BTT Albufeira-Paderne-Albufeira
A mountain bike route to get from the Albufeira coast to the trails of the Algarvian 'barrocal' at Paderne and back. For about 50% off road through mainly agricultural area where almond, carob, fig and olive trees are grown abundantly in the fertile thick red clay. Some orange trees and cork oak you will find as well.
Unlike almost all other tracks you find in this blog, this route is not intended as a permanent circuit. It is here to help the many visitors of Albufeira area that do not know their way around so well, but possibly do know how to handle a gps device and are willing to go for a nice bike ride.
From the famous Albufeira view point 'Pau da Bandeira' the ride takes us to the charming village of Paderne.
At the parking in front of the Paderne football pitch the municipality of Albufeira did create 3 signposted circuits, PR1, PR2 and PR3, aiming to entertain walkers and mountain bikers. Pretty trails, a good initiative indeed. You can find them on http://www.toursandtracksalgarve.blogspot.com/.
In our opinion these routes are more suitable for walking than biking. Distances varieing between 10 and 12 km turn these tours a little short for more experienced bikers. On the other hand for novices the tracks may be too technical or too steep. Besides this, we should be careful not to spoil a lot of fun by mixing walkers and bikers on precious single tracks like for example along the Quarteira River. GR23 in the Tavira council and GR13, the Via Algarviana, are examples of signposted routes where, due to the vastness of the area and relatively wide trails, walkers and bikers can share the same itinery without any problems.
Fortunately Paderne and surroundings are blessed with an infinate series of great tracks to ride in all directions. However, coming there from Albufeira bikers have to deal with several obstacles such as motorways A22 and A1, the busy national roads 395, 125 and IC1 and let's not forget about the rail road.
Albufeira bikers have been finding solutions for most of these problems. This route here is aiming to take you to Paderne and back in a pleasant and surprising way.
Distance: 36,11 km.
Accumulated ascent: 440 m.
Our rating:
- Technical difficulty: 2/5
- Physical difficulty: 3/5
- Scenery: 3/5
- 13th century Moorish castle, Castelo de Paderne
- Medieval bridge across the Quarteira river
- Springs and washing facilities at the Quarteira river, Fonte de Paderne
- Water mill at the Quarteira river, Azenha do castelo
- Paderne's 16th century church
- Quarteira river, Ribeira de Quarteira, Natura 2000 PTCON0038, http://www.icnb.pt/
Track author: Fred van der Meer
To view, compare, rate or download this track, open: http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=fnxkzsmvwunbdpah
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