The most South Western point of Europe: Cape St. Vincent
On the fishermen’s trail from Vila do Bispo to Sagres I was walking on a dirt road and noticed an extraordinary number of snails surrounding me. They were everywhere; on the plants, on poles of power lines, on fences and rocks. Occasionally a car drove by, slowing down so they…
My favorite day on the Fishermen’s trail
The Fishermen’s trail from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo Well… I always say I want to be healthier. In practice this doesn’t really happen. But at least I’ve got the exercise covered, especially the day I walked from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo. Somehow I managed to turn 16 km…
Hiking along the Algarve’s West coast
The two days from Aljezur to Carrapateira via Arrifana are a great mix of coastal trail and country life. This part of the Fishermen’s trail is quiet, but comes through small tourist towns where surfing seems to be the number one activity. But these beautiful beaches also create the perfect…
A lot of steps for 30 minutes on the beach
The Fishermen’s trail: Odeceixe to Aljezur In Odeceixe I saw a familiar face in my hostel. Remember the Belgian guy I met on my second day on the Rota Vicentina? I’d taken 2 rest days now and he’d caught up with me again. So from all the people at the…
Up and down, sand and ostriches
The Fishermen’s trail: Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe The road from Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe is one of ups and downs, not just physically, but mentally. I was surprised by the clouds in the morning, but optimistically I put on my sunscreen and started walking. I noticed that a…
Finding inner peace on the Fishermen’s trail
The Fishermen’s trail: Almograve to Zambujeira do Mar It was busy when I left Almograve. There were a lot of people out and about, especially with cars and motorhomes. It was no surprise since the road I followed had some beautiful views. When the path turned into a walking trail,…
Another day of hiking in the rain…
Day 5 on the Rota Vicentina and Fishermen’s trail: heading from Milfontes to Almograve It was a bit uncomfortable to walk on the side of a big road. The cars were racing by, but the view was simply fantastic. From Vila nova de Milfontes you can choose to take a…
Through rain and sand in the footsteps of fishermen
Fishermen’s trail: Porto Covo to Vila Nova de Milfontes It was quiet in the hostel in Porto Covo. There was a good reason to stay in bed: it was raining… but I was getting ready for my walk, as well as two other hikers. When the rain stopped for a…
Connecting the Rota Vicentina to the Fishermen’s trail
In 23 km from Vale Seco to Cercal on the Rota Vicentina I woke up in Vale Seco, looked at my watch, and then turned around again. There was no reason to leave very early, so I took my book and enjoyed the warmth of my bed a little longer.…
A glimpse of country life on the Rota Vicentina
Day 1 of hiking on the Rota Vicentina from Santiago do Cacém to Vale Seco At 6AM I woke up from a coughing, gurgling sound coming out of one of the other rooms. At 7AM the same guy started his morning rituals singing along loudly to the radio. At 7.30AM…