Walking across Europe - 2013: Rota Vincentina The Fisherman’s Trail - February 23, 2026 ~ Day 2 Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve

Daily Information

Planned Distance: 16.7 kms
Actual Distance: 16.8 kms

Planned Elevation G/L: 138 m (134) m
Actual Elevation G/L: 162 m (167)
Cumulative Information
Planned Distance: 35.4 kms
Actual Distance: 36.7 kms

Planned Elevation G/L: 307 m (304) m
Actual Elevation G/L: 311 m (307) m

Stage Description - Stingy Nomads Highlights & Challenges

"Highlights

Several spectacular beaches along the route; Praia das Furnas, Praia dos Picos, Praia da Angra.
Stunning views from the cliffs, rugged coastline, and fields covered in flowers.

Challenges

1,5 km of walking on the road from Vila Nova de Milfontes across the bridge to the other side of the river. You can skip this part by taking a boat.
No places in between to stop for food and water. Make sure to have enough water and some snacks. There was a bar at Praia das Furnas at about 5 km but it was closed (maybe because it was Monday)."

Overall a very pleasant easy 16.8 km day which should be the lowest km walk of the 11 days. Brilliant sunshine all day walking on varied surfaces which I enjoy…it’s nice to mix things up over the day.

No significant incidents, no getting lost, no dangerous animals…very quiet day. We were finished at 12:50 or so…absolutely smashing the 2:00 check in time at the Refugio do Almograve which is a house with multiple bedrooms and very nice common areas for guest use. I sent a Booking.com message to Marika indicating we were early…no problem as we were eating our lunch in the shade…however she kindly came over to let us in.

Lunch - Ham & Cheese created in Super Mercado

One major highlight stood out…more later.

First back to last night where Leonard scouted out an Italian restaurant for dinner.

Linguini Carbonara delicious

Breakfast was at a delightful Panaderia where I had an egg sandwich and saw the largest croissants known to mankind…will have to try one sometime!

Walking out of Vila do Milfontes isn’t really pleasant for the first couple of kms…walking first on cobblestones and then shoulder walking on a very busy highway.

Hardest walking surface of them all - Cobblestones of Portugal

We then moved off the highway onto various paths and non paths 😂

Given that I completed the upfront planning for the walk I am quite happy that Leonard has offered to do daily eating and route option planning. On the eating side my preference is simply »food » whereas Leonard’s is more « focused ». I expect over the next few days to add seafood to my diet 😉

On the route planning Leonard had noticed that the Stingy Nomad tracks veered away from the official Fisherman’s Trail ~ 5kms from Almograve. A great catch as that allowed us to walk along the cliffs as opposed to an inland road!

Ok the highlight of the day was meeting Horst from Austria 🇦🇹 again and walking and chatting with him for quite a ways. Great company!

Horst who recently retired at age 65 has walked a number of walks ie Offa’s Dyke (Wales), Portion of Wales Coastal path…both of which I hope are possible in either my 2nd or 3rd lifetime and the UK Coast to Coast walk (2023 with Greg).

Horst has owned, run as the sole employee for 22 years in Grein Austria a small 140 seat film theatre specializing in independent films (Barb P please take note 😊). Dawn we have an invite…free popcorn 🍿 if we can make it! I hope we meet Horst in coming days again!

Me and Horst on right - my own selfie!!!

Well that’s a wrap for today…tomorrow a longer 24km day to Zambujeira do Mar. Nice weather in forecast again should be a good! A few other pictures from the day…