View attachment 99616
See that big open area between Crato and/or Alpalhão to the east and Golega/Tomar to the west? There doesn't seem to have been any official research on routes through the area (that I've been able to find in English or my bad Portuguese), but I suspect there was once another "diagonal" route that cut through to Tancos (just northeast of Golega on that line between darker and lighter green) now part of Vila Nova da Barquinha municipality but once independent, and quite significant historically.
(Or an alternate route could have crossed the Tejo further east at either Constancia or Abrantes, as well, heading for Tomar, but the river is getting faster and harder to cross at these eastern points; at Tancos, it's relatively benign.)
In olden times, Tancos was on both sides (north and south) of the Tejo (Tagus). Now two separate towns, with a once-a-year religious festival that celebrates their links. And Barquinha--further west, and en route to Tomar--has a pilgrim's chapelthat is not on the present walkers' route at all, but enroute to Tancos, further east. It would make sense that there would be a link here to the Nascente route! Would be fun to explore.