PR01 FLO Ponta Delgada - Fajã Grande 16-07-2019

To me this is the best walk I know on the beautiful Azorean island of Flores.
A spectacular one-way walk, first following the North and then along and down the steep West coast of Flores. The trail is way-marked as PR01 with red-yellow signs.
https://trails.visitazores.com/en/trails-azores/flores/faja-grande-ponta-delgada
(the description there is for walking in the direction Fajã Grande - Ponta Delgada).

If you are staying at Santa Cruz das Flores, it can be entirely done by using public transportation. At time of walking (July 2019) the morning bus left Santa Cruz at 7:05, arriving at Ponta Delgada at 7:58. At the endpoint of the walk at Fajã Grande, the bus to Santa Cruz left during July and August at 17:15 and arrived at 17:50. This gives you even plenty of time to use one of the rockpools or cafés at Fajã Grande in order to refresh yourself with liquids.
Bus schedules hardly ever change on the Azores, but better make sure, e.g by checking the web site of the bus operator
https://utc.pt/horario-flores/
You start the walk at Ponta Delgada, following a tarred road that leads towards the lighthouse at Ponta de Albernaz. At km 1.75 you divert from the tarred road to the left on a track that leads you towards Ribeira do Moinho creek, which you cross on stepping stones. At this point (alt. 103 m) starts the ascent towards the high West coast. At km 2.6 km you reach again a tarred road that leads from Farol do Albernaz towards the interior of the island. You follow this road until km 3.3, where you divert on a track to the right. Once you cross Ribeira Seca creek at km 4.2, you have reached the higher parts of the coast (331 m). Cross Ribeira do Mouco at 4.5 km. At km 6.4 starts one more ascent that brings you to the highest point (423 m) of the walk at km 7.2. After that it is mostly a steep descent that zig-zags down the cliffs. At km 8.7 you reach the creek of Grota do Cavalo followed by another small ascent and then the steepest parts of the descent are over. Around km 9.2 you cross the village of Ponta da Fajã Grande, only partially inhabited after a landslide happened in 1987. From then on it's a pleasant stroll along the coastal road. At km 11.1, when reaching Ponte Ribeira das Casas, you can divert to pay a visit to the spectacular waterfall of Poço do Bacalhau, a Flores landmark. At km 11.5 you reach Fajã Grande, where in summer the old harbour, or somewhat further on the rockpools invite you to a well-earned swim. The bus to Santa Cruz leaves next to the old harbour.
And congratulations: you have reached the westernmost municipality of Portugal (and Europe). The westernmost point of Flores, Ponta da Coalheira, can be found around 1 km further SSW, the westernmost land is Ilhéu de Monchique, an islet 1.5 km off the coast. In geological terms, though, Flores already forms part of the North American tectonic plate.

Our trail time included a 25 min break for breakfast at the North coast and 45 min for lunch before the steep descent on the West coast.