Lagos to Praia Dona Ana (Cliffs and Beaches)This is about a 1 mile walk from Lagos town centre and features a thrilling cliff top walk. First of all follow the main promenade along the river (the Avenida) leading out of the town. You will come to a hill, follow it up to the top where you will see a fire station on the right. You will see a sign post to Praia do Pinhao, follow this path and follow the cliff top route for about a quarter of an hour and you will come to the beautiful Dona Ana beach. You will definitely want to stay here to admire the beauty of this beach and maybe reward yourself with a drink or meal at one of the cafes. A couple of photos we took along the walk. |
Monchique (Inland)Monchique is a mountainous area inland from Lagos and is in stark contrast to the rest of the Algarve. It is a green wooded area, with dense swathes of cork, pine and eucalyptus trees. There are rivers, small streams and refreshing springs. The higher grounds are rocky and barren. The valley floors are rich and fertile, yielding an abundance of fruit and vegetables.It is no wonder this area is often called ´the garden of the Algarve'. The Monchique has two peaks, Foia ( 902m ) and Picota (774m ) which offer panaromic views of some of the most beautiful parts of the Algarve. On a clear day you can see as far west as the Cabo de São Vincente and north to the Serra da Arrábida, the mountain ranges south of Lisbon. This area provides some of the most challenging walking within the Algarve but rewards the walker with its unique atmosphere and interesting wildlife. A days walking in Serra de Monchique opens a different Algarve for you, an Algarve that is green and wooded, mountaineous and barren, strong and unchanged by the progress of time. The town of Monchique and its charming villages offer another perspective on life on the Algarve. Here you will discover traditional skills and handcrafts still being practiced. The famous Medronho (a very strong local liquor), distilled from the Strawberry tree, distinctive hand knitted sweaters and the unusual wooden chairs all suggest the character and uniqueness of this area. In the local restaurants, the food reflects the richness of the landscape and many travel from other parts of the Algarve to feast on local meat and game. Stop off at the pretty thermal village of Caldas de Monchique. A renowned spa town in the past, Caldas de Monchique still maintains a quiet charm. Visitors still come to enjoy the famous waters as well as a range of other natural therapies on offer at the new hotel. |