Spring Heat Wave on central out of Lisbon

[Gumbolover]

Hi all. Thanks for all your advice. I'm really enjoying my Camino Portuguese. I'm on day 6 of my hike. Currently in beautiful Tomar. I need some advice. The weather forecast has the weather jumping potentially 20°, so that we could have temperatures in the high 80s. I wouldn't mind those temperatures if there were a lot of pilgrims around but there really isn't many and I don't want to get stuck in a heat situation in the middle of nowhere by myself (turns 60 in a few days )

So I'd like some advice on which of the stages between here and Porto I could dramatically shorten or skip without losing that much. I appreciate your advice. I don't mind walking in the heat. But if a lot of its going to be road walking or not interesting areas, in the heat, I rather skip it somehow. Again I appreciate the advice.

 

[jungleboy]

It's smart to be careful with the heat and it is warming up in Portugal this week but I'm not sure it's heat wave territory yet. Max in Tomar today is 26 degrees Celsius (79 Fahrenheit), up to 31 (88) by Sunday. In Sep 2020 on the CP, we walked 12 straight days at 33 Celsius (91) or higher, up to 39 (102) in Azinhaga. Still, leaving early in the morning, and avoiding walking in the mid-late afternoon (the hottest time of the day) are good strategies.

Tomar to Coimbra is (in my view) the most interesting walking of the CP between Lisbon and Porto, with a lot of country walking among olive trees and vineyards. Coimbra to Porto had much more road walking and I found it a lot less interesting, so if you're looking to skip stages, that's where I would do it.

From Tomar to Coimbra these were our stages:

Tomar to Heart Way Pilgrim House (near Vila Verde but currently listed as closed on Gronze, ~21km/13mi)
Heart Way Pilgrim House to Ansião (~24.5km/15mi)
Ansião to Rabaçal (~19km/12mi)
Rabaçal to Cernache (~19km/12mi)
Cernache to Coimbra (~11km/7mi)

Check out Gronze for accommodation options that could shorten these stages if they're too long.

 

[Gumbolover]

It's smart to be careful with the heat and it is warming up in Portugal this week but I'm not sure it's heat wave territory yet. Max in Tomar today is 26 degrees Celsius (79 Fahrenheit), up to 31 (88) by Sunday. In Sep 2020 on the CP, we walked 12 straight days at 33 Celsius (91) or higher, up to 39 (102) in Azinhaga. Still, leaving early in the morning, and avoiding walking in the mid-late afternoon (the hottest time of the day) are good strategies.

Tomar to Coimbra is (in my view) the most interesting walking of the CP between Lisbon and Porto, with a lot of country walking among olive trees and vineyards. Coimbra to Porto had much more road walking and I found it a lot less interesting, so if you're looking to skip stages, that's where I would do it.

From Tomar to Coimbra these were our stages:

Tomar to Heart Way Pilgrim House (near Vila Verde but currently listed as closed on Gronze, ~21km/13mi)
Heart Way Pilgrim House to Ansião (~24.5km/15mi)
Ansião to Rabaçal (~19km/12mi)
Rabaçal to Cernache (~19km/12mi)
Cernache to Coimbra (~11km/7mi)

Check out Gronze for accommodation options that could shorten these stages if they're too long.

Thank u this is very helpful

 

[makingtrax]

I am also

Hi all. Thanks for all your advice. I'm really enjoying my Camino Portuguese. I'm on day 6 of my hike. Currently in beautiful Tomar. I need some advice. The weather forecast has the weather jumping potentially 20°, so that we could have temperatures in the high 80s. I wouldn't mind those temperatures if there were a lot of pilgrims around but there really isn't many and I don't want to get stuck in a heat situation in the middle of nowhere by myself (turns 60 in a few days )

So I'd like some advice on which of the stages between here and Porto I could dramatically shorten or skip without losing that much. I appreciate your advice. I don't mind walking in the heat. But if a lot of its going to be road walking or not interesting areas, in the heat, I rather skip it somehow. Again I appreciate the advice.

in Tomar tonight at hostel 2300. Several of us leaving 7am tomorrow morning if u want to walk with us. Be outside hostel 7am or look for us on way. 7 women i man! Bon camino

 

[Sineadmk]

I am also

in Tomar tonight at hostel 2300. Several of us leaving 7am tomorrow morning if u want to walk with us. Be outside hostel 7am or look for us on way. 7 women i man! Bon camino

Now with Heart Way Pilgrim hostel closed, where did you stay after Tomar?

 

[Gumbolover]

Now with Heart Way Pilgrim hostel closed, where did you stay after Tomar?

I broke my ankle hiking out of Tomar So unfortunately my Camino had to end there. Hope to pick it up soon. Have a great trip.

 

[Sineadmk]

I broke my ankle hiking out of Tomar So unfortunately my Camino had to end there. Hope to pick it up soon. Have a great trip.

How unfortunate. Wishing you a speedy recovery

 

[peregrina2000]

Now with Heart Way Pilgrim hostel closed, where did you stay after Tomar?

I don’t know if you use gronze (take a look if you don‘t, because they are the most up to date, in my experience.). They list an albergue at 26 km after Tomar.

Quinta da Cortiça - Alvaiázere - Portugal

A Quinta da Cortiça tem capacidade para 20 pessoas em 3 quartos e duas camaratas. BTT Trail do Zêzere Santiago Chicharo Eventos

quintadacortica.pt

Alvaizaire is another 6 km after that.

Bom caminho, Laurie

 

[Sineadmk]

I don’t know if you use gronze (take a look if you don‘t, because they are the most up to date, in my experience.). They list an albergue at 26 km after Tomar.

Quinta da Cortiça - Alvaiázere - Portugal

A Quinta da Cortiça tem capacidade para 20 pessoas em 3 quartos e duas camaratas. BTT Trail do Zêzere Santiago Chicharo Eventos

quintadacortica.pt

Alvaizaire is another 6 km after that.

Bom caminho, Laurie

Thank you, I was thinking of cortica