by Matt D’Arcy
(or cycle it, 4×4 it, even off-road motorbike it!)
Walking The West Coast
EXPLORING THE WEST COAST’S WILD RETREATS
According to the highly-acclaimed travel experts “Lonely Planet” the Algarve’s western coast is the perfect wild retreat for those looking to escape from it all.
They write in fulsome praise of this area largely untapped by the mass tourism that has made the southern Algarve, just a few dozen kilometres distant, one of Europe’s “must-visit” holiday destinations.
“Portugal’s least developed region, the western Algarve has nationally protected nature reserves, pristine beaches, wild coastlines, jagged cliffs, and is home to Europe’s southwestern-most point, Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St Vincent),” they report in a recent article.
“From fresh seafood caught daily by local fishermen and the best beaches in Portugal to relaxing spas, coastal activities, and access to nature preserves, the western coast of the Algarve is the perfect wild retreat for those looking to escape from it all.
Off-Road In The 9-Seater Landrover 4×4
“One of Portugal’s protected natural parks, the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, wraps around the Algarve’s cliffy coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, covering a stretch of over 120km of lush greenery (much of it in the municipality of Aljezur) and wild fauna tucked amidst steep coastal landscapes.
“Other inhabitants include fishing eagles and white storks.
“The coast, characterised by rugged rocks, boulders, sea stacks, sand stratified cliff faces caused by centuries of erosion, is perfect for long walks.”
Sandytoes Flyers
Now, in Aljezur, a couple who arrived here 11 years ago and fell passionately in love with the area, are looking to bring those breathtaking sights described by Lonely Planet to many more people, hoping these new visitors will also become enamoured by the natural beauty that surrounds those of us also fortunate to live here or spend much of our time here.
Anton Nicholls and Christin Bauer have set up a company, Sandytoes Algarve to reach the parts of the west coast others cannot reach.
Anton, born in Stockport near Manchester, worked in the offshore oil and gas exploration industry before falling in love with the Algarve’s west coast.
The couple have now been here 11 years, having bought an old ruin known as Casa da Vina before spending years turning it into a beautiful home which is also the focal point of their business as they now prepare for their second season since launching Sandytoes.
From there they take clients to all points along the west coast, many of their tours beginning at Adega da Craveira near Vales and heading south along the clifftops and through the valleys towards Bordeira. The trips take in many beautiful spots including Bordalete, near Bordeira, which Anton says is a stunning area, often with sightings of birds of prey.
In fact, on any tour—depending on time of year—it is possible to watch bee eaters, booted eagles, peregrine falcons, alpine swifts, nightingales and golden orioles. Vast numbers of migrating birds move along the coast, such as griffons, white storks and black storks and Egyptian vultures. Nesting birds of the Parque include choughs and shags.
Off-Road In The 9-Seater Landrover 4×4
Lovers of flora will also be in their element as they pass many of the wild orchids of the region and also iris, lilies, medronho and fennel along their journey.
The superb sandy beaches along the coastal strip, the outstandingly beautiful flora along the cliffs, the numerous wildflower meadows, and the mixed cork oak, and pine woodlands in the region offer an unparalleled opportunity to observe the teeming and diverse wildlife of the western Algarve.
Other creatures can be found in the natural park, too: otters, gennets, badgers and the Egyptian mongoose are reported from the area, and the Park’s woodlands are also home to wild boar.
Anton and Christin claim that Sandytoes—which can be found on TRIPADVISOR and is registered with Turismo de Portugal, and is therefore legally licensed and insured—is a unique operation for the area.
Walking The West Coast
Christin, from Germany, explained: “Sandytoes is family friendly activity fun. Most activity tourists come to this area to surf but we have set out do something different in the “outdoorsy” sense. With surfing, mum often has to sit on the beach while dad and the older children are out on the water. What we provide is a full-family experience for everyone—and our motto is that we cater for everyone from the ages of 9 to 90!
“But we also provide both for the solo explorer, or for couples who simply wish to walk or cycle together in each other’s company through some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable.
“And if people, families, couples, individuals, simply want to have a bicycle to hand during their holiday we also cater for them, the rental including delivery to their villa or apartment if they so wish”.
