The 7 Hanging Valleys Karst Limestone Coast (PR1 LGA) Walk

This spectacular coast walk is in the Algarve, Southern Portugal, near Carvoeiro (between Lagos and Albufeira/Faro). Unlike most of our walks, it isn't (sadly) in the south east of England. However, if you only do one walk in you lifetime, do this one.

This part of the coast has karst limestone cliffs - think the island in the James Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun". It often features on the cover of Portuguese guidebooks. The limestone cliffs are easily eroded, so there is a spectacular mix of headlands, arches, stacks, caves, blow holes (a hole in the roof of a sea cave - from the cliffs, you can look down in to it), coves, and sandy beaches for swimming. You can even walk through arches under headlands between some beaches.

The cliffs are quite low, so exploring the area, and going down to each beach in turn for a swim, is quite easy.

It is an out and back walk, so you can walk as short or long a distance as you like before turning back. There are several places along the walk with road access. Take your time, explorer the beaches and headlands, take lots of photos, have a swim, and a drink or 2 on the terrace. The colours would be great at dusk.

The eastern half walk is fairly rural, with only a few access roads and seasonal beach cafes, with no seafront development. The western half of the walk forms the 5.7 km long waymarked "PR1 LGA Percurso dos 7 Vales Suspensos" (7 Hanging Valleys Path) which passes the coastal villages of Benagil (fishing harbour), Carvoeiro, and Vale Centianes

The walk is possible year round. High summer may be too hot for walking, and be busy, but the sea will be warm, and it averages 14 hours of sunshine a day. Spring and early Autumn would be best. Winter (when the photos were taken) can be nice, still sunny, but the sea is a little colder, but not too bad (17°), for swimming. There is rain from October to February, but very little from May to September

The 'karst' coast is more than this central section.

From east to west, it starts at Senhora de Rocha, just past Armação de Pêra (high rise seaside resort strip). From there, its wild coastline (backed by villas that don't spoil the view) which continues west past Benagil (small village) and Carvoeiro (large village with facilities), then wild coast all the way to Ferragudo. After the 'Portimão' estuary, there's another section from Prai de Rocha (high rise resort) to Alvor (resort village), then after a gap, a final section around the Ponta da Piedade (headland) south of Lagos.

If you've come all this way, there are other good coastal walks:

• sand dune barrier islands with sandy beaches backing lagoons in the east of Algarve - access by ferry or road at Praia do Barril (near Tariva), Praia de Faro (the best thing you can do close to the airport), Praia da Quinta do Lago (west of Faro, limited parking, free outside high summer), and in the centre at Grande Praia de Pêra (between Armação de Pêra and Salgados)
• cliff top coast path around Sagres (the south west corner)
• Pontal (the much less touristy west coast)

Most people use (rental) cars. Navigate using the Google Maps app. Parking is mostly free, very easy during the winter, but very challenging in the summer and weekends. Get there early!

Buses: See Vamus (Algarve Buses) for routes, or use Google Maps

Bus 107 : Portimao - Estombar (train station) - Lagoa - Carvoeiro (coast) - Carvalho (coast)

Bus 77 : Lagoa - Benagil (coast) - Praia de Marinha (coast)

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Jan-25 Andrew