A Pig of a walk

This is the blog of the central AWWs pre-Christmas walk on 23rd December 2020. Starting from the January first cafe in Clareanes, just north of Loule on the N396.

Taking part we have Tony, Jan, Sue and Julie (behind the camera).

S'ows it called A Pig of a walk? Well, to start with, it was recced as 18km, but it turned out to be 23km! But as you'll quickly see it wasn't such a bad walk and it got its name for more obvious reasons.

It was a misty start to the day, but as we headed off down our first trail towards Alcaria do Gato and Fonte Filipe, the day was already clearing.

A little bit of road walking took us past some well cared for gardens, and in one of them, some of the largest piri piri peppers we had ever seen.

And other garden with a plastic duck washed up after the recent heavy rains? Or was it thrown out with the bath water?

Arriving in the valley of Almarginho and Corte we came to a familiar ruin with orange peel strewn across the ground. This could only mean one thing,

Pigs! And what a selection. They were littered all about the place. Brown ones, white ones, muddy ones, black and piglet ones.

But then, turning to continue on our way.......

Two big cheeky ones, keeping so quiet we nearly trod on them!

I think they must have been in love, the way they steadfastly refused to take any notice of us.

On down the valley we strode, heading east. And just to help you with our coordinates, here's a sign to help.

But what did we spy grazing in the meadow? One of the plumpest pigs you might wish meet, trotting around oblivious to our attention.

Leaving the pigs behind, we concentrated on the walk logistics and the question of crossing swollen streams and how to keep our feet dry.

But our intrepid ladies were up to the job and needed no help from man or beast.

But what did we find across the stream, more swine! Hogging limelight.

After a steep climb over a rocky path, followed by a lengthy flat footpath, we found ourselves in Sao Romau, where there was a cafe! So since it was nearly christmas we treated ourselves to a drink, non-alcoholic of course, while we ate our sarnies.

After leaving the built up area of the village we had a photoshot of two old windmills.

Here we can see the Cerro dos Negros, Rocha da Pena and if we look hard enough, the water tower in Salir.

A new build in the Moorish style. 

We traversed the Apra ridge after some tricky way finding and finally began dropping down towards Carvalhal and on to the finish at the cafe where we had started over 5 hours earlier.

 

Staistics:

Distance:22.75 km

Elevation gain: 404m

Trail time: 4h 59m

Cafe stop: 30m

Total time out: 5h 29m