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On the A22 motorway, you pass junctions for Olhão and for Tavira. Leave the motorway at
junction 17 for Monte Gordo.

4. The motorway slip road takes you down onto the EN 125. Turn right here, going west, in the direction of Olhão and Tavira.

NOTE: If you want to go straight to the supermarket, look for ‘Ecomarché’ on the left-hand side of the road just past the small roundabout – you will see its tall flags. The turning is a small road on the left just past it, opposite the turning to Corvinhos.

5. Continue straight ahead along the EN 125. You pass a brown beach sign for Alagoa on your left-hand side, and another at the roundabout for Altura. Carry on straight ahead, passing signs for Alagoinha and Portela on your right-hand side and brown beach signs for Manta Rota and Lota on your left-hand side.

6. Look on your right hand side for a sign to V.Nv.Cacela and turn right here. There are actually two turnings, both of which will bring you out at the cross roads in the center of Vila Nova de Cacela.

NOTE: If you are hungry, stop here and eat in one of the café’s or restaurants. Casa de Pasto ‘O Indio’ near the crossroads is cheap and cheerful and very Portuguese. There are also two restaurants back out on the EN 125, just past the main entrance to Vila Nova.

7. At the cross roads, you want to go north, which is up hill, away from the coast and the EN 125. If you are going in the right direction, you will shortly pass the brand new market on your left hand side and an orange ‘Galp’ petrol station on your right hand side.

NOTE: If you are low on fuel, fill up here, before going up into the hills. Also, for food, there is a good ‘Ali-super’ supermarket in the street behind the new market, where you can stock up on everything. If it is morning and the market is open, stop and shop.

8. Shortly after passing the petrol station, you come to a small roundabout. SET YOUR TRIP COUNTER TO 0 km HERE. Go straight ahead, up and over the railway bridge in the direction of Corte A.Martins.

9. Follow this road, passing Pocinho after 1 km. At 2km, you go across a bridge over the motorway. Continue following the road north.

10. At 3.8 km, you will reach a new roundabout. Turn right here in the direction of Corte A.Martins. Shortly after this is another roundabout and the entrance to Monte Rei Golf course. Take the turning to the north, again sign-posted to Corte.A.Martins.

11. At 6.1 km you come to Corte A.Martins and wonder why it had so many signs to it. Carry straight on ahead.

12. At 7.1 km you come into the village of Eira Pelada.

NOTE: On the left, is a good local restaurant, where you can eat now if it is open and you are hungry, or you can return to it at another time.

13. In Eira Pelada, carry on straight ahead through the cross roads. At 8.9 km, you pass a turning to Conceição on your left, carrying on straight ahead.

14. Look for a sign for Ronaldo’s Bar on your right-hand side. Just past this, at 9.5 km, you have to turn off the road to the left, to the hamlet of Faz Fato, though there is no obvious sign.

NOTE: In Faz Fato, you will see a café and ‘mini-mercado’ (the centre of town) with yellow awnings, where you can get a drink, buy some basics, and can order dinner in advance if you like.

15. Just past the café, follow the road around the curve to the right, in the directions of Cintados; DO NOT take the road which is more straight ahead to Estorninhos.

16. Follow this road through Alfarobeira. Up head, look for a low lying house on the top of the hill. This is Casa Ceramista. The entrance is at 11.2 km, the second entrance around the left bend after the small crossroads. The drive is steep and gravely, so just put your foot down until you get to the top.