WAWW May 27th Salema to Zavial along the coast

Russell, Steve, Linda, Sarah, Terry, Scott, Ros and Nancy (photographer)

8 hikers gathered at the coffee shop at Salema Beach ready for an adventure that would be a bit of a departure from the norm. We took the Rota Vicentina along the coast to our first stop, the Salema dinosaur footprints, before passing Praia Santa and Forte de Vera Cruz on our way to Praia de Figueria where we rested briefly while Sarah walked the labyrinth.

The dinosaur footprints

Here they don't yet know the way out is up

Descent to the prints

Figueira

Next we scrambled up the headland and carried on to Praia das Furnas via a brief turn inland to avoid a difficult descent. Scrambling up again from Furnas, we crossed the wide, flat headland to Praia do Zavial where we had snacks and a paddle and by a vote decided to head inland from Zavial to the dirt tracks that would take us back to the village of Figueira and on to Salema for drinks and lunch.

We were out about 5 hours and walked 15.5 km and agreed cutting out Praia da Ingrina and Praia João Vaz had been a good decision. 2 falls; luckily both inland, no injuries, all accounted for at the end.