Cork oaks with a red stripe where the bark has been stripped away, and dry, golden-yellow grass beneath. This is what the Alentejo looks like once Évora is behind you. It’s a day of about 6 hours’ walking through open country.
The hills roll gently and there’s more descent than climbing. It never gets really steep, but the distance and the wide-open stretches with little shelter make it moderately tough. You can see for miles, and mostly you hear your own footsteps.
São Miguel de Machede is a small village. There’s nowhere to stay on the map, not even nearby. So book your bed in advance, or choose a stop earlier or further on.