Worried about waymarking from Lisbon.

[Raymond Aquilina]

Dear all,

I have read a lot about the Portuguese route fron Lisbon and many times discussions mention the long stretches between towns. However I am more worried about the way marking. Are these frequent and easily found along the route. I have the impression that the part between Lisbon and Porto is less marked.

This is important for me as I intend to start my walking early in the morning especailly in the longer walks and bearing in mind that this route is not that frequented as other routes.

Could anyone who is familiar with this route guide me about this.

Thank you and buen camino,

Ray Aquilina

 

[Camembert]

Excellent waymarking. We walked without any problem from Lisbon to Porto
Take the Brierley or Vialusitana guide with you and there is no bother at all

Buen caminho

 

[Diogo92]

Dear all,

I have read a lot about the Portuguese route fron Lisbon and many times discussions mention the long stretches between towns. However I am more worried about the way marking. Are these frequent and easily found along the route. I have the impression that the part between Lisbon and Porto is less marked.

This is important for me as I intend to start my walking early in the morning especailly in the longer walks and bearing in mind that this route is not that frequented as other routes.

Could anyone who is familiar with this route guide me about this.

Thank you and buen camino,

Ray Aquilina

You won't have any problems. It's very well marked

 

[MichaelSG]

I had a different experience and found the waymarking before Porto to be challenging in many locations, particularly before dawn and during some rain. That said, we were never seriously lost. When I could, I downloaded a Google map of the area for the next day's walk on my iPhone. That and some common sense got us through. Some places we were definitely not able to follow the exact trail but we tried and we also forgave ourselves when we did not. It should not be a major worry unless you are someone who has to be on the exact "correct" trail for every step. Bom Caminho!

 

[Camembert]

No problem at all. We used the Brierley guide and never faced any problems about finding our way.
I read Laurie's (Aka peregrina2000) pdf document the other day and compared it with the Brierley guide in my hand and memorised allmost every step from Lisbon to Santiago.

 

[peregrina2000]

Dear all,

I have read a lot about the Portuguese route fron Lisbon and many times discussions mention the long stretches between towns. However I am more worried about the way marking. Are these frequent and easily found along the route. I have the impression that the part between Lisbon and Porto is less marked.

This is important for me as I intend to start my walking early in the morning especailly in the longer walks and bearing in mind that this route is not that frequented as other routes.

Could anyone who is familiar with this route guide me about this.

Thank you and buen camino,

Ray Aquilina

Hi, Ray,
The nice thing about the forum-produced guide to the Lisbon-Porto section https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/lisbon-to-porto-2015-version.298/

is that I have tried to include descriptions from 2014 pilgrims of places where they had trouble finding the arrows and how they found their way. No one, by the way, reported any serious problems. You are never out in the wilderness and far from civilization, so "getting lost" usually means you walk a km or two out of your way. But there should be absolutely no worry. I walked alone in 2009 and once or twice I got turned around but I always was able to get where I was going. And since then I know there have been tremendous improvements in signage and arrows.

For added security, though, you could carry with you the SOS pilgrim phone number. It's staffed by members of Via Lusitana, they speak English and other languages, and you can call them any time day or night. Particularly with Lisbon-Porto, they know the route by heart and can help you out in a pinch. The number is in the guide I linked to or on the Via Lusitana's website.

Bom caminho, Laurie

 

[Raymond Aquilina]

Hi, Ray,
The nice thing about the forum-produced guide to the Lisbon-Porto section https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/lisbon-to-porto-2015-version.298/

is that I have tried to include descriptions from 2014 pilgrims of places where they had trouble finding the arrows and how they found their way. No one, by the way, reported any serious problems. You are never out in the wilderness and far from civilization, so "getting lost" usually means you walk a km or two out of your way. But there should be absolutely no worry. I walked alone in 2009 and once or twice I got turned around but I always was able to get where I was going. And since then I know there have been tremendous improvements in signage and arrows.

For added security, though, you could carry with you the SOS pilgrim phone number. It's staffed by members of Via Lusitana, they speak English and other languages, and you can call them any time day or night. Particularly with Lisbon-Porto, they know the route by heart and can help you out in a pinch. The number is in the guide I linked to or on the Via Lusitana's website.

Bom caminho, Laurie

Thank you Laurie for your input and also thank all the others who have contributed about this point. I can understand I will never be out of civilization. Being a bit of perfectionist I would like to follow the actual route as much as possible!! Moroever as you say it is important to carry the SOS contact number which I am sure gives important support.

I will keep the forum guidbook as my means of reference.

Best regards,

Ray

 

[MichaelSG]

Just keep in mind that the "actual" path changes somewhat often. There were several places clearly changed from at least the latest Brierley guide. Paths get adjusted and rerouted for lots of reasons so while it is great to do the "actual" path, don't think there is anything all that historic or magical to any two meter wide part of it.

 

[peregrina2000]

Just keep in mind that the "actual" path changes somewhat often. There were several places clearly changed from at least the latest Brierley guide. Paths get adjusted and rerouted for lots of reasons so while it is great to do the "actual" path, don't think there is anything all that historic or magical to any two meter wide part of it.

That's a great point, Michael. There are records about which towns the Caminho passed through, but it's unlikely that those records include a metes and bounds description of the path itself. I think it's most likely that the Caminho (and all the other Caminos) went on what are now the main highways. So, deviation is a blessing.

The paths do keep changing, as the towns and the ViaLusitana work hard to get pilgrims off the side of the road. I think the resource from the forum has incorporated a lot of the ones that have happened in the last year, but you can expect there to be a few new ones as well, I'm sure. So, Ray, if you use the forum guide and note changes, we'd love to hear from you about them to update for next year! Thanks and bom caminho, Laurie

 

[Raymond Aquilina]

That's a great point, Michael. There are records about which towns the Caminho passed through, but it's unlikely that those records include a metes and bounds description of the path itself. I think it's most likely that the Caminho (and all the other Caminos) went on what are now the main highways. So, deviation is a blessing.

The paths do keep changing, as the towns and the ViaLusitana work hard to get pilgrims off the side of the road. I think the resource from the forum has incorporated a lot of the ones that have happened in the last year, but you can expect there to be a few new ones as well, I'm sure. So, Ray, if you use the forum guide and note changes, we'd love to hear from you about them to update for next year! Thanks and bom caminho, Laurie

Definitly will let you know of any changes and updates.

Thanks,

Ray