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  1. Utgaard

    Coastal meets central route?

    I went up the coast to Caminha before joining the Central route. You can follow the coast into Spain until Vigo and join up there. There was no need to walk on sand, but the granite paving stones are still present.
  2. Utgaard

    Littoral Route from Porto info

    I only found the Senda Litoral on the Luis Freixo maps. The Coastal route sometimes overlaps the Senda and sometimes goes further inland. I walked before Grayland and found that the Coastal route had painted arrows, but I was on my own when I decided to follow the Senda. It wasn't much of an...
  3. Utgaard

    Coastal Camino

    There are some large towns and resorts, but I honestly don't remember much about them. I stayed along the coast as much as I could and, for me, the view was off to my left not to the right. I remember seeing the buildings of Vila do Conde and Esposende and dreading the urban walks, but both...
  4. Utgaard

    Where to find the Camino to Caminha in Valenca

    