Circling Around Alte

AWW 13th March 2024

 

We met at O Folclore cafe, Alte,  on quite a chilly morning. 

L to R: Kieran, Miriam, David, Linda, "Frank", Peter, "Ros", Karen, Steve, Gill, Ness, Fiona, Dee (Fiona's sister) plus Bica and Toby.

We headed off through the centre of Alte until we came to the Fonte.

A cheerful wave from us all and note the water in the often dry fonte.

             

We left the River behind us and made the slow climb up the hill and it was soon time for derobing.

The water crossing was a breeze and off we headed up the hill again towards Benafim.

There was an abundance of beautiful flowers along the way.  David explained the difference between Portuguese and British bluebells - apparently the direction the bell points - and Gill goggled the names of the other flowers post walk.

        

Portuguese bluebell                   Naked man orchids                 Portuguese quill

A few of us were captured going round the bend

Through Pequena Benafim and on towards Restuarante Hamburgo and lo and behold who did we come across?

 

               

                                          The real Ros and Frank who were joining us for part of  the walk. 

Along the main road for a short while before heading down towards Charneca de nave which David informed us was previously a sausage factory. 

             

Beautiful fields of wild flowers lined our route through the muddy plateau before we climbed up towards our lunch spot.

           

        

Refreshed, we continued on towards Rocha Amerela and along the narrow rocky path until the path abruptly ended.  The local landowner had fenced off acres of land for his/her new orange groves so it was a twisty steepish path down to the bottom.

No problem for most

          

For those with dodgy backs and knees it was a little slower

Ros how are you?  er OK I think

Frank how are you - marvellous

Ken how are you - awful

Well we all made it down in one piece to admire the orange groves and regroup

     

At this point Frank decided his feet were too sore so took the short cut while the rest of made it up the one and only steep hill of the walk to Julia.

In Julia some of the group found a place to rest a while

We crossed over the fonte in to Alte and back to O Folclore for a well earned drink which was very pleasant sitting in the sun.

   

Apologies for the quality of the screenshot.

Distance:15.93 km

Elevation gain: 349m

Moving time: 3 hr 28m

Average pace: 4.6 kmh