Monchique proved to be a great choice for walking both in the mountains and out at the coast.  Either side of our rural Casa aptly named Casa Vale dos Sobreiros – house in the valley of the Holm Oak trees there were mountains.  Foia on one side and Picota on the other.  We were spoilt for choice.  To the south and west we had the coastline of the Algarve to poke around.  We had four days and a lot of walking planned.

One thing about walking in Spain and Portugal – you practically never have to worry about the weather.  It maybe a little cool in the morning but by noon it seems to be always around 22 and by 4-5pm 26-27 unless you are very high up.

The  mountains of Foia and Picota are covered with Spanish lavender, Green Lavender, white rock rose and spots of blue – Lithodora and spots of white – Arenaria.  If you imagine a walk in NZ and how many manuka bushes there are – multiply that by 10,000 and that’s around how many white rock roses you’ll find on a walk in this area of the world.  VERY pretty.