They call this Algar Seco, a magnificent line of limestone cliffs on the coast of Algarve just before crossing into Spain.

We are on the way to Seville in Spain but today we are making the most of a beautiful sunny day to see as much as possible of the last of Portugal. Our first stop was in the hilly town of Silves to have a look at an original Moorish castle. The original castle was built by either the Romans or Visigoths around 200 BC but occupied and developed by the Arabs between the 8th and 13th C.

Silves town hall.

Its festival time still.

Strange thing about castles, they are always at the top of the hill.

Fairly ordinary church that was built on the remains of a muslim temple.

Always have to have a statue. Don’t know who he is but he is doing a great job guarding the castle.

The castle is the best preserved Moorish fortification in Portugal.

Great views from the castle.

Excavation revealing how life was.

The ‘Algibe’, a 1,300,000 lt water reservoir built in the early 1200’s and used to supply the city until the 1980’s.

There is a movement to bring back the lynx to Europe.

Extensively terraced hills, growing mostly citrus for which this area is famous.

A British built cork factory from the early 1900’s, no longer in operation.

Pomegranate trees in the castle garden.

Next stop was the Carvoeiro Boardwalk, a 600 m boardwalk built to show off the Algar Seco. Along the way were some great pieces of building design that make this area look fantastic.

Either brave or stupid, the steps down are without hand rails and rescue options are limited. We saw one crazy couple climbing down with a 2 year old.

This part of the Portuguese coast is truely magnificent and worth spending more time to explore.

Next stop was Fuseta, a traditional fishing village.

The fishing fleet.

Big local delicacy, char grilled fish, As Collette described it “part raw, part burnt, and all bony”.

The statuesque fisherman.

This is an area with extensive marshlands and home to the pink flamingo. This hide is accessible at low tide and looks out on the marshlands. Unfortunately, no flamingo today.

That’s it for Portugal but we have vowed to return to this wonderful country.

We slipped across the border into Spain to find a camp in Isla Cristina. Pretty name, pretty place, lousy camp ground way over priced and dirty. Seville early tomorrow.

David & Collette