A different route

GET UP, GET OUT AND DISCOVER YOUR SURROUNDINGS. GO BY MOTORCYCLE, ELECTRIC BIKE, OR ON FOOT FOR A BREATHTAKING EXPERIENCE. THE EXPERTS TOLD US WHERE TO GO

‘silence is golden’, but if you’ve ever ridden a 4-stroke dirt bike, you may disagree!

For those looking to experience some of the best enduro riding around the Algarve, just jump on your bike, or organise yourself a day drift in some of these locations:

Loulé MX Track: Opposite the Cepsa garage in the Loulé industrial estate, there’s a small sign directing you to the Loulé MX (motocross) track, and for those who want to sharpen their skills and have some fun, it’s a great little place to go and spend an hour or two riding the banked turns or learning to drift the back wheel around its ‘hippodrome’.

In the surrounding area, a multitude of single track gravel roads lead you out west or north as far as the Ribeira de Algibre.

Monchique and the west coast: For some great hill climbs and striking coastal paths, a start point for riding the western Algarve is the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, with trails taking you around the western flank of Monchique before hitting the coastal trails (and sand) near Aljezur.

North of Loulé, Querença: Taking a line between Salir and São Brás de Alportel, with Querença dissecting the two, there are some fantastic fast tracks and switchbacks that one can spend a whole day exploring. Some of the route runs along the Via Algarviana north of Querença, with plenty of river crossings and ravines to mix up the ride profile.

Fonte Férrea: North of Alportel at Fonte Férrea lies a dirt riders’ paradise with plenty of technical single track trails and gnarly hill climbs spreading out from the river basin. A great place to spend a morning with the added bonus of a tasty tosta mista and warm brew in the little café at the far end of the car park.

Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bpo: This is the starting point for rides into the north- east of the Algarve and empty hill country that’s a free riding nirvana. A lot of the tracks and trails originate north of the town and lead riders to fast, high, ridge-line riding that strikes out toward quaint little villages like Ribeira and Corthela for a good lunch. Alcoutim: Starting at Castro Marim, one can virtually ride the banks up the Rio Guadiana to Alcoutim and beyond, a ride that takes you through fruit orchards and cork groves along the Portuguese/Spanish spine... and potentially, all the way to the north, providing of course you know the way!

Charlie Perring is the owner and moto guide at DRIFT Moto, which runs motorcycle tours throughout Portugal and beyond.

@driftadventure charlie@driftadventure.co.uk driftadventure.co.uk