Rocha da Relva descends from the outskirts of Ponta Delgada to a coastal platform built from debris accumulated beneath a high sea cliff. Unlike fajãs created by lava, this small shelf formed gradually through erosion of the slope above. Its shelter, sunlight and proximity to the ocean produced a microclimate used for vines, fruit trees and small cultivated plots.
The paved lane is the traditional connection between the plateau and the shore. A branch reaches Rocha do Cascalho, where cellars, houses and dark stone walls organise the cultivated ground. Lower down, Rocha da Relva contains seasonal homes, fountains, a small shrine and agricultural buildings. Donkeys remain part of the landscape and of transport memory on a slope without direct road access. This is a lived and worked place rather than an abandoned coastal site.
The 5.6-kilometre out-and-back route is rated medium and takes about three hours. Its two halves feel very different: a sustained descent that gradually reveals the fajã, followed by the climb back along the same line. Vineyards, orchards and cellars explain why the lane remains important to residents and landowners. Walking here calls for the restraint expected of a visitor crossing a private, everyday landscape.