Fishermen's Trail

The Fishermen's Trail follows the paths people here used to reach their fishing spots, which means it stays on the cliff edge rather than taking the sensible inland route. It runs south from Porto Covo through Vila Nova de Milfontes, Almograve and Zambujeira do Mar, crosses into the Algarve near Odeceixe and continues toward Lagos, all inside the southwest coastal natural park. The walking surface is often deep sand, slower and harder than the distances suggest. White storks nest on sea stacks along this coast, the only place they routinely do so, and the cliffs drop straight into Atlantic swell with nothing built between the villages.

What you actually see

• The cliff-edge paths - sand tracks running a few metres from a vertical drop.
• Storks on sea stacks - nests built on pillars of rock above the surf.
• The fishing villages - Milfontes, Almograve and Zambujeira as stage ends.
• Empty beaches - long strands reachable only on foot or down steep steps.

When to go

Autumn to spring is the season here, roughly October to May, with wildflowers in March and April. Summer is too hot for a full stage, and there is no shade or water between villages. Wind comes from the north most days, so walking southward keeps it behind you. Book beds well ahead in spring, when the trail is busy.

Honest expectations

Deep sand turns a fifteen-kilometre stage into a long day, and it wrecks people who trained on firm ground. The cliff edge is unfenced and crumbling in places, a real problem in wind or with children. Villages are small, with limited beds and early kitchen closing times. Luggage transfer is possible, but the costs add up quickly.

Nearby

The Costa Vicentina beaches, Odeceixe and the inland cork oak country.