Valenca to Fatima

[Dorcas]

Hello all.
I work for a British television production company. We're planning on filming a documentary focused on the Camino de Fatima using the route Valenca to Fatima (The Northern Way). Have any of you done this route in this direction, or in reverse, and have you got any tips, guidance or any interesting points on the route (religious or otherwise)?
NB. We've done pilgrimages in the past and so the walking and sheer distance, we are au-fait with.
Thanks so much in advance,
Dorcas

 

[Michael55]

Hello all.
I work for a British television production company. We're planning on filming a documentary focused on the Camino de Fatima using the route Valenca to Fatima (The Northern Way). Have any of you done this route in this direction, or in reverse, and have you got any tips, guidance or any interesting points on the route (religious or otherwise)?
NB. We've done pilgrimages in the past and so the walking and sheer distance, we are au-fait with.
Thanks so much in advance,
Dorcas

I just walked that route leaving valenca june20 and arriving in Fatima July 11. I took the coastal route to Porto, but only because I walked up the central route to Santiago last year—it was great too. I do have plenty of recommendations and also various impressions. Casa do Poco in Valenca was my starting point and it was a lovely place. It was a solitary pilgrimage in that nobody walked with me in my direction other than briefly—though that was fine with me. Practicalities include south of friexandria the signs and route got consumed in the recent fire and I had to circumvent the forest there. I am new to posting on the site—I’ve benifitted greatly from Ivar’s site and just now getting around to paying something back. Feel free to ask specifics.

 

[Kanga]

@Dorcas sounds like another BBC Pilgrimage program. How exciting. Although I am definitely not a fan of the town of Fatima.

 

[Corned Beef]

First time I've seen a reference to the other Northern Way. Looks interesting.

When you are going north from Porto to Santiago, you often see pilgrims in their hi-viz jackets walking south which initially makes you stop and wonder if you are going in the wrong direction.

Look forward to seeing the result though I might just try it myself.

The Northern Route

www.caminhosdefatima.org

 

[lt56ny]

@Dorcas sounds like another BBC Pilgrimage program. How exciting. Although I am definitely not a fan of the town of Fatima.

I am planning to walk to Fatima on my second CP. Just wondering what you don't like about the town?

 

[Jsharing]

Hello all.
I work for a British television production company. We're planning on filming a documentary focused on the Camino de Fatima using the route Valenca to Fatima (The Northern Way). Have any of you done this route in this direction, or in reverse, and have you got any tips, guidance or any interesting points on the route (religious or otherwise)?
NB. We've done pilgrimages in the past and so the walking and sheer distance, we are au-fait with.
Thanks so much in advance,
Dorcas

I am in Valenca. Met several folks going south. Some had concluded other routes and wanted to do something different, some because Fatima is their journey. Was also on this trail near Porto in May, alot more going south then.

 

[Kanga]

I am planning to walk to Fatima on my second CP. Just wondering what you don't like about the town?

There are many beautiful places in Portugal. I found Fatima without charm.

 

[Dorcas]

I just walked that route leaving valenca june20 and arriving in Fatima July 11. I took the coastal route to Porto, but only because I walked up the central route to Santiago last year—it was great too. I do have plenty of recommendations and also various impressions. Casa do Poco in Valenca was my starting point and it was a lovely place. It was a solitary pilgrimage in that nobody walked with me in my direction other than briefly—though that was fine with me. Practicalities include south of friexandria the signs and route got consumed in the recent fire and I had to circumvent the forest there. I am new to posting on the site—I’ve benifitted greatly from Ivar’s site and just now getting around to paying something back. Feel free to ask specifics.

Thanks so much Michael. Amazing you've just done this route - other than the fire damage was the route quite well signed and clear?
We're at the very early stages of planning but I might get back in touch once we have some more specifics and ask you a few more questions if that's ok. Thanks so much.

 

[Michael55]

Thanks so much Michael. Amazing you've just done this route - other than the fire damage was the route quite well signed and clear?
We're at the very early stages of planning but I might get back in touch once we have some more specifics and ask you a few more questions if that's ok. Thanks so much.

From Valenca to Porto coastal it was not that well marked. I had multiple wrong turns, though corrected pretty quick using Camino ninja app. As many blue arrows as yellow arrows in opposite direction once past Porto. The official Rota Carmelita is well signed from Coimbra to Fatima, with maps and elevation info conveniently posted on the trail.