Our Lady of Fátima Chapel

The reason to climb here is the view. From the chapel and its bell tower the ground falls away over terraced slopes and green valleys, and the Atlantic fills the horizon to the north. The chapel itself is small and well kept, but it is the setting rather than the building that holds people. Lizards sit on the warm stone of the steps and scatter as you pass.

The visit does not have to end at the chapel. A path leaves the far side and drops to a levada, which runs about 2 km to a viewpoint looking out to sea. That stretch is flat and manageable for old and young alike. Most people driving the north coast never turn off for any of it.

• Closed doors. The chapel is not always open, and the climb can end at the outside wall. The view does not depend on it.
• Heat. On a sunny day the steps are hard work. Bring water and wear a hat.
• No toilets. There are none at the chapel; the nearest are down in São Vicente, roughly 450 m away.
• Easy to miss. A tree has grown over the sign at the turning, so the access road is simple to drive straight past.

You drive here. The approach is a narrow road above São Vicente, and the sign at the turning has been covered by a tree, so it is easy to go past. From the road a staircase climbs to the chapel; it starts beside a house with glass gates, and there is no step-free way up. Walkers can carry on beyond the chapel: a path leaves the far side and drops to a levada, where turning right leads to a viewpoint over the sea. On the way back a dirt track climbs off the levada and rejoins the road.

Better: a clear day, outside the hottest hours. The panorama is the entire point, and the steps are climbed in full sun.

Avoid: low cloud on the north coast, which closes the view down to the slope in front of you.

The chapel sits away from the coastal road and most visitors never come up, so the viewpoint is rarely busy whatever the hour.