Castelejo Environmental Trail

Category: Civil Architecture > Trail

District: Faro > Vila do Bispo > Vila do Bispo

Location

The Castelejo Environmental Trail is located in the Castelejo urbanisation, an area belonging to the town and municipality of Vila do Bispo. The starting and ending point of this circular route is at the Castelejo Leisure Area. This privileged location offers a starting point that easily transitions between coastal and inland environments, revealing the region's landscape diversity.

The Route and the Landscape

This route, approximately 3.5 kilometres long, unfolds along rural and natural paths, presenting a low degree of difficulty, making it accessible to those seeking a peaceful walk in nature. Its circular nature allows for exploring different environments in a single experience, with an approximate duration of one hour and thirty minutes.

The walk begins in a dune area and continues along the coastal plateau, extending to Amado Beach. Along this section, it is possible to observe a dune landscape with varied flora, including juniper, mastic, and rockrose, which contribute to the biological and scenic richness of the site. As one progresses, the route turns inland, and the landscape transforms, giving way to other plant species typical of the Algarve hills.

Flora and Fauna

Natural diversity is one of the highlights of the Castelejo Environmental Trail. In the coastal area, in addition to dune vegetation, there is the possibility of spotting various waterfowl that nest or use these waters as a stopover during migrations. The rocky cliffs are a remarkable place for observing white stork nests, a particular phenomenon in this region.

Moving inland, especially in the Vilarinha area, the plant landscape becomes even richer, with formations associated with the Carrapateira Stream indicating a more humid environment. Here, one finds cork oak stands and strawberry tree groves, along with other wetland plants, such as mastic, Portuguese dewy pine, sage-leaved cistus, and gum rockrose. The fauna of this area is equally notable, with traces of mammals such as wild boars and foxes, as well as rabbits and hares, observable in pasturelands, scrub, or pine forests. For bird lovers, this part of the trail offers good opportunities to see passerines, such as blackbirds and azure-winged magpies, and birds of prey, such as the short-toed snake eagle and the common buzzard.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt