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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Travel
Simon Calder

Simon Calder visits the alluring North Atlantic archipelago in search of adventure

Andre Carvalho

Basket case: gravity-assisted transport

An abundance of altitude helps – as you discover at the pretty hilltop town of Monte, 550 metres above sea level. At the foot of the steps of the Church of Our Lady of Monte, you may feel you have stumbled into a gathering of gentlemen about to go boating or play cricket. In fact, they are practitioners of an ancient and effective form of gravity-assisted transport.

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