Alcoutim (Faro District) walks

Near Sao Bras de Alportel, I invite you to discover the Barrocal, a region between the coast and the mountains of the Algarve. There are many cork oaks, whose bark is harvested, as well as many shrubs such as carob, almond and olive trees. On this easy 8.5 km hike, you will find fountains, a ford and a cave filled with spring water. The original name of this hike is "caminhos e encruzilhadas de ir à fonte", which can be found on the sign at the start, meaning "paths and crossroads leading to the spring".

A circular loop of just over 5 km with no difficulty in a scrubland landscape. The first third follows an old Roman road (Calçadinha) which is well preserved and has probably been renovated in places. The rest of the route crosses scrubland where you will discover a huge, isolated rock, which is quite unusual in this landscape. The last third is on tarmac but mostly on small roads.

This beautiful hike will allow you to discover the magnificent landscapes of the green hills of Furnazinhas in the Algarve. The route, mostly on wide paths, is hilly, with little shade and is relatively well marked (yellow/red) despite a few gaps. Do not expect to see any houses for many kilometres.

All in all, an easy hike in a truly sublime, wild and rugged setting. It is a limestone plateau with scrub vegetation and magnificent views from the ridge.