AWW 4 March 2026....Honey Cafe /Montes de Cima....Remembered?

 Honey Cafe /Montes de Cima....Remembered?

Back in the days of yor (well 2016/2017) BC ( Before Covid) we checked out a new route in this part of the countryside with intrepid reccee-ers Russell, Linda and Rose. It took us two or three saturdays to sort it, but we eventually had a 15kms walk, quite uppydowny , which we did in February 2017....this was back in the days when 15kms was considerd a short walk. The blog is at :

AWW 2015-24: AWW 22nd February 2017: To hill with Geoff – and back.

I had been wanted to retrace our steps for some time, and eventually with Ros, Linda and Sue managed to do (most of) it , so  our gallant band of 14 set  off having been suitabled caffinated at The Honey Cafe :

L to R : Tim, John, Steve, Kieran, Fiona, Dan, Trudy, Martin, Ros, Sue, Mike, Trish, Maura.....and Rafa.

Unfortunately (?), we can't walk up the first steep hill ( I recall David's  quip of whether that was what is called a hillstart...) as the path to the renovated ruin has been blocked off. With no official photographer ( Alan gone AWOL again) I had to deputise, so here are a few backsides:

The landscape had altered in the past 9 years , with the recovering  from the fires, new firebreaks/tracks  and whilst some was still surprisingly familiar, some wasn't.....try as we might on the recent reccees, we couldn;t recognise where Russell did his heroic deeds in 2017 :

Nor could we really recognise this hill...

Was it this one?

Probably not....but perhaps this one?

Anyway, we skirted both , but then...horror of horrors...I realised  I had been talking and walking and had missed our  turning! Various phone maps were consulted as to whether it was possible to carry on and find a new way back : if it was only a few of us, I might have concurred, but with 14 it was too risky, so it was " about turn" and we retraced some of our steps.....it was a nice day, lovely views, and if it wasn't for the 180 degree turn, I doubt many would have noticed.

Lunch called, some favouring a fallen tree:

others, a more conventional resting spot...

Without any more alarums, we rejoined the track we have done many times on our Monday walks ( CVO Ramblers) , though there was still a big puddle to navigate...Rafa showing the way through the middle...

 But strangely, all kept to the side...

When we did this section of the walk last on a Monday Walk, Linda had to limbo under a fallen tree...and in the wet...

But a kindly forrester had cut it down...

There were some landslips after recent rain...

One final water obstacle..

Then back for a drink!

Many thanks for your company.....there is still scope to explore this route further, perhaps starting from  Casais.....a task for next season! The doubling back at least added to the total of 15kms!

Map & stats...

Geoff

AWW Carrapateira 11-03-26

CARRAPATEIRA

Coffee on a cloudless morning for a very select group of 9 walkers - Anthony ( Linda and         Russell's son ), Linda, Mike, Margaret,Tim, John, Trish, Steve and me

Ambling up through the village streets

Racing up the hill to the trig

Regretfully the rungs have fallen out so Anthony, our youngest by far today ,  couldn't climb up.

Admiring the views, wild flowers and greenery  - or just chatting

.

  Past the chickens and goats up hill 2.

A  esquerda ou a direita ? - Ros was determined to get it right this time

Tracked it down at last - The Grassy Slope ( no cows ). 

Eating.

Impressive coastal views

Return route along the beach and half the headland

Amigos at Os Amigos for beers in the sun

Sorry about the late and very brief blog - thanks for joining me , it was a lovely day , a lovely walk and lovely company.  

Ros

25 February 2026 – RIBBA A TERINHO

 

 AWW Walk report – 25 February 2026 – RIBBA A TERINHO

14 walkers and 1 x dog. Kieran, Steve, Fiona, Linda, Ros, Tim, Trish, Jill, Karen, Sue, Peter, Tony, John D and Geoff (the photographer).  Plus, Toby the dog.

We met in Rasmalho and then drove 3kms further up the road to the start of the walk.  Goeff kindly offered to be photographer in Alan's absence. We started out at 10.15am, slightly late as Linda missplaced her car keys.

We headed off up the path, past the empty cow field with just a water trough.  Toby was now let free from the lead for the rest of the day.

It was nice to hear the water rushing down the river from Monchique but also good to see the water level had gone down in the last couple of weeks.

On to our first water crossing, boots on, slow and deliberate, each stone tested before committing and that quiet satisfaction at the other side of dry boots. 

Ross wanted to test her new plastic bags from “Temu”.  Not as strong as she thought!

 

Onwards we marched taking delicate steps around the puddles and muddy patches on the path.

The next water crossing was just as easy but with the added beauty of a fresh waterfall.

Now it was time to head up the valley.  The baragem was full as expected and bright green.

Once at the top we could enjoy some more flat walking as we zig zagged on winding paths, enjoying the views and the heather.

Then we came across a few expected landslides which were easy to walk round but would block a vehicle.

 

The next obstacle was a fallen tree but nothing stops the hardy AWW walkers.

We found a spot with a nice view down the valley to stop for our lunch break.  John D had brought his little chair again.

 

We headed off again fuelled on with sugar from the sweets kindly handed out by Tony.

We had one more steepish hill and then it was a nice downhill stroll back down the valley whilst enjoying the mountain views.

Back down to our earlier river crossing which everyone crossed with more confidence the 2^nd time around.

All was going well until Toby the dog decided to do a disappearing act.  Lots of shouting and whistle blowing was to no avail.  The leader suggested we march onwards as Toby would know where the car was.  As predicted he came bounding down the hill followed by a pungent aroma of cow pat.

Gentleman Peter found a use for his Swiss Army Knife....to cut up some abandoned plactic to put under his boots in the car he had a lift in!

 

Back to the café for the post walk drinks and apologies for one smelly dog.  Ros was sporting the new kitty purse she had just purchased.

The walk was just over 15kms and we completed it in 4 ½ hours including a lunch stop. Thank you for joining me and thanks to Geoff for the photos.

Linda