The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is one of the best-known coastal walking routes in the Algarve, stretching for about six kilometres between Praia da Marinha and Praia de Vale Centeanes near Carvoeiro. The trail follows the top of the limestone cliffs and passes a series of small valleys that were formed over thousands of years by rainwater erosion and the collapse of coastal caves.

The name “hanging valleys” comes from the way these valleys sit above the sea rather than meeting it at river level. Originally, water flowed from inland down toward the ocean, carving valleys into the soft limestone. Over time, the sea eroded the base of the cliffs, causing caves to form and collapse. This left the valleys “hanging” above the shoreline, which is why many of the beaches along this stretch are accessed by steep steps rather than at ground level.

The Algarve’s limestone coastline dates back around 20 to 30 million years, to a period when the region was underwater. Fossils of marine life can still be found in the rock today. The constant combination of wind, rain, and wave action continues to shape the coastline, which is why rockfalls sometimes occur and why sections of the trail are occasionally rerouted for safety.

Along the trail, walkers pass several well known landmarks including the Benagil area, the Alfanzina lighthouse, and views over Praia da Marinha, which is often listed among the most beautiful beaches in Europe. The route itself is not a technical hike, but it is uneven in places and includes exposed cliff top sections, so proper footwear is recommended.

Historically, this coastline was used by fishermen rather than tourists. Many of the small coves below the cliffs were only accessible by boat, and fishing communities used them to reach the sea and store equipment. Tourism began to expand across the Algarve in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly along the central coast in the Lagoa and Albufeira areas. The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail was officially marked decades later as part of a regional network of walking routes designed to promote nature tourism while limiting further construction along the cliffs.

Today, the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is part of a wider network of walking routes in the Algarve and is maintained with marked paths and information boards. The full walk takes around two to three hours, depending on pace and stops along the way. Many people choose to walk only a section and then return, rather than completing the full route in one direction.

What makes this trail important is not just the views but the geology and history that explain how the Algarve coastline was formed. Walking the trail gives a clear sense of how the landscape has changed over time and why this stretch of coast looks the way it does today.