As we had two bank holidays at the beginning of December, both of them on Mondays, we had the opportunity to walk two different sections of the Algarve Way (Via Algarviana). On the first weekend we explored the area from the Barragem do Arade into Silves. The route actually starts in Sâo Bartolomeu de Messines and takes a lovely path around the edge of the Barragem do Funcho, skirting the top of the Barragem do Arade. A large part of the walk is through Eucalyptus forests and on a cool December morning the smell of the eucalyptus leaves was exhilarating.

The route by passes Silves at Enxerim, but we joined the main road and took a five minute walk into.....