MWAWW2 - Salema to Zavial - along the Cliffs

 

The MWAWW (Most Westerly Algarve Wednesday Walkers) met again this week.  This time on a Wednesday. Nancy led the walk which took us from Salema, over the cliffs to Zavial beach then back inland.  The walkers were Nancy, Steve, Margaret and a "guest" called "Chris" who took most of the photographs.

It started behind the posh apartments on the westerly high part of Salema.  We walked up some steps, then left civilisation behind us into a heavenly smelling wood which led to the sea.  The first beach is known for its fossils.  The tide was in today so although we could see the dinosaur footprints, we could not reach them. We did see what looked like the fossilised backbone of a dinosaur. 

Nancy and Steve pointing out the dinosaur footprints to Margaret

Dinosaur Footprints

Fossilised backbone of a dinosaur?

We then walked to and across Praia Santa. Then followed a scramble uphill to the Forte de Vera Cruz.  It was a beautiful clear day.  To the west we could clearly see the Cabo St Vincent; to the east we could see Salema, the cliffs above Praia da Luz, the lighthouse at the Ponta da Piedade (through binoculars) then the coast line of Praia da Rochas, Portimao, then Carvoiero.  Sticking out beyond that coastline was the top of a hill that we could not work out where it was (Was it the Cerro de Sao Miguel?).

Holding the Fort

The cliffs in the background are east of Praia da Luz

We then dropped down onto Figuera beach, popular with surfers today.  We deliberated a little, then decided to go for the climb.  We looked down on the small Praia de Blimunda e Baltasar where a nude man was walking into the sea.  No photographs.  

After a few more undulations, the footpath dropped down onto the road which led to the Praia Furnes. It was Barao Sao Joao on steroids; a UN commune.  There were old motorhomes and vans from Spain, France, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Croatia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Norway to name a few of the different countries represented. It was full of young people (well they seemed young to us), children and babies.  They had converted an rundown building, adding solar panels and wind turbines and built another building out of wood which was being used as a café.  There was a sign saying “No Alcohol, No Drugs”.  Who are they kidding!

The commune

We crossed the beach and climbed again, traversing the cliffs to Praia Zavial.  Just before dropping down to Zavial beach we found a picnic spot with the most amazing views of the Algarve coast.  This was where we stopped for lunch, followed by a coffee in the Praia Zavial café.

 

Rested and fortified we then returned along inland tracks.  At one point we had to cross rough ground to get from one track to another, because the footpath was not obvious.  Well done Nancy for her navigational skills.

The route was straightforward to Figuera, where we turned and past the once magnificent building, now a ruin.  The vineyard has been flattened since we were last there.  We then followed the road back to Salema.

Back at Salema

Thank you to Nancy for leading such a beautiful walk and to Chris for the photographs.

Total Distance: 14Km

Total time: Over 5 hours including breaks

Average Moving Speed: 3.6 Km/hr

Maximum Speed: 10.2 Km/hr

Height climbed: