The Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve walk is a beautiful stage of the Fishermen’s Trail, following the rugged coastline through sandy dunes, coastal cliffs, and peaceful countryside. This relatively short stage offers scenic coastal walking, with spectacular ocean views and long stretches of unspoiled nature. It’s a rewarding and manageable day of hiking, with Almograve providing a quiet end to the stage. There is enough sand walking to make the day challenging and Tunnels and Groves in the greenery create shady, atmospheric paths winding through coastal forest for a unique experience.
See our detailed Fishermen’s Trail Itinerary.
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The Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve route overview
- Total distance – 15 km/9.3 mi
- Time – 4 to 5 hours
- Total ascent – 190 m
- Total descent – 192 m
- Difficulty – Easy to Challenging
- Starting point – Rota Vicentina sign board next to the tourist information in Vila Nova de Milfontes.
- Finishing point – Fishermen´s trail sign board, town centre, largo do commercio, large traffic circle
- Walking Surface – Tar -2km/1.2mi, Gravel – 6km/3.7mi, Sand – 5.5km/3.4mi
- Walking route – Vila Nova de Milfontes – Praia de Furnas – Almograve
Navigate walking from Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve Walk
Find below a Google Maps track we created by following the trail fromArrifana to Carrapateira. This Google maps trail can be used on a mobile phone for navigation.
The link can only be opened while online (with Wi-Fi or data), but navigation on the track works even when offline. Make the map full screen, zoom in and keep the blue dot on the the trail.
GPX file of the route Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almogravve
You can download our GPX file of the trail and use it on your phone or watch for navigation.
You can use this digital map on your phone for navigation. Want to know how to use a GPX file for phone navigation?
Where does the trail start?
The trailhead of the Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve walk is at the Rota Vicentina sign board next to the tourist information (across the road from GNR/police station) in Vila Nova de Milfontes.
Where Does the Trail End?
The trail ends at the Fishermen´s trail sign board, in the town centre, largo do commercio, at the large traffic circle.
The highlights of the trail
- The Mira River Crossing – both options to cross the river are nice. Walking acros the bridge you have nice views of Vila Nova and of the river, if you decided to take the boat taxi is a great start to the day and nice way of getting to the beautiful Praia das Furnas.
Praia das Furnas – A gorgeous, unspoiled beach right across the estuary where the river meets the Atlantic.
Acacia Tunnels and Groves in the growth on the dunes create shady paths winding through coastal greenery on the sandy tracks. I prefer having more coastal views, but these tunnels are nice.
Rugged Clifftops provide panoramic viewpoints overlooking wild Atlantic ocean.
The challenges of the walk
- Loose sand, walking for more than 5 km on loose sand is the main challenge of this stage, the hardest section is around Praia do Brejo Largo and the final few kilometres towards Almograve.
- Road walking, if you do the full trail over the bridge there is some walking next to the main road.
- Little shade, much of the route is exposed to the sun, so an early start and sufficient water are important, particularly in warmer weather.
- No services along most of the route, once you leave Vila Nova de Milfontes, there are no towns and few shops before the end of the day.
In which direction to walk?
I preferred walking from North to South. The biggest challenge on this stage is the soft sand, so direction does not really affect the difficulty of the stage. Walking south I preferred crossing the Mira River att the start and then gradually move into the more remote coastal landscape. The final section around Brejo Largo, Foz dos Ouriços is a beautiful coastal finish.
Elevation profile of the Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve trail
Stops along the route
- Mabi restaurant is only 80m from the start point (not on the trail) and a great place to get croissants and coffee before starting the day.
- 3.9 km/2.4 mi – Oasis restaurant next to Praia da Furnas
Route Description Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve route
- Starting point – The stage starts at the Rota Vicentina sign board next to the tourist information (across the road from GNR/police station).
