PORTUGAL - SPORT ONSIGHT SPORT - ROCHA DA PENA

POSITION: A rambling limestone ridge that is set back some 20km from the busy and developed coastline. Actually a small mini-national park, there is good walking and a series of 8 separate buttresses for climbing.

ROUTES: These are very varied - around 70 to choose from and a nice spread across the full grade range 3a-8b. A lot of technical wall climbing on reasonably small holds, but some chunky'ier beefy walls in other places.

QUIETNESS: The valley below has a small river, and runs from the lovely small village of Alta, past Salir and up onto Barranco do Velho. This area is stunning and attracts the more discerning tourist - of which there are very few in the Algarve.

WEEK: It took Jingo and Wobbly an entire week to climb every route, so you should have a good time here. The guidebook will make choosing the right climb for the right day easy. It faces south - so you are fine here climbing in winter.