It was with some trepidation that we pulled away from the car hire kiosk at Marrakech airport in our shiny new Kia. We’d done our research and, in doing so, had read countless reports of travellers falling victim to Morocco’s corrupt traffic enforcement officials. One YouTuber recounted being pulled over three times on the same stretch of road and ‘fined’ for what were seemingly imagined traffic offenses. And so, pockets stuffed full of notes to pay off any apparent traffic violations, we set off.

Beneath me is 110 metres of stale air and I find myself wondering when the last time the steel cable I’m suspended from was serviced. Around my neck is a metal tag that reads simply ‘136’. If it doesn’t return to the surface to be filed neatly between 135 and 137, a rescue team will be dispatched to retrieve me.

Step off the bus in any coastal town in the Algarve and within minutes you’ll encounter countless companies selling adventure speedboat tours of the coastline. That’s not our idea of adventure though, so here are some active ways to explore this beautiful coast.

So you’ve spent the past five days on your project. The skin on your fingers is wearing thin, your knees are bashed, your body aches and you just can’t pull as hard as you should be able to; you hate to admit it, but you think you might need a rest day.

Planning a climbing trip to El Chorro in 2023? Here’s everything you need to know, including how to get there, getting around, where to stay, and where to eat.