There are plenty of fitness activities on offer from Fairways, and as members, Carol Carne and Judith Karr will tell you, cycling is one of them, either with organised groups or do-it-yourself.
Here is Carol and Judith’s story.
About eight years ago, we gave up golf in the Algarve and took up cycling instead. We cycle 40k at least three times a week at Fairways, as well as at home. We have cycled with other members too, some we know from the UK, others we’ve met in Portugal. We don’t go more often than three times a week, as we feel we need to spend time with our husbands!
We often cycle somewhere nice for lunch where they join us, either on foot or by car. At Praia de Faro we like to stop at Salmare. It serves delicious snacks and salads, and we can watch the kite-surfers swirling over the sea. It’s quite relaxing. In the other direction, we love to go to Julia’s in Praia do Garrão, just before Vale do Lobo. The new boardwalks through the Ria Formosa Nature reserve linking Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago to Faro make it really easy to cycle along the coast. We can make it to Faro by bike quicker than anyone driving a car from Fairways! We use Google Maps and other apps, such as Strava, for directions, but also get recommendations of trails from other members.
Sometimes we get ‘misplaced’ – but getting lost is part of the fun. For safety, we use an app called Life 360. This allows us to be located by tracking our phones, which is very handy if we need help. Our husbands use it to follow our circuit. Sometimes, if we haven’t moved for a while, they call to ask “are you okay?” but the reason the app shows no activity is usually that we’ve biked through an area without network coverage or just stopped for a coffee!
We try to keep away from main roads (especially the EN125) and stick to small trails such as those to Faro and Faro Island, or around Almancil, or Ludo near Laranjal golf course.
There is a trail around the back of Pinheiros Altos towards Gambelas, passing where the recent fire made the most damage. There is a line of half a dozen stork nests, all piled up on top of the few surviving trees.
One of the best things about our cycling trips is the amazing wildlife we get to see, such as a rare sighting of an otter. The beautiful bird life around the Ria Formosa is fantastic – flamingos, storks, kingfishers and spoonbills. During low tide, we like to watch the crabs coming out of their hidey-holes.
Although it’s possible to hire bikes from Fairways, we like to use our own and it’s great to be able to keep them at Fairways. There are now a number of racks around the resort, which is very convenient. The storage facility, with its specialist cleaning equipment, is impressive and Reuben and the other porters are very helpful.
Fairways and the surrounding area is a great place for cycling. There are not many hills in Quinta do Lago, but with electrical bikes available nowadays, there is no excuse not to do it!