Anton added: “Most businesses on the West Coast are set up for surfing and tourism in the sense of villa rental or B & B’s. We do have three holiday properties for rental, two in the historic centre of Aljezur, and another in Bordeira.
Cycling The West Coast
“But we also wanted to set up something different. I wanted to showcase the area and the best way I could do that was to take people out there and show them the vistas and the scenery that knocked me for six when I first ventured out into what, for me, was unknown territory at the time.
“I was hooked by the beauty and I want as many people as possible to share that experience.
“Having fallen in love with this area, we believe other people deserve to see what the hidden Algarve has to offer. We are trying to promote this area with alternatives to the “just surfing” mentality.
“Our mission statement when we started up Sandytoes was to highlight and showcase the natural beauty of the area by offering our clients fantastic bicycle, jeep (they have a 9-seater 4×4 Landrover), walking and motorbike tours to take them off the beaten track and show them that many parts of the west coast are not just havens; they are heavenly!
“We want people to see it for themselves in the best ways possible. Indeed, our motto is: ‘We spend all our time doing our best to give you the best time’.”
Some of their tours will take in the castle at Aljezur and the historic centre. But as most people coming to the area will already have made it a point to see these attractions on arrival, most of their tours involve heading out into the hills and valleys of nature’s creation.
Cycling The West Coast
Christin pointed out: “The west coast is a stunning, peaceful and largely unexplored area of the Algarve, pretty much unknown to most of the tourists flying in from northern Europe, who are drawn to the south coast by the sunshine, the beaches and the golf.
“They stay in Vilamoura, Albufeira or Portimao and when they’re not sunbathing or swimming they are drinking pints of British beer, eating pie and chips or fish and chips, maybe going for the occasional curry.
“They simply don’t know that just a few dozen kilometres away to the west there is a paradise of beautiful scenery, fantastic wildlife, with so much to do, so much to see”.
Anton, who is just about to embark on a motorbike trails riding project, alongside the other aspects of the business, added: “It isn’t just about the glorious and largely empty beaches out here, and the surfing that surpasses anything the south coast has to offer.
“Here there are landscapes and seascapes to blow your mind, valleys, cliff top walks that both literally and figuratively take your breath away, and all the peace and relaxation that the true beauty of nature brings to give you true peace of mind.
Motorbike Adventures
“People coming to the area and heading to the beaches, or passing through on the EN125, miss all that. We wanted to offer a different project, one that allows our clients to get deep into these largely untouched areas of natural beauty, to become a part of it, not to be just a distant onlooker.”
**Anton admits to being a motorcycle fanatic and has recently launched a Facebook page, “Aljezur Trailriders” to bring together like-minded individuals in the Aljezur area who enjoy trailriding, and also to boost tourism by attracting trailriders to the area.
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NOTES:
Sandytoes has 3 holiday cottages, all registered as AL
We are unique as we do bike delivery for bike rentals
What we offer: Bicycle/jeep/walking tours.
Sandytoes Flyers
As we are located in a semi-rural location we also offer bicycle hire delivery to your villa or apartment, both for kids and adults.
Surfboard and wetsuit hire, including delivery.
1-on-1 offroad motorbike tours.
Holiday homes.
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Information:
http://www.sandytoes-algarve.com
Tel. +351 282 998 063 Skype +351 282 998 063
Mob. +351 916 563 513 Skype +351 916 563 513
Facebook: Sandytoes-Algarve
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Sandytoes—how to get there…
Sandytoes is based up a track off the EN 125 not far from Café Andre.
From Aljezur, head on EN 125 in the direction of Lagos and approximately 250m before Cafe Andre, you will see, on your left-hand side, some big trash bins and some post boxes, all close to the road.
You will also see the Sandytoes company signpost, just back from the road, on the left as well.
(If you know the “Escola primaria antiga” just off the EN 125 before Café Andre, in Barranco da Vaca—a building similar to The Old School House at Vales, Amovate’s HQ—you take the opposite turning; i.e. you’d turn right to the primary school, so you turn left to Sandytoes).
Turn left off the EN 125 and follow the signs, showing a bicycle logo and an arrow pointing the way to go—it’s just 200-300 metres along the easily negotiated track.
