Portuguese Camino:Vila do Conde to Rates

[Katycamino]

Can anyone advise on the best way to get from Vila do Conde to rejoin the Camino Central?
Brierley says not to take the road via Beiriz and proposes the road via Junqueira and Arcos. However the Johnny Walker guide says this route is not well marked so am a bit nervous about getting lost or ending up as road kill! Is it better just to bus or taxi to Vilarinho and join there? Prefer to walk of course!
Your advice welcome! Looking forward to the Portugues!!

 

[Kazles]

Can anyone advise on the best way to get from Vila do Conde to rejoin the Camino Central?
Brierley says not to take the road via Beiriz and proposes the road via Junqueira and Arcos. However the Johnny Walker guide says this route is not well marked so am a bit nervous about getting lost or ending up as road kill! Is it better just to bus or taxi to Vilarinho and join there? Prefer to walk of course!
Your advice welcome! Looking forward to the Portugues!!

Hi Katy
It wasn't very well marked in 2016 - I followed the aqueduct as Brierley suggests, but did end up getting lost and in an industrial area called something like Toughina! Busy traffic and not so pleasant. However a kind local pointed me in the right direction, and once I saw the cafe mentioned in the guide on a crossroads, I was fine. This was my only time getting lost and wasn't really such an issue so I'd do it again and take the risk. The aqueduct is pretty cool and impossible to miss. Bom Camino

 

[Katycamino]

Hi Katy
It wasn't very well marked in 2016 - I followed the aqueduct as Brierley suggests, but did end up getting lost and in an industrial area called something like Toughina! Busy traffic and not so pleasant. However a kind local pointed me in the right direction, and once I saw the cafe mentioned in the guide on a crossroads, I was fine. This was my only time getting lost and wasn't really such an issue so I'd do it again and take the risk. The aqueduct is pretty cool and impossible to miss. Bom Camino

Thanks Kazles.... great to know it’s do-able with a bit of care!

 

[surya8]

I walked from Vila do Conde to Barcelos. Didn't take the route along the aqueduct though. At the end of the day in Vila do Conde I couldn't make up my mind if I still wanted to follow the ocean or to go inland. Decided to sleep on it. In the evening I asked around in the albergue if anone else was thinking about going to the central way the day after and many people said yes. So in the morning when I decided to do it I just joined one German man who was walking there. We started very early, probably were the first to leave the argergue, walked together till Barcelos. He had a good german guide book but the locals did help at the begining pointing us in the right direction. I am sure there were many more people following our steps later in the day. You just need to ask around if you feel safer to walk in a company.

 

[IngridF]

I got hopelessly lost. Locals tried to help and everytime I went wrong. I remember thinking where are the arrows? I just couldn't see any. After 3 hours I gave up at a café and they called a taxi. I felt soo defeated. In Barcelos I joined up with 2 Italien peregrinas, we had such fun. This was 2015. Still shaking my head that I never saw an arrow that day.

 

[Katycamino]

Thanks Ingrid.... sounds like I should find a friend and also practice how to say ‘thank you’ in Portuguese! At least it didn’t spoil your Camino.

 

[Grousedoctor]

Hey Kathy,
We walked this route just last spring. Although I had to ask directions a couple of times getting out of Vila do Conde, it proved to be pretty straight forward. Yes, it could have been better marked. We followed the route on up to Arcos where we caught the Caminho Central. My one recomendation is to watch carefully for cars. When walking against traffic, there were a few blind corners that demand your attention when cars are approaching. Although there is a fair amount of road walking, it proved to be another good day on the Caminho!

 

[jmcarp]

Can anyone advise on the best way to get from Vila do Conde to rejoin the Camino Central?
Brierley says not to take the road via Beiriz and proposes the road via Junqueira and Arcos. However the Johnny Walker guide says this route is not well marked so am a bit nervous about getting lost or ending up as road kill! Is it better just to bus or taxi to Vilarinho and join there? Prefer to walk of course!
Your advice welcome! Looking forward to the Portugues!!

