It’s commonly recognised that walking is one of the best exercises for body and mind. Feeling under the weather, fed-up, depressed, achy, tired even? Go walk it off. Or swim it off. Or bike it off.
Combine that exercise with a bit of nature and you have the perfect remedy.
Not that 2 Cheeses are feeling any of the above. In fact quite the opposite. Dutch couple Emile & Sanne, who bought Quinta da Cerejeira camping just two and a half years ago, have managed to create a beautiful respite within their 1.5 hectare back garden. All who enter are made to feel welcome and therefore quite at home.
They leave nothing to chance and have a caring eye for detail. Yoga, pilates, boat trips, cycle routes and hiking routes all planned and available for their guests. We choose hiking route number 2. A short 6.7K loop simply downloaded into Komoot.
The map is flat. The route isn’t. The fact that it’s named Mirodoura da Cruz Alta, should have been a clue. We are clueless. It’s of no consequence. It’s a joyful mix of lanes, road and track.
We learn that at one point during the storm a tornado raged through a campsite in Albufeira in the Algarve, causing destruction and complete mayem. Killing three people in the process.
Not far from base we come across an ancient water pump. Sadly chained.
