The landscape around Pinhel is open and dry. Granite, low stone walls, fields and little shade. The route crosses ridges and valleys, climbing and dropping again and again, and the horizon always stays far away. Villages come and go, but here the wind has free rein.
This is a long, tough stage of about 30 kilometres, with a fair amount of climbing. Allow around 9 hours on the road, not counting breaks. Trancoso sits high up and is old: you arrive at the town walls, which is a lovely reward after a day like this. So take food and drink for the whole day and give yourself plenty of time.