Buried beneath the vigorous vegetation of the islands lie many old cobbled trails, used long ago by the islanders to travel between the villages. The history and stories they could tell are as lost to the visitor as is the dustiest archive in the deepest cellar. If old trails happen to lead to pastures or to vineyards then their weathered surfaces can still be seen, perhaps for just a few metres, maybe for a hundred or more. They are there for the observant traveller to find, and then to let the imagination fill in the stories. Certainly if these hidden paths could be rediscovered they would make wonderful walks for our time and century. And if time and tide have in part destroyed them, then maybe new routes could be found to link them.
Right from the early years of walking holidays in the Azores there existed the walks around the islands. These are well marked, are to be regularly maintained, supported by explanatory brochures with information on the state of the trails constantly updated and readily available from the tourist information offices. The trails will take you through the ancient agricultural land, old gardens and woodland, the other going round the outside of the caldera with wonderful views of the islands.
Given reasonable weather the coastal walks are the finest with its ever-changing views never ceases to inspire, while the others will certainly not disappoint. There are both picturesque with all the pastures and at the same time dramatic because of the steep slopes above and below the path, the views of the sea and across to other islands, and the fact that you can be in such a glorious place and yet in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Corvo island offers come very easy and very satisfying walks. Most visitors will want to go to the highest accessible point and see the caldera. Certainly if you are a day visitor crossing by boat from Flores this is the easiest to do for it follows an asphalt road all the way so that if the clouds come down you can easily find your way. The summit often is in clouds, but do not be put off as these often clear for short moments, enough to give you a window to see down into the caldera, and on the way up or down there are views across pastures, the sea, and even as far as Flores.
There is really so little traffic in some parts of the islands that you can walk with pleasure along all the roads, providing the day is not too hot.