My ‘2026 Camino Portuguese’ has begun!
My 600 mile coastal walk from the bottom of Portugal to the top of Spain starts on Wednesday.
My pack is packed, I’m checked in and at the time of writing, ready and waiting for a Ryanair flight that deposits me in Faro, southern Portugal at 8pm tonight – 23 March 2026.
In Faro, I’ll hook up with ’Camino’ Steve, my London based walking buddy and catch my first ever Uber (🤣) to a hostel in the city.
Tomorrow, my magnificent friend Ian and his wife Jane are picking us up and driving us to Sagres, just 6 km from Cape St Vincent at the most extreme south western point of Portugal.
Then the fun begins in earnest on Wednesday – 5 weeks to walk 600+ miles.
This walk celebrates life – all of its challenge, chance and chaos.
It also honours the life of my lovely niece, Hannah Jones who was tragically killed in a drink drive car crash in south western France in July 2025.
Sadly, however far I walk, my actions can’t bring my beautiful niece back.
But they can celebrate her life, her legacy and help her family to raise funds for the charity they established in her name ‘Les Histoires d’Hannah.’
This charity funds a free reading book for all local infant aged children starting at their primary school for the first time, in the region of France where Hannah spent all of her life.
Hannah loved reading.
Attempting this walk seems appropriate.
Over £1500 in sponsorship has been raised already. Wow!
Thank you so much – everyone who has donated and everyone who has encouraged me and more importantly Liz and her family.
If you feel inclined you can still do so through the link below.
We are so grateful.
More blogs will follow. But for now, I need to dash. I have a plane to catch!
Groan! In typical Ryanair fashion: it’s late!🙄
Buen Camino
Martin x
Ps if you read chapter 1 you will have noted the comments about Camino Steve and his love affair with Arsenal football club.
Poor Steve! Reality entered his world yesterday when his beloved ‘Gooners’ lost to Manchester City in the Caraboa Cup Final.
His bad luck = my good fortune!
I think football related talk might be off the menu for a day or 2 at least. 🤣
Camino Fun Fact and Answers
In 2023 Steve and I each walked over 1.2 million steps when we completed the 500 mile Camino de Santiago.
Question 2
What is the significance of the scallop shell on the front of my black rucksack?
Martin Moorman is a 61 year old retired Headteacher who lives with his wife Nicky, and family in North Yorkshire, UK.
Happily married for 36 years, Martin and Nicky have 3 grown up children Rosie, Harry and Jake, all happily married too. In his spare time Martin loves walking, photography, football, renovating cooking and talking rubbish to anyone who will listen!
Martin Moorman 