Walk x22  Besteiros - Salir Circular. 13k Ascent: 560m

GPS: 37/14.25.83  8/ 01.22.51

This is a short but fairly challenging walk in the hills behind Salir in east - central Algarve. An undulating start is followed by a descent into a rive valley and a long. steep climb out. After a descent back to the eastern part of Salir, passing by the parish church, the walk concludes with a stroll through fields south of the Salir - Palmeiros road.  There is a bar at the start, and cafes in Salir as you pass through, but no other refreshments in what is a fairly wild piece of countryside. 

Getting to Besteiros.

The start is easily located. Drive to Salir from Loule on the M525. Stay on the road past the petrol station and the GNR post, to descend to a roundabout with the rather dramatic red statue of some indeterminate creature. Turn right onto the N124, and drive for 2.4k to find the Bar Besteiros on the left. Park where you can.

The Walk.

With your back to the bar (1) turn left and walk down the main road for 139m, then turn left at the first junction. Walk down into the hsallow valley, turning left with the road as it starts to rise. Turn right uphill on a dirt track opposite metal gates. (2) Walk up this gradually ascending track for 550m, staying right at a fork after 100m. At a fork, (3) take the left-hand, continuing to climb gradually for a time, then levelling off to walk roughly westwards.  At a further fork (4), take the right hand, swinging round to the north and climbing more steeply. After a further 450m, arrive at a junction with the wider track (5) and turn right, downhill.

Walk down for 450m to a cross-tracks (6) and turn left. Stay right a afork after a short distance, and continue into a valley. At the low point take the right hand at a fork, and climb once more to a summit and a cross-tracks. (7). Go straight across here, and start to descend. Follow a winding track down for 500m into a valley, crossing the stream (or dry bed) at the bottom. Soon after crossing the stream turn left with the track and stay left at a fork (8). After a short time join the stream, and follow its course for the next 1.5k. You may have to cross and recross as you go. 

Notice a building up to your left as you come to the end of this stretch. Just after you pass below the building, the track curves a little away from the river (9) and then loops around an open area which has been used (possibly still is) as a training area for horses. Follow the track as it starts to climb towards the building. Come to a tarmac surface and turn left. (10) Reach a point very close to the building and turn through a hairpin bend, taking the left at a fork immediately afterwards. Climb to a point overlooking more buildings and a tennis court, turning left to pass benhind them. (11)

Now follow this track as it climbs the hill behind the complex. After 250 m, turn sharp right and continue to climb. (12) Just to your right here are the ruins of a small settlement, totally abandoned years ago. Follow this clear track for another 650m to finally emerge at a junction on a ridge. (13). turn left and start to descend steadily, due south. Come to a junction after 430m (14), and dog-leg left and right to continue the descent in the same direction. After 680m, come to a junction with a small building ahead and right. (15) Turn right here and continue to descend. After 550m, walk onto a tarmac surface and turn 90 degrees left between houses. Walk down the road, passing a junction after 320m, and arriving at a further one after another 180m. (16)

Bear right and very soon come down to a wider road at the end of a row of houses. Turn left and walk along this road for 350m to meet a main road (the N124). Turn right and first left by the Salir boundary sign, and at the next junction (a cross-roads), turn right uphill towards a large water-tower. (17). Walk to the top of the hill and turn left into the square in front of the church. There is a tapas bar here which may be open. Walk to the right of the church and locate a steps leading downhill. Follow them down to the bottom, emerging on a narrow street, with a butcher´s shop just up on the right. Turn left (18) and walk down to the first corner. Stay left, following the road sign to Borno and Besteiros. 

It is possible from here to walk along tarmac all the way back to the start, but the route is quite long and tedious. The alternative is a quite complicated but interesting stroll along tracks and through fields. For the road route, continue along the road to the junction with the N124, turn right and walk down to the bar.

After 330m, take the first right, a narrow surfaced lane with two postboxes just to the left. After just over 100m, come to a junction and bear left along a lane.(19) Pass a house on the left after 150m, then swing round to the right and come to a junction. Bear left and just after the building on the right, turn off the track (20) and head south over the field. Soon pick up a farm track heading for a line of trees. Pass through the trees on the track and turn left to walk parallel with them. (21). After just over 100m, bear right away from the line and pass through a narrow gap between trees and bushes on a faint track. Stay on theright for a few metres, then turn right then left after another few metres to find a narrow farm track. Turn left on it a very soon come out onto a much more obvious country lane. (22)

Turn left and walk for 100m to a corner. Here turn right off the track through a gap into a field. (23) Stick to the right across this field and shortly arrive at another farm track on a bend. Walk straight ahead on this track for 130m, then turn right on a less obvious track going south with bushes on either side. Soon come to a junction with another track and turn left along it (24). Follow it through several fields for another 340m. Arrive at a point where your track meets another at a very sharp bend, and take the right-hand track. (25). The track goes into a field. Stay on the left edge and come to yet another farm track at a bend. Turn left along it, and where it grows more faint after about 100m, turn right and find a narrow footpath through trees.

The footpath runs and heads north-east, crosses a field (stay right), and hits yet another farm track. (26)  Turn left on this and follow it for 180m to a tarmac road. Turn right and walk down the hill (both roads will take you to the right place, but the left is quicker) to emerge on the 124, close to the bar where you started the walk.

GPS Points. (37/8)