a few bends and back down tut cars.   Fortunately, David and Martin had found their way back as the cars had vanished.

Back to the café for the usual well-deserved refreshments.  It were a grand day out but I forgot to take anymore photos after lunch.

I shortened the walk slightly to 13.25 kms but no complaints there.  Thanks to those who joined us today. 

Linda

 

A short walk to start the season....around Messines to Funcho

 A short walk to start the season and that means a short blog !

From east and west they met at O Momento in Messines on a cloudy, close morning. Lots of chatter but the13 walkers and 2 dogs lined up dutifully for the photo. Names not necessary , we all know who's who.

 Although the walk would be west of Messines the first loop took us due east on a flat track past some lush greenery .

A teeny little slope having safely negotiated 2 roundabouts. Single file, very well behaved at this point.

 Back in Messines the leader forced a stop to look at the sandstone carving and tools used in the past. Some poetry from João de Deus  was studied and attempts made to translate it.

 Then it was uphill towards Penedo Grande and the wiggely little back streets and alleyways of the town.

We stopped to look at the poet's birthplace and 3 walkers stopped altogether and made their way back through town to their cars - or perhaps they fancied lunch at O Momento ?

 Now heading west we followed the railway until we could go through the tunnel and up the hill to .....

...to the Santa Ana chapel ( murmerings in Messines that it may be restored and reroofed one of these days ) and the lovely tiled picture of the Battle of Santa Ana in 1834.

Lunch in the shade  - Toby had already had his on the way up.

Uphill from the chapel and then down towards the top end of Barragem Funcho. 

At a fork the rights on the right had it and we walked a longer loop to join the road back to  Intermarché in Messines. 

Some were so revived by their drinks that they went off to play the Volta machine, others found their drinks rather smaller than usual and Martin went AWOL looking for books in a charity shop . That was the last we saw of him.

Walk was about 14kms, elevation 165m....Plus 1.6k through Messines to the cars.

Thanks to all who came and great to have our photographer with us again.

ps. Martin sent apologies - accepted and he's still allowed to walk with us.

Ros