PR4 MTL: À Volta do Montado

Distance: 14.5 km
Ascent/descent: 145 m
Highest point: 195 m
GPS file: https://pt.wikiloc.com/trilhas-trekking/pr4-a-volta-do-montado-16842519

PR4 MTL was the first of two hikes of roughly the same distance we did from Mina de São Domingos, a village around 20km north of Mértola. Being us, we chose to walk both routes on the same Sunday in late May.

Our first impressions were good: parking (free) was next to shaded picnic tables alongside the lake. If you follow the water’s edge for a short distance, you’ll quickly arrive at the beach resort of Praia da Albufeira da Tapada Grande.

The PR4 MTL route starts with a steep climb, however the majority of the route is undulating rather than hilly. Early on, Harri compared the Alentejan landscape to a dry Brecon Beacons.

The official information suggests this route will take four to five hours, but we were done in three hours … I’m assuming they allow time to go for a swim … or milk a few of those cows!!

Highlights

It was just wonderful to be walking in a landscape that matched virtually every description I’d ever read about it – rolling plains, vast fields, lots of cattle and unidentified crops (though I’m sure the farmer knows what they are!) and craggy outcrops galore.

About 2.5km into the PR4 MTL route, there was a stunningly pretty field with a lovely little hill on top with boulders and what looks intriguingly like a fort – maybe a border post?

There’s no doubt Praia da Albufeira da Tapada Grande boasts a beautiful setting. I loved how the (yellowing) grassy banks swept right down to the water’s edge. The summer season hadn’t yet started facilities like pedalos were not yet available.

Verdict

Despite the name of the PR4 MTL route, there were surprisingly few views of the lake. In fact, despite the occasional tantalising glimpses during the last few kilometres, once you leave the actual lakeside you don’t actually see water again until the very last section of walking (apart from a few ponds).

I’ll admit the last few kilometres did start to feel a little tedious – there was a section of walking on a wide, rough road. Although there was barely any traffic, it wasn’t much fun in the heat.

On a positive note, the dogs we passed seemed rather sleepy and far less ‘barky’ than the ones we encounter in the Algarve.

If you don’t have time to walk two routes from Mina de São Domingos, then I’d recommend skipping this one and walking the rather more spectacular PR10 MTL: Rota do Minério and then spending the rest of your day at Praia da Albufeira da Tapada Grande.