- 50m – turn left up the main road Rua Custodio Bras Pacheco
- 700 m – circle turn right onto gravel road
- 1.2 km/0.7 mi – tar road starts, walk next to the main road
- 1.3 km/0.8 mi – walk over the bridge next to the road
- 2.2 km/1.3 mi – walk on a trail next to the road
- 2.5 km/1.5 mi – right turn off
- 3.7 km/2.3 mi – turn right to the beach Praia de Furnas
- 3.9 km/2.4 mi – Oasis restaurant, marked route continues on gravel road, possible to access the beach here and continue walking on the beach (we have done this on previous walks). The boat from the Fort arrives here on the beach (option to skip road walk).
- 4.6 km/2.9 mi – go on to gravel trail, nice climb.
- 5.1 km/3.16 mi – road split, keep left
- 6.4 km/4 mi – trail continues with some sandy sections
- 7.6 km/4.7 mi – nice ocean viewpoint, continues to walk with some ocean views
- 9.6 km/6 mi – nice ocean view, continue walking close to the ocean, but in some densely forested sections
- 10.2 km/6.3 mi – route splits, stick to Fishermen´s trail next to the ocean
- 10.5 km/6.5 mi – nice beach, Praia do Brejo Largo, trail continues on sandy trails
- 13.2 km/8.2 mi – beautiful beach, Praia da Fos dos Oriços
- 13.5 km/8.4 mi – turn inland, walk on gravel road, sea views end
- 14.6 km/9.1 mi – start walking on the main road, tar
- 14.9 km/9.3 mi – trail ends at the Fishermen´s trail sign board, town centre, largo do commercio, large traffic circle
Crossing the Mira River
- The river can be crossed from Vila Nova de Milfontes by boat taxi/ferri, at a cost of five euros per person from the São Clemente fort pier below the fort. tickets are for sale at the pier. GPS pin Ferry Boat
- The official route is crossing the Vila Nova de Milfontes bridge on foot, this route is 3 km longer with a section on a main road.
The bridge crossing includes a part walking on the main road. The view of the Mira river and Vila Nova de Milfontes from the bridge is nice. Taking the boat taxi makes this a very short day of about 11km.
Places to stay in Almograve
- Budget | Almograve Beach Hostel | HI Almograve Pousada da Juventude |
- Middle price | Al Casa Paquito | Ergobeach House | Casa Isa | AL Casa das Andorinhas | Almograve Beach House |
- High-end | Refúgio do Almograve | Almograve House |
The Fisherman’s Trail itinerary
You can find a detailed trail itinerary in THIS POST
| Day 1. Porto Covo – Vila Nova de Milfontes 19 km/12 mi | Day 2. Vila Nova de Milfontes – Almograve 16 km/10 mi | Day 3. Almograve – Zambujeira do Mar 22,5 km/14 mi |
| Day 4. Zambujeira to Mar – Odeceixe 19 km/12 mi | Day 5. Odeceixe – Aljezur 23 km/14,2 mi | Day 6. Aljezur – Praia da Arrifana 19 km/12 mi |
| Day 7. Praia da Arrifana – Carrapateira 20 km/12,4 mi | Day 8. Carrapateira – Vila do Bispo 15 km/9 mi | Day 9. Vila do Bispo – Sagres 21 km/13 mi |
| Day 10. Sagres – Salema 20 km/12,4 mi | Day 11. Salema – Praia da Luz 12 km/7,4 mi | Day 12. Praia da Luz – Lagos 10,5 km/6,4 mi |
What to pack for hiking?
Carry enough water (you can buy more water around half way). Take cash for drinks and snacks on the way. Wear sufficient sun protection. Pack for the weather, maybe a towel if you want to go for a swim or a rain jacket if it looks rainy.
- Osprey Day pack
- SALOMON Trail Gaiters | Ankle Gaiters for Hiking
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Cap
- Polaroid Sunglasses Men, Polaroid Sunglasses Ladies
- Light Quick Dry Towel
- Go Pro Hero 13
- GPS watch
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The strong half of Stingy Nomads, a nomadic aquaman that would be happy to spend all his life in the water diving, surfing and spearfishing but often has to compromise with Alya and go hiking instead. Campbell is responsible for all our marine adventures and following them with write-ups. He loves traveling, braai (BBQ in South Africa), red wine and spending the day in a wetsuit.