My wife and I walked the route through Junqueira to Arcos (the green route in the Brierley guidebook) in May of last year. I don't recall having difficulty finding markers, but there is a lot of road walking on this route, some of which has no shoulders. I'd recommend wearing a safety orange or green vest or at least something bright and visible. Just stay to left facing oncoming traffic, and walk single file. Many people have commented on the granite pavers being hard on the feet, but the upside is that even the smallest of cars sound like a locomotive approaching, so you'll have plenty of warning as a car approaches. If you enjoy walking with earbuds and music blaring in your ears, walking these roads is probably a good time to remove the ear obstructions.
Bom Caminho!

 

[Letsgocamino]

My sister and I walked into Vila do Conde from Laburge where we spent the night. We then proceeded to take the bus to Arcos where we stayed at Quinta do San Miguel. OMG.what a beautiful pension. We figured we deserved it.

 

[LorneB]

Not sure if this wîle help, but I actually ended up on the detour by accident. Saw some yellow arrows near the river that goes through the centre, and followed them thinking I was going on the coastal, but they were in fact for the detour to the central.

 

[brian560]

Not sure if this wîle help, but I actually ended up on the detour by accident. Saw some yellow arrows near the river that goes through the centre, and followed them thinking I was going on the coastal, but they were in fact for the detour to the central.

Hi, which town are you talking about.

 

[Albertinho]

I think Vila do Conde
Entering VdC over the bridge, there are waymarks directly to the right but after 3 (three !) meters-yards is another waymarker to the right . If you follow I hat waymarker,you will go underneath the bridge to the other side of the road and end up in front of some restaurants and hotel Belamar and the way to the center of VdC and the coastal route direction Póvoa de Varzim and Esposende.
But if you go right over the bridge and keep the river at your rigth untill you cross the metroline you are on your way to Arcos and São Pedro de Rates.
Somebody else will tell you to find the alternative way along the aquaduct. I don't know however I followed the aquaduct once that alternative way but know this from the oppostite way and ended up at the sanctuary on top of the hill, you will face when you enter VdC from the bridge. By then I was a tourist.

 

[brian560]

I think Vila do Conde
Entering VdC over the bridge, there are waymarks directly to the right but after 3 (three !) meters-yards is another waymarker to the right . If you follow I hat waymarker,you will go underneath the bridge to the other side of the road and end up in front of some restaurants and hotel Belamar and the way to the center of VdC and the coastal route direction Póvoa de Varzim and Esposende.
But if you go right over the bridge and keep the river at your rigth untill you cross the metroline you are on your way to Arcos and São Pedro de Rates.
Somebody else will tell you to find the alternative way along the aquaduct. I don't know however I followed the aquaduct once that alternative way but know this from the oppostite way and ended up at the sanctuary on top of the hill, you will face when you enter VdC from the bridge. By then I was a tourist.

Thank you. Is the way to Arcos and São Pedro de Rates waymarked or just on the road?

 

[Albertinho]

Thank you. Is the way to Arcos and São Pedro de Rates waymarked or just on the road?

The way to Arcos and São Pedro de Rates is waymarked .
Because there is roadwalking-tarmac and cobblestones-I advice you to wear fluorescent safety jackets. Always walk in the direction of upcoming traffic and keep an eye on overtaking traffic from behind you. Portuguese are very kind people but once behind the steeringwheel the devil in them comes alive ! They drive fast and not aggresively but risky. Keep as left as you can and Do not walk next to each other but one after the other at mainroads with no sidewalk.Use your poles to pay attention to drivers that you are there too !
In São Pedro is an albergue with-I hope they still have-a nice bi-coloured stamp for your credential. Also if you just pass by, pop in and ask for the stamp.

Once past São Pedro, walking into the direction of Barcelos at a certain moment you will walk on the national road N306.that will be just before the hamlet of Pedra Furada.
There are big signs to warn drivers for pilgrims walking on the road. If you notice these signs, be warned. Although these signs are meant for drivers you better are warned for these drivers so be prepared.

In Pedra Furado at the left side of the road is the bar-restaurant-hostal Pedra Furado. Antonio rents some rooms with two beds, one with four and I thought one with three beds. Advice is to book in advance by phoning him .the number is in Brierley's guide. You can stop there for a coffee or a sandwich or a meal. And ask for a stamp on your credential.

