We start our hike of about 10 km (6 miles) with a short stretch along the main road. Then, the steep ascent of 710 metres up towards Raposeira begins. The trail is rugged, steep, and slippery in places – but the higher we climb, the more impressive the view of Paúl do Mar becomes.
Kitty leads the way, sometimes disappearing for a while, but always coming back to see if we can still keep up. She leads us through fields and meadows while we enjoy the silence, breathe in the fresh air and discover the variety of flowers. Finally, we reach Raposeira, where old houses and friendly locals await us, always open to a little chat.
Our route takes us a short distance along a levada before we switch to a newly built path towards Fajã da Ovelha. The views are simply spectacular! After that, we walk a short distance along the road – Kitty, now reluctantly on a leash, pretends she hasn't taken a single step yet.
We finally reach the starting point of our descent from Fajã da Ovelha to Paúl do Mar. In the warm sun, we head downhill, ever towards the sea. Once we reach the bottom, the water beckons us to go for a swim, or we can enjoy a cool drink at Bar da Praia. Kitty is enthusiastically greeted by the locals – and is still full of energy!