A walk in mid October

[Lawenda]

Hello everyone!

I would be grateful for some advises when it comes to the coastal camino route. I have a spontaneous idea to walk this path starting in mid October this year. As I would go alone, I wonder if the road is safe for solo female travellers and if there are other hikers in this period of the year or should I rather be ready for being completely alone on the path? I also wonder if the auberges will be open? All advices and suggestions will be very welcomed!
Thank you!

 

[KariC]

I did it alone starting mid September several years ago. "Alone," in the loose sense of the word because I immediately made friends and and often, but not always, walked with someone else. During the times I was alone, and in towns in the evenings, I never felt the least bit unsafe. Bom caminho!

 

[stevelm1]

In 2019 I walked the CP alone (Porto to Santiago) during Oct. Of course I am a guy with different worries that a woman walking alone but I never felt unsafe. Portugal is listed in the top 10 safe countries in the world. I did find it to be more lonely than the Camino Frances. There are just a lot less pilgrims on that route and at that time of year. The weather was not a problem. Yes, there were some rainy days, but most days were great walking weather. Buen Camiho!

 

[Trish K]

I walked part of the Portuguese Coastal route in reverse in Oct/Nov last year (I had done the interior route going up and just wanted to walk some of the Coastal back from Valenca to Porto). I was completely alone for the early part (Lisbon to Tomar) but found company after that but did feel like I was 'last woman standing' on the way back from Valenca - mostly due to Covid situation back then and restrictions starting to tighten up. I was often alone in the albergues but I never felt unsafe or uneasy. Just keep your wits about you and use common sense. Bom Camino!

 

[Sue127]

@Lawenda , I'll be walking as a solo (older) woman from 12th.I walked the CF sólo last year and in all the 800km, only felt not at ease once. As previous posters stated, you may start alone, but will meet up with others en route. Perhaps our paths will cross?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

@Lawenda, welcome to the forum. I am a bit unsure if you are referring to the coastal route on the Portuguese Camino or the coastal route on the Del Norte in Spain, which I walked in late April 2016. My son and I saw no walkers during the day, but surprisingly the albergies and hostels were quite filled up at night as there are quite a few tourist towns.

 

[Colette Z]

Hello everyone!

I would be grateful for some advises when it comes to the coastal camino route. I have a spontaneous idea to walk this path starting in mid October this year. As I would go alone, I wonder if the road is safe for solo female travellers and if there are other hikers in this period of the year or should I rather be ready for being completely alone on the path? I also wonder if the auberges will be open? All advices and suggestions will be very welcomed!
Thank you!

I’m arrived in Lisbon today, start walking Saturday Oct 9th and will start the Coastal around Oct 29th. You will not be very alone, I expect many pilgrims still.

 

[klimmo]

Hi all,
I'll be out there from the 25th for a coastal-central-spiritual wander from Porto.

In Porto I'm looking for a place to stay and potentially leave some luggage for two weeks. Any suggestions?

For the knowledgeable folks out there: would you recommend : A-Guarda - Vigo - Redondela or Caminha - Valença - Redondela? and why?

At the end I need to go take public transport from Santiago to Lisbon? Any suggestions? I saw there's a bus-train combo via Porto.

Questions questions! thank you!

 

[Corned Beef]

@klimmo

Have a look at the post by @LesBrass as she is doing the Coastal/Central combination-with pics.

On the public transport question, try Rome2rio

 

[WalkingJane]

Hi all,
I'll be out there from the 25th for a coastal-central-spiritual wander from Porto.

In Porto I'm looking for a place to stay and potentially leave some luggage for two weeks. Any suggestions?

For the knowledgeable folks out there: would you recommend : A-Guarda - Vigo - Redondela or Caminha - Valença - Redondela? and why?

At the end I need to go take public transport from Santiago to Lisbon? Any suggestions? I saw there's a bus-train combo via Porto.

Questions questions! thank you!

I stored a large parcel at the Post Office (Correos) in Porto. There are several Post Offices, find the one that will be most convenient.

 

[kenwilltravel]

Hi all,
I'll be out there from the 25th for a coastal-central-spiritual wander from Porto.

In Porto I'm looking for a place to stay and potentially leave some luggage for two weeks. Any suggestions?

For the knowledgeable folks out there: would you recommend : A-Guarda - Vigo - Redondela or Caminha - Valença - Redondela? and why?

At the end I need to go take public transport from Santiago to Lisbon? Any suggestions? I saw there's a bus-train combo via Porto.

Questions questions! thank you!

I would suggest A Guarda-Vigo-Redondela because of the nice scenery along the Spanish coast. The walk to Valença along the Minho is also nice, but Valença to Redondela less so. As for getting back to Lisbon from Santiago, in 2019 we took a Spanish train to Vigo, where we picked up a Portuguese train that crossed the border at Valença and went to Porto, where there are frequent trains to Lisbon. But you can also get a bus from Santiago that takes you to Tui or A Guarda, where you can cross the river and pick up a Portuguese train at either Valença or Caminha respectively.

 

[klimmo]

I would suggest A Guarda-Vigo-Redondela because of the nice scenery along the Spanish coast. The walk to Valença along the Minho is also nice, but Valença to Redondela less so. As for getting back to Lisbon from Santiago, in 2019 we took a Spanish train to Vigo, where we picked up a Portuguese train that crossed the border at Valença and went to Porto, where there are frequent trains to Lisbon. But you can also get a bus from Santiago that takes you to Tui or A Guarda, where you can cross the river and pick up a Portuguese train at either Valença or Caminha respectively.

Thank you. Any thoughts on Vigo, had read somewhere it's not that beautiful? I love the coast and living in the mountains, very much looking forward to getting my fill.

Pleased to hear there's a train, I only found a bus. I prefer trains! will look into that.

Thanks again!

 

[kenwilltravel]

Thank you. Any thoughts on Vigo, had read somewhere it's not that beautiful? I love the coast and living in the mountains, very much looking forward to getting my fill.

Pleased to hear there's a train, I only found a bus. I prefer trains! will look into that.

Thanks again!

You're correct that Vigo is not attractive. It is a large industrial city and hiking through its southern suburbs is the least pleasant part of the coastal Camino. However, the walk to Redondela from Vigo makes up for that by taking you along a forested mountain trail with great views of the Vigo estuary.
As for the train link, install the free Portuguese railroad app called Comboios de Portugal and check schedules. I just did a random search for Oct. 20 and found two trains from Vigo's Guixar station to Porto's Campanha station, one at 8:58 a.m and the other at 7:56 p.m. Each journey takes just under two and a half hours.
For Spanish train schedules, download the Renfe app.
Bom Caminho!

 

[Corned Beef]

However, the walk to Redondela from Vigo makes up for that by taking you along a forested mountain trail with great views of the Vigo estuary.

There appeared to be two routes out of Vigo. There is the official route marked on Open Street Maps but the forested mountain trail was marked Senda del Agua

First two pics (194,198) are coming into Baiona before Vigo. The next two (209,214) are from the Senda on your way to Redondela. Taken last week. You can see the oyster beds set out in the estuary.

As for Vigo not being attractive, there were two large cruise ships docked there last week right beside the shopping centre.