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Two one-hour nature trails reveal a rich coastal wonderland of salt marsh, woodland and freshwater lagoon. The winter months are very rewarding with huge flocks of greater flamingo and spoonbill mingling with pintail, gadwall and teal. The prize attraction, though, is the rare purple gallinule, a striking member of the coot family.

Fine, panoramic views characterize an easy to moderate walk, the start/finish point of which is only accessible by car. The 8-km (5-mile) track snakes its way through beautiful rolling countryside, fording two small streams and passing the diminutive villages of Malhada de Peres and Daroeira.

The 11-km (7-mile) walk begins in the town square and takes in the ruins of a Franciscan convent. Shady woodlands echo in summer to nightingales and cuckoos, and are full of butterflies tumbling through the air. The ascent steepens before the cluster of antenna prickling Fóia’s summit come into view.

The spectacular clifftop paths between Salema and Luz are well-trodden by ramblers who enjoy negotiating headlands and don’t mind the occasional stony track. The full distance is about 10 km (6 miles), but to halve that length, start the walk from Burgau.

A serene circular walk which partly follows the course of an irrigation ditch (levada ) and two rivers. The 8-km (4-mile) path begins at the Mira-Rio restaurant on the N124 where it picks up thelevada before heading towards the “Ilha” do Rosário viewpoint. The path then veers through lush, open countryside and skirts a tiny hamlet, Vale da Lama, before meeting the restaurant again.

The trail is around 6 km (3 miles) in length and two hours in duration, although ornithologists can spend all day in bliss scanning the reedbeds and saltmarsh for plovers, avocets and other wading birds, plus many species of duck and gull. During the summer, visitors can also observe the salt harvest.

Combines exploration of Alte, arguably the prettiest village in the Algarve, with a hike to the summit of Rocha dos Soidos. The climb is long and steady rather than steep. It will take about three hours to complete the round trip which includes an alternative route of descent via Soidos de Baixo.

The fragile habitat of the dunes contains a wealth of flora, including the beautiful large yellow restharrow which blankets the sand with a bright mantle of delicate petals.

A real hike in the hills that will appeal to the experienced hill walker. The region is a protected area of outstanding natural beauty and bristles with aromatic lavender and rosemary. Nativecistus species are the dominant shrubs. The walk passes two ancient defensive walls and the Cave of the Moors.

Coastal erosion has eaten into the cliff face to produce some fantastic natural sculpture washed with a beautiful russet and mustard hue. The footpath, which is quite steep in places, looks over a series of delightful half-moon coves packed with golden sand. And there are ample spots to picnic in along the way.