“I never dislike repeating the identical walk over and over,” remarked our guide, bending beside a patch of flowers. “On every occasion, you can spot new things – these flowers hadn’t been in this spot the day before.”
Growing on stalks at least a couple of centimeters in height and adorning the dirt with snowy flowers, the reality that these overnight wonders sprung up in a single night was a remarkable proof of how rapidly nature can grow in this hilly, central section of the Algarve, the national forest of Barão de São João.
It was also encouraging to learn that in an region ravaged by forest fires in last fall, species such as strawberry trees – which are less flammable because of their low resin content – were beginning to bounce back, alongside highly flammable eucalyptus, which impedes other fire-retardant trees such as oak. Volunteers were being gathered to help with reforestation.
Tourist arrivals to the Algarve are growing, with the current year registering an growth of 2.6% on the previous year – but the majority visitors make a beeline for the coast, although there being so much more to experience.
The coastline is definitely untamed and stunning, but the locale is also keen to showcase the charm of its interior regions. With the creation of throughout the year walking and cycling paths, plus the addition of ecological celebrations, focus is being shifted to these equally captivating sceneries, including hills and lush forests.
The Algarve Walking Season hosts a program of several hiking events with general themes such as “water” and “historical sites” between late autumn and the end of winter. It’s expected they will motivate explorers year round, strengthening the area’s finances and helping stem the tide of young people leaving in pursuit of work.
Our visit to the national forest overlapped with a cultural gathering with the subject of “art”, based around the traditional hamlet to the northwest of Barão de São João.
In addition to led walks, setting off from the cultural centre, no-cost workshops ranged from learning how to make plant-based dyes, to performance sessions, mindful exercise and drawing. There were several photo displays running together with a number of other child-friendly pastimes, such as botanical explorations and creating seed dispensers.
Even before our casual daytime art printing class at the community space, our stroll into the woods with Joana had the feeling of an art trail. Indicated at the outset by monoliths adorned with images of rural workers, it was decorated throughout the path with smaller, installed stones depicting instances of wildlife, featuring spiny creatures and wild cats – the wild cat’s community recovering, thanks to a rehabilitation centre located in the fortified settlement of Silves.
As the route wound up to its summit, the menhir (ancient rock) on the Pedra do Galo walk, it became more lushly forested with the resinous scent of conifer. There was a ripeness to the breeze and firm, honey-toned globules protruded from tree trunks. Calcareous stone sparkled beneath our feet and small amphibians sat by pond edges, throats throbbing. In the background, energy generators cartwheeled against the blue expanse.
Francisco Simões, our guide the following day, was again eager to point out that these upland regions can be experienced throughout the year. Signposted trails, developed in recent years, are branches of the Via Algarviana, a route that stretches from the frontier for 300 kilometers, all the way to the Atlantic, and several are now linked to an digital tool that makes wayfinding even easier.
Francisco set up nature tour operator Algarvian Roots in the recent past and organizes experiences from avian observation to day-long guided hikes, all with the similar objectives as the AWS: to highlight the locale by way of involvement, education and cultural awareness.
The creative link is here, as well – his parent, potter Margarida Palma Gomes, had instructed us to design azulejos, the iconic traditional colored glazed tiles found across the country, two days earlier on a cultural activity. Tours to her atelier, as well as to a regional artist, can additionally be arranged through Algarvian Roots.
Francisco advised us to play our part for the trade by consuming generous quantities of quality vintage sealed with cork
After an superb lunch of pork cheek and vegetable in A Charrette in Monchique, a charming upland village bordered by the Algarve’s most elevated summits, the 902-metre Fóia and high Picota, Francisco took us down sharply cobbled streets and into a narrow path, where an elderly pair basked outdoors at the entrance of their residence.
A sharp trail led us into the forest, the earth strewn with tree seeds. Here, Francisco was keen to introduce us to oak trees, Portugal’s symbolic plant and legally protected since the 13th century. Not just are they intrinsically flame-retardant, but their pliable outer layer is a source of revenue for locals, who harvest it to sell to other {industries|sectors
