What is your Top Tip for Central route from Porto

[Frankybaby66]

Just a small piece of information that other walkers on the Central Route might find useful.
Last year, after a long day (by my standards), walking from Rates to Barcelos, I decided to push on to Tamel. This is a pretty steep incline, which was made more obvious by the 25c temperature that day.
On approaching Tamel I was greeted by a sign at a fork in the road which confidently indicated that either way was the correct route to Santiago (think yellow arrows, xkm to Santiago)
I tossed a coin and took the route to the right . . . think I should have held out for best of three . . .
Both routes go right past the albergue at Tamel but the right-hand one goes right around the valley and is a LOT longer than the Left-hand route.
I'm returning to Porto in a few weeks to repeat the Central route ( with the addition of the Variante Espiritual) and hope for better luck when tossing coins . . . .

Bom Caminho/Buen Camino

 

[Lightfeet]

Thank you. Do you mean the choice to be made is before reaching the albergue?

 

[Pingram]

Just a small piece of information that other walkers on the Central Route might find useful.
Last year, after a long day (by my standards), walking from Rates to Barcelos, I decided to push on to Tamel. This is a pretty steep incline, which was made more obvious by the 25c temperature that day.
On approaching Tamel I was greeted by a sign at a fork in the road which confidently indicated that either way was the correct route to Santiago (think yellow arrows, xkm to Santiago)
I tossed a coin and took the route to the right . . . think I should have held out for best of three . . .
Both routes go right past the albergue at Tamel but the right-hand one goes right around the valley and is a LOT longer than the Left-hand route.
I'm returning to Porto in a few weeks to repeat the Central route ( with the addition of the Variante Espiritual) and hope for better luck when tossing coins . . . .

Bom Caminho/Buen Camino

This very helpful. Thanks for sharing. My wife and are newbies and we are starting in Tui and including the Variante Espiritual in late September. I hoping you will post updates as you go with recommendations for route, accommodation and any other tips. Hearing from others doing the same route is very helpful .
Buen Camino

 

[Frankybaby66]

Thank you. Do you mean the choice to be made is before reaching the albergue?

Yes, at the top of a large hill. You're pretty much in Tamel then. Both options take you to/past the albergue, left hand fork must be 75% further though . . .

 

[Frankybaby66]

This very helpful. Thanks for sharing. My wife and are newbies and we are starting in Tui and including the Variante Espiritual in late September. I hoping you will post updates as you go with recommendations for route, accommodation and any other tips. Hearing from others doing the same route is very helpful .
Buen Camino

This won't affect you as Tamel is in
Portugal; your Camino start point (Tui) is further down the Central route and is in Spain at that point.Very easy to navigate from there as the Camino Frances has joined the Central Camino by then; so lots of pilgrims to ask/follow . .

 

[FLEUR]

Just a small piece of information that other walkers on the Central Route might find useful.
Last year, after a long day (by my standards), walking from Rates to Barcelos, I decided to push on to Tamel. This is a pretty steep incline, which was made more obvious by the 25c temperature that day.
On approaching Tamel I was greeted by a sign at a fork in the road which confidently indicated that either way was the correct route to Santiago (think yellow arrows, xkm to Santiago)
I tossed a coin and took the route to the right . . . think I should have held out for best of three . . .
Both routes go right past the albergue at Tamel but the right-hand one goes right around the valley and is a LOT longer than the Left-hand route.
I'm returning to Porto in a few weeks to repeat the Central route ( with the addition of the Variante Espiritual) and hope for better luck when tossing coins . . . .

Bom Caminho/Buen Camino

We also took that right hand option to Tamel! A great albergue once one arrives! Nice restaurant across the road from there.

 

[Frankybaby66]

We also took that right hand option to Tamel! A great albergue once one arrives! Nice restaurant across the road from there.

The restaurant was closed when I stayed; but the hospitalero took food orders which were delivered to the albergue.
Fond memories of sitting at a table on the grassed area, having dinner with a well-earned beer and chatting withe new friends made along the Way.
(Conversation had to compete with the regular sounding of bells in the chapel next door though!)
Happy memories. . .

Frank

 

[FLEUR]

Oh yes, the beers in the garden were great! Great facilities. Lovely hospitalero.
No blankets provided when we stayed in 2022.
We managed.

 

[Lightfeet]

Yes, at the top of a large hill. You're pretty much in Tamel then. Both options take you to/past the albergue, left hand fork must be 75% further though . . .

Just saw your reply. Thank you!

 

[Frankybaby66]

Just saw your reply. Thank you!

Sorry, that was a typo - LEFT hand route is the shorter one. Don't want to mislead you into a longer day than necessary . .

 

[Lightfeet]

Sorry, that was a typo - LEFT hand route is the shorter one. Don't want to mislead you into a longer day than necessary . .

Thank you!

 

[Damien Reynolds]

Get the little piggy. But ask them to slice it for you, unless you want to look it in the eyes.

 

[Frankybaby66]

???