22 APRIL 2026 – HUNTING LODGE

 

AWW Walk REPORT – 22 APRIL 2026 – HUNTING LODGE

After meeting at the café in Rasmalho we drove further up the main road and down a dirt track to the start of the walk.  Lots of introductions to our new walker Christine.

9 walkers and 1 dog.  Marian, Gill, Karen, Richard, Ros, Steve, Christine, Jim, Linda (photographer) and Toby the dog.

Richard is holding up Ros antique walking pole (15 years old).  A bit like Triggers brush in “Only Fools and Horses”.  Looked like parts from 2 different poles.

The poles came in handy at the water crossings and we didn’t encounter any problems.

As I stepped in to lead at short notice, I had not had time to recci all of this walk.  As we started to head up the valley we found the path was completely hidden due to fallen trees from the recent landslides.  The leader climbed through to check things out and said the path was clearer further up so after a bit of tree bashing suggested everyone scramble over.  We got everyone over and under but we all had a few scratches and grazes.

The only blockages on the path from now on were the beautiful wild flowers.

  No complaints about that.  We did the gradual climb up the valley on the nice wide tracks, dodging a few bees along the way. 

Then headed down to the hunting lodge for lunch and a relax on the chairs and sofas. 

(Toby lived in hope....)

We headed off again, stopping along the way to take photos of the flowers and admire the beautiful landscape.

Toby found a baragem to cool off in and a little entertainment from the frogs jumping around.

Back to the cars and the short drive back down to the café in Rasmalho.  Ros was pleased she made 10 euros for the kitty this week.  Thanks for organising the drinks.

The walk was 13 kms last time I did this but my new app said it was only 12.25kms.  Gill said hers recorded 13.  Thanks for joining me today and to Gill for the extra photos.

Linda

 AWW Walk April 29th 2026 - 

Paderne: To Be Wet or Not To Be Wet: That is the Question

The Tale of the Paderne Pilgrims

A Comedy in Three Acts

Dramatis Personae:

• The Noble Leader: Martin

• The Hardy Seekers: Jim, Maura, Marian, Gillian, Steve, Karen, John, Linda, and Tom

• The Four-Legged Esquires: Rafa and Toby, hounds of great renown

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Act I: The Ascent from Purgatorio

Hark! On this Wednesday, the twenty-ninth of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand and six and twenty, a robust company of Algarve Walkers gathered in the fair lands of Paderne. The sun did shine with a gentle mercy, for it was late Spring, and the air was sweet with the scent of the countryside.

Jim, Maura, Marian, Gill, Steve, Karen, John, Linda and Tim with Rafa and Toby in front.

After a brief draught of the black bean—which men call coffee—the company set their faces toward the west, bound for the hamlet known as Purgatorio. They didst cross a river of some familiarity and paused upon a bridge to capture their likenesses for posterity. Their first quest: to conquer the Cerro do Sao Vicente. But soft! A great iron path (the A2 highway) lay in their wake, requiring them to descend into a dark and gloomy tunnel, like heroes of old entering the underworld.

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Act II: The Fertile Valley and the Hound’s Tribute

Having ascended the mountain and breathed deep of the heavens, they wound their way down once more, passing through yet another cavernous tunnel beneath the highway. They entered a valley of great fertility, where the earth was rich and the river flowed.

Alas! The hound Rafa, perhaps overcome by the beauty of the tilth, decided to "decorate" the path with many a stop of... natural business. Upon an ancient bridge, the weary travelers didst break bread, perching upon a low wall as the sun’s heat began to stir.

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Act III: The Trial of the Stream

Then came the great tribulation: The Crossing of the Waters. Three factions did emerge from the company, each with a different philosophy of the foot:

• The Drowned Devout: These souls didst walk straight through the current, welcoming the wetness as a penance for their sins.

• The Barefoot Warriors: A braver lot, who didst strip their heels and hold their hosen high, treading the stones with naked soles.

• The Sorcerers of Rubber: A select few, wise in the ways of gear, who donned special waterproof boots and crossed with dry feet, mocking the river’s power.

  

  
  

• 
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The Grand Finale

Once the company was "rebooted," they climbed the hills to the north-east, beholding views so spectacular they might have moved a stone to tears. Descending at last back into Paderne, they found sanctuary at the Moiras Encantadas—the Enchanted Mooring. There, upon a shaded terrace, they toasted their victory with cold nectars.

Our deepest thanks to Steve and Gil for the magical captures of light, and to all for the merry chatter that made the miles seem but a league.

Exeunt...

Martin

Alferce and Almost Picota

 

The weather was uncertain to the last minute, coming as it did on the back end of of a period what the British call "changeable weather". We arrived at the designated meeting point - the Snack- Bar Petisqueira "Tapas" only to find it closed. 

the closed cafe

Fortunately we found another cafe round the corner which was just opening as we arrived and all were able to secure their beverage of choice. 

 

 

Five intrepid hikers signed up including Hugh, a first time Wednesday walker accompanied by Francesca, herself only a second-time Wednesday walker. Then there was Ros (a thousand-time Wednesday walker?) neighbour Richard, and Tim, the walk leader and the only survivor of the recce.  

 

Amongst absent friends, none was missed more than Bruce who had shared the recce two weeks before (despite massive jetlag) and was even now rumoured to be in Switzerland😎. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We set out along a short stretch of paved road but after turning up towards a community ominously named "Alto" the still paved road became more of a lane. 

Ros knew people living here and we peered inside their front gate, but no-one was to be seen. 

 At the top of the lane the rain began, but miraculously ended again after two minutes, just after we had all donned our raingear! Raingear was removed again and our journey resumed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The road continued uphill, but soon turned into a delightful forested track decorated with flowers. 

 

We never saw the rain again😊, but the road did continue uphill. After all, we were headed to Almost Picota.  

  

 

 

 

 

The broad track narrowed to an overgrown but colourful path.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We finally reached the most westerly point of our trail, where a path ran directly up to Picota, but we left that for another day and turned left up a very wet but manageable trail. It was a lot less wet than it had been on the recce. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of kilometres further and we were well on the downhill trail. We stopped for lunch with a small (very small) waterfall in the background.   

      

 More paved road, but very quiet except for the occasional dogs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And so we continued to high point - or topograhically speaking - the low point, of our trip -  the suspension bridge over the Barranco do Demo (Devil's Gorge). 

The view as we began our descent 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We could see Alferce on the other side, looking much closer than it actually was. The bridge was only constructed in 2023. It is very popular and has, apparently, 570 wooden steps altogether. 

 

on the way to the bridge

Francesca took a cautious approach

Others were more relaxed ....

 And we finally arrived back in Alferce! But, sorry to say, no picture of that😞. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distance 12.97km

Elevation 522 m