Routes

Route Lajedo – Fajã Grande

This route begins at the end of the tarmac road that leads to Lajedo harbour. A short distance from the start of the trail you will come to a fork.
Both routes lead to Mosteiro.
Take the left hand turn down a metalled trail.
Stay on this trail, which rises and falls as crosses a number of rivulet beds.
The last 20 minutes are uphill.
Ignore the paths off to the right and left until you reach the tarmac road, through the village, in the direction of Caldeira do Mosteiro.
Before you get to aerial, which can be seen on the top of a hill, you will come to another marker pointing the way down along a path to Fajãzinha, about half anhour’s walk away.
Once in Fajãzinha, turn left by a small shop in the central square known as the Rossio.
You will come to a small square where the walk down into Fajã Grande begins.
In order to get there you will have to cross the Ribeira Grande rivulet.
Note that this can be a difficult task, as recent storms have widened the rivulet and shifted the bank considerably.
The continuation of the route on the other side is quite easily identified however.
After crossing the rivulet, simply continue along the metalled trail, ignoring routes off to the right, that lead to private property or to Cuada.
When you hit the tarmac road, turn left and carry on into the centre of Fajã Grande, where the route ends.

 

 

Route Ponta do Albarnaz – Fajã Grande

This route begins at the junction leading to Albarnaz lighthouse.
Take the track on your left, start to climb up a small hill, and then turn off on an access route to the right.
The track itself begins with a stretch of metalling and rises slightly.
After a quarter of an hour you will come to a track on the left.
Ignore it and carry on straight ahead, passing several gates and crossing several rivulet beds, until you start to descend in the direction of Ponta.
Be careful here: water running along the trail can make this descent slippery.
You should reach Ponta about 1hr 15mins after setting off.
Carry straight on until you reach the church and it shrine to the Holy Spirit.
From here you should follow the tarmac road, though if you prefer to walk on the grass rivulet (Ribeira das Casas) you will see a pretty waterfall that tumbles into a depression known as Poço do Bacalhau.
After the rivulet, either follow the tarmac road opposite until you reach the centre of Fajã Grande, or take the old track on the right, which leads to the beach area, where you can enjoy a drink, have something to eat, or catch transport to your next port of call.

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