An other notorious part of the N306 just before Barcelos including the narrow bridge into Barcelos with a very small pavement. Just before the medieval bridge to the left is the albergue from Barcelinos on the bank of the river with a nice view on the town .the other albergue is in Barcelos center.
Once on the Barcelos bridge you face a ruin of a castle. It is a kind of museum with things from the past but also contemporary art sculptures. The entrance is free and on top you have a nice view on the river .during daytime there is a guard, walking around .try to find him and ask him for a stamp on your credential. It is a beautiful one. One of the best on my various credentials. A stamp in Portuguese is called
um carimbo- in Spanish "un sello"

Don't be afraid about the traffic but be warned and take care.better warned on beforehand than not to be prepared. Bom caminho

 

[brian560]

The way to Arcos and São Pedro de Rates is waymarked .
Because there is roadwalking-tarmac and cobblestones-I advice you to wear fluorescent safety jackets. Always walk in the direction of upcoming traffic and keep an eye on overtaking traffic from behind you. Portuguese are very kind people but once behind the steeringwheel the devil in them comes alive ! They drive fast and not aggresively but risky. Keep as left as you can and Do not walk next to each other but one after the other at mainroads with no sidewalk.Use your poles to pay attention to drivers that you are there too !
In São Pedro is an albergue with-I hope they still have-a nice bi-coloured stamp for your credential. Also if you just pass by, pop in and ask for the stamp.

Once past São Pedro, walking into the direction of Barcelos at a certain moment you will walk on the national road N306.that will be just before the hamlet of Pedra Furada.
There are big signs to warn drivers for pilgrims walking on the road. If you notice these signs, be warned. Although these signs are meant for drivers you better are warned for these drivers so be prepared.

In Pedra Furado at the left side of the road is the bar-restaurant-hostal Pedra Furado. Antonio rents some rooms with two beds, one with four and I thought one with three beds. Advice is to book in advance by phoning him .the number is in Brierley's guide. You can stop there for a coffee or a sandwich or a meal. And ask for a stamp on your credential.

An other notorious part of the N306 just before Barcelos including the narrow bridge into Barcelos with a very small pavement. Just before the medieval bridge to the left is the albergue from Barcelinos on the bank of the river with a nice view on the town .the other albergue is in Barcelos center.
Once on the Barcelos bridge you face a ruin of a castle. It is a kind of museum with things from the past but also contemporary art sculptures. The entrance is free and on top you have a nice view on the river .during daytime there is a guard, walking around .try to find him and ask him for a stamp on your credential. It is a beautiful one. One of the best on my various credentials. A stamp in Portuguese is called
um carimbo- in Spanish "un sello"

Don't be afraid about the traffic but be warned and take care.better warned on beforehand than not to be prepared. Bom caminho

Obrigado Senor. Mucho Gracias. My portugese and Spanish is rather limited.

 

[Albertinho]

Obrigado Senor. Mucho Gracias. My portugese and Spanish is rather limited.

De nada. Muito gosta !

 

[LorneB]

Hi, which town are you talking about.

Hi. As others had correctly understood, I was in fact referring to Vila do Conde.

Bom/Buen Camino.

 

[Depinho]

Can anyone advise on the best way to get from Vila do Conde to rejoin the Camino Central?
Brierley says not to take the road via Beiriz and proposes the road via Junqueira and Arcos. However the Johnny Walker guide says this route is not well marked so am a bit nervous about getting lost or ending up as road kill! Is it better just to bus or taxi to Vilarinho and join there? Prefer to walk of course!
Your advice welcome! Looking forward to the Portugues!!

vila do conde a Rates Santiago way on GPSies.com

Trilha vila do conde a Rates Santiago way on de Trekking em Vila do Conde, Porto (Portugal). Baixe a faixa GPS e siga o itinerário da rota a partir de um mapa. vila do conde a Rates way the Santiago on ligação do caminho de santiago da Costa ao caminho central fora da estrada 206. Way

pt.wikiloc.com

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I just returned home from the Portuguese camino. My least favorite day, truth be told, was the walk from Vila de Conde to Rates via Arcos. Narrow, busy road and all the many cars zooming by made so much noise as their tires bounced over the cobbles and nothing much to see, imo. I was so happy the following day as it all improved so much...ahhh!

 

[Pilger99]

same topic, therefore I don't want to repeat all. See:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/vila-do-conde-a-rates.62290/#post-746654

summary: If you want to avoid the road, use the alternatives. At least one or two should be in each guide book.