Central Algarve – the Seven Hanging Valleys Walk

posted in: Algarve, Portugal | 5
Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos (Seven Hanging Valleys Walk)
Harri and Geoff enjoying an easier stretch of coastline

One of the most enjoyable things about hiking is the interesting people we meet along the way. Not all are fellow hikers, of course, some are locals going about their daily lives, others may be visitors who have stopped to admire the same view as us.

Mostly we’ll strike up a friendly conversation, linger for ten minutes or so and then continue on our way. I think it’s safe to say we have never, ever stopped to talk to fellow hikers in a car park and then spent the rest of the day with them. But that’s exactly what happened when we ran into Denise and Geoff at Praia da Marinha a few days ago.

We’d decided to kick off our Algarve hiking season (this is a year-round season) with a tough but challenging 10-kilometre coastal walk. Unusually for the Algarve, the Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos (Seven Hanging Valleys Walk) is a signposted trail along a stretch of coastline somewhere between the popular resorts of Armação de Pêra and Carvoeiro. There are interpretation boards along its route explaining geological features like sink holes and informing hikers about local flora and fauna.

Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos (Seven Hanging Valleys Walk)
The trail is named after the numerous hanging valleys along its length

From end to end the trail is only 5.7km and is described as of ‘medium difficulty’. Though there are certainly many advantages to having a car at our disposal (like getting to Marinha in the first place), it does mean we have to return to it at the end of the day. The easiest solution was to walk the route in both directions, finishing where we started.

Last time we were here we were walking from Ferragudo to Albufeira over two days. When we stopped to eat at the picnic area, we were joined by several friendly tabby cats who lived in a five-storey wooden ‘kennel’ and thought we might have a morsel to share. This time around, there was no sign of the cat colony and at first I thought it had been dispersed. Then, a languid individual wandered out from the vegetation and jumped onto a picnic table. A quick look around, revealed the cat house was still nearby, but had been moved to a shadier spot.

Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos (Seven Hanging Valleys Walk)
There was only one moggy at Marinha when we arrived

On longer walks, we generally avoid unnecessary detours so we hadn’t previously descended the many steps to Praia da Marinha. The beach is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe – and one of the hundred most beautiful in the world. It was time to find out if all the praise heaped on it was justified.

The beach is small by Algarve standards and at 10am the sun was yet to rise above the high cliffs. Surprisingly, for such an easy to reach beach there was absolutely nobody on the sand other than us and six seagulls (yes, I counted them). I was intrigued by a pretty grotto which led to a deeper cave, but Harri stayed clear (he’s not a cave lover). Was it beautiful? Very.

Grotto at Praia da Marinha
The grotto at Praia da Marinha

Back at the car park, a couple had emerged from one of the camper vans and were admiring the view. From their walking poles, we guessed they were planning to hike the trail too. We got chatting and then, as we were all heading in the same direction, set off together. Denise was the chattier of the two (a bit like us) and we soon learned they’d recently sold up in the UK and were moving lock, stock and barrel to the Algarve, just like us. I was intrigued to learn they had spent the last decade living on a riverboat and almost completely off grid.

The day wasn’t turning out quite as we’d imagined – we generally cherish our hikes for the opportunity to spend time alone together – however, on this occasion, we all seemed to be enjoying each other’s company so there seemed little point in parting only to shuffle along the trail separately.

Despite being officially categorised as of ‘medium difficulty’ you really do need to have strong legs to cope with the terrain. There are several precarious sections where you need to use your hands to pull yourself up or lower yourself down steep rocky pavements. Worse, was the knowledge that we’d have to do all the difficult bits again a few hours later … in the opposite direction. We learned Denise was once a member of the Long Distance Walkers Association and had tackled some of their toughest distances, including an overnight team event.

Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos (Seven Hanging Valleys Walk)
These seagulls were our only companions at Praia da Marinha

This stretch of coastline is the Algarve at its best. There are stunning beaches along the trail (and they don’t come much more beautiful than Praia de Benagil) as well as Alfanzina lighthouse (check out this footage). Sinkholes abound and, while they are fenced off, we’ve witnessed several crazy people clambering over the fences to take selfies at the edge of what is essentially a massive hole plummeting down to the sea.

I won’t go into the geology of the landscape again (if you want to know more about how the formation of the landscape and its continued erosion visit my original blog about the walk).

Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos (Seven Hanging Valleys Walk)
Praia da Benagil from the clifftops

Eventually, this intrepid red-faced quartet found ourselves back at the car park where we enjoyed our most expensive beer of the winter to date (2.50 euros a bottle). I was delighted to see the tabby cats had returned and were sunning themselves on the surrounding tables.

It’s not often Harri and I meet a couple we like so instantly; however, we’d had a thoroughly enjoyable day with our new hiking friends. Denise and Geoff, we hope all goes well in Tavira and we hope to meet up with you again very soon.

Farol de Alfanzina
The trail passes the pretty Farol de Alfanzina

 


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5 Responses

    • TheWalkersWife

      Hi Joana

      Thanks so much for your feedback. Yes, it is a fabulous walk, isn’t it? The whole coastline is quite stunning, albeit a little tough on the legs in places.

      Haha, I had a winter of boat trips between January and March 2018. All three of my daughters visited separately (with children and partners) and I took them all out on boat trips. The caves are quite spectacular, aren’t they? We were also lucky enough to see dolphins on two of the trips (one was just focused on the caves). What really stood out for me was the expertise and enthusiasm of the boatmen. Perhaps I’ll do some more trips … maybe in the summer this time!! Kind regards, Tracy

  1. Vivi

    I found this very useful. Just a quick question since I am a beginner and planning to hike the trail. I am wondering if the entire trail is fenced to protect from falling or fenced only in certain places? Thanks so much.

    • TheWalkersWife

      Hi, thank you for finding my website. I’m so sorry I didn’t see your question sooner.

      Re the Seven Hanging Valleys Walk, there is fencing where there are dangerous sections and fencing around sinkholes but there is not fencing along the entire route. That said, it has been much improved over the last few years and there are now wooden steps in places which used to be slippery. If you’re uncomfortable walking close to the cliff edge there are plenty of footpaths running parallel which are a few metres back from the edge. I don’t particularly like heights and I’m fine with this walk so I don’t think you need to have any worries. If you have any questions just let me know and I’ll do my best to answer them.

      Cheers

      Tracy