Nazaré to Fatima Walking Route

[Bigfoot]

We will be walking soon. Is there a detailed map or guide book available? Is the route as well marked as the Caminos? Thanks

 

[Tincatinker]

So, you're walking soon but you've not done much research yet? I like it! This website might help https://www.pathsoffaith.com/en/ways/fatima-ways/nazare-way

 

[Corned Beef]

There are usually plenty of signs for Fatima if you know where and what to look for - Blue lettering on white background. Found my journey Lisbon - Tomar - Fatima last month to have excellent signposting.

Here are a couple of examples from Google Street View of the first few miles out of Nazaré. The first (1) is on the lamppost as you cross at the pedestrian crossing. As you turn off the road to the Ohai Resort (2) into the forest there is another blue sign on a white background. Just keep looking for them or ask.

 

[peregrina2000]

Just a heads up to say that the association that dedicated itself to walking pilgrims on the route to Fátima has disbanded. You can read more here. I don’t know what that means about the route from Nazaré, but I think it has complicated things for pilgrims walking from Tomar.

I believe a lot is likely to be on the side of the road (@Corned Beef, do you have any info about that?). There have been tragic reports of pilgrim deaths over the years, so take care and wear a hi-viz vest!

 

[JabbaPapa]

Just a heads up to say that the association that dedicated itself to walking pilgrims on the route to Fátima has disbanded. You can read more here. I don’t know what that means about the route from Nazaré, but I think it has complicated things for pilgrims walking from Tomar.

The Ministry of Tourism has taken up these responsibilities more directly, and has started the process of installing some clearer routes and waymarkers.

This will be a lengthy process, but on those routes where the work has already been done, the improvements are remarkable.

 

[peregrina2000]

on those routes where the work has already been done, the improvements are remarkable.

JP, do you know which routes have been improved?

 

[jungleboy]

We will be walking soon. Is there a detailed map or guide book available? Is the route as well marked as the Caminos? Thanks

Yes, the route is marked very well. We joined onto this route from the Caminho do Mar last year and there was a very noticeable improvement in the way-marking signage as soon as we did so.

This is a link to the official website in English with stages, maps, tracks etc.

 

[JabbaPapa]

JP, do you know which routes have been improved?

As I said, it's a work in progress -- the Carmelite Way to Fátima does have the new waymarking, including on the portion of the Central that coincides with it, and on that portion, the waymarking of the Caminho Central towards Santiago has been improved in the same way. It is very possible that the waymarking on the Northern Way to Fátima and on the lengthy stretch where it coincides with the Caminho Central, as far north as Valença, does have these improvements.

By contrast, the Caminho de Fátima do Nascente had the old-style blue arrows, in 2022 anyway.

It's likely that the routes mentioned in the website that @jungleboy has linked to are the ones with the improvements, though it's possible that the new signage has started to be installed on other routes albeit not fully.

I did hear locally that a project exists to do the same waymarking on the Caminho de Fátima da Beira, on which there was nothing at all, not even any blue arrows, when I walked some of it in the same year.

 

[Corned Beef]

By contrast, the Caminho de Fátima do Nascente had the old-style blue arrows, in 2022 anyway.

The ones between Tomar and Fatima have been improved to the newer ones

But coming back to @peregrina2000 comments about safety. Any time I've seen pilgrim groups heading for Fatima, there were some with hi-vis jackets. I also have always felt safe in Portugal but probably because I am always in a hi-vis jacket. In looking a part of the route on GSV, there are some questionable road sections that would need care.

 

[David L]

We will be walking soon. Is there a detailed map or guide book available? Is the route as well marked as the Caminos? Thanks

I walked this path last spring. It is a great walk, it is fairly well marked, though not as many resources. There is a guidebook available, published by Centro Nacional de Cultura. Also, they are developing a website and apps to cover all the Caminhos de Fatima, as referenced in other posts.

 

[JabbaPapa]

The ones between Tomar and Fatima have been improved to the newer ones

Awesome !!