Caminho Endiabrada e Lagos Escondidos – The Endiabrada and Hidden Lakes Walk

 26th November 2025

On a chilly but beautiful sunny morning, eleven of us and two dogs gathered at the Cantinho de Bordeira in the picturesque village of Bordeira on the Western Algarve coast. They were Ros, Geoff, Linda, Jim, Sue, Margaret, Gill, Steve, Tim, James, Richard, Toby and Bica. 

We walked out of the village for about 200m past the bus stop (or meeting spot for the locals) to the start/end point of the trail.  We took the right fork then climbed steadily until we reached a swing.  Ros and Richard re-lived their childhood, having a go on the swing.

After nearly 4 km we came to a fork in the road at the narrowest point of the figure of 8.  Here was where people who wanted a shorter walk could turn off, but we all pressed on.

We continued through the Mediterranean forests at the foot of the Espinhaço de Cão, following the path Steve and Margaret had previously marked out using:-

  

Red wool

Arrows made from twigs

Arrows made from pinecones

And Steve checking on his GPS tracker.

We found the 3 hidden lakes, but the third lake was too far away to be photographed.

 

Very near the highest point of the walk we stopped for lunch.  The ground was a bit rough but the views were good.

Jim was not feeling well so he and Gill carried on.  The dilemma was should they go back the way they came or carry on.  Margaret confidently told them that to continue the walk involved fewer turnings so would be easier to follow as the way was signposted.  The only tricky bit would be to turn right when you reached a pile of timber trunks on the left.

We set off after lunch and headed into the wood and realised there were more turnings and piles of wood than Margaret had remembered.  But all was well.  Thanks to Jim and Gill’s excellent orienting skills and ability to ask for directions they found their way back down and Jim recovered.

Back to the rest of the group.  

Coming out of the wood the scenery took a darker and more sinister turn.  Here the horrific fire in September that spread from Aljezur to Barão São João had left its mark.  

All around were black charred trees, and the smell changed from the heady aroma of the forest to the stench of burning still in the air after all this time.

 

But even after people's carelessness and stupidity has wreaked such havoc and devastation, nature finds a way to restore itself.  It will be interesting to come back in the future to see the new plants grow.

Having climbed in the morning the afternoon path was mainly downhill or flat and we returned to the area untouched by the fire.                                          There was a stream to cross.

And several boggy areas to bypass, but the quicksand that Steve and Margaret had found on their last reconnaissance was nowhere to be found.  Perhaps all the boulders and pieces of wood they had thrown into it had cleared it!

The sight of cows grazing and chickens signalled the return to civilisation.

This was confirmed as we turned the corner to see the village of Bordeira nestled on the hillside, where much-needed refreshment was enjoyed by all. 

Many thanks to Gill, Tim, Steve and Geoff for their photos and Geoff for his stats

Key statistics 

Distance covered: 16.5 Km 

Time spent moving:  3hr 40 min

Height climbed 260m

Highest point 198m

Bordeira Beach and Carrapateira

  

The forecast was for rain. No-one could say how much rain or when. It depended on which website you checked. One 20% blob at 8 o'clock and again at 11 o'clock; or a 60% triple blob at 3 o'clock; or all the above; or hopefully, none at all. After much demurring, we decided to walk half an hour earlier than planned, and 10 intrepid souls (one soul belonging to Bica the dog) gathered at the Cantinho de Bordeira for a 9.30 start. 

Cantinho de Bordeira

Coffees were drunk and tales were told of large plates full of scrambled eggs served up at the Aljezur hotel where visitors to the Western Algarve were staying, but we were on our way by ten minutes to ten. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A gentle amble on tarmac quickly led to a large billboard informing us that Bordeira is a marvellous village. We were inclined to agree and chose this spot for a group photo (there is a dog in there somewhere). 

Contrary to fears and warnings the sky stayed blue(ish). Within a few minutes of the start, we were on the well-marked trails of the Western Algarve, heading towards the Bordalete hill. 

 

 

After several kilometres we said our goodbyes to Ken and Mariam (and Bica the dog) as they took a different route home, and the remaining seven pressed onward toward Bordeira beach. The first signs of it came long before we saw it as the firm trail gave way to several kilometres of soft sand.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Undeterred we marched on and in a bit, we arrived at a trig which coincided with our first view of the magnificent western ocean, of which more anon. 

The Trig

 

Sadly, two foolhardy exhibitionists in our party saw this exquisite scientific marker merely as a photo opportunity. The more serious members of the group were far more interested in possibly ancient runes carved on stones at the foot of the trig.  

Possibly ancient runes

The soft sand trail finally led us to a cliff top with a path down to the beach. Path may be an overstatement, but after only minor hesitation and led by Ros (the-mountain-goat-with-the-bit-between-her-teeth)  

with Ros only a speck in the distance

 

 

 

 

 

and we reached the high point (or the low point?) of our walk - abseiling down to the beach! 

 

 

Teamwork!

 

 and more teamwork!

 

 

 

Followed by paddling (for some)

 

 

 

Some finely designed cliffs 

 a well-earned lunch on the beach …..

 

And a short trek into Carrapateira as the skies darkened with still 5 kilometres to go.

 

Even the beach café was closed. Did they know something we didn’t? Was a downpour inevitable? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But against all odds the seven stalwart folk stayed dry, and made their way steadily back to the café whence their journey had begun before the threatened storm

 

 

 

 

But only just! Within five minutes the heavens opened and it poured down. Storm Claudia had arrived!

Statistical annex:

Distance: 17.19 km

Elevation: 378m

Elapsed Time: 5 hours and 27 minutes

Moving time: 4 hours and 10 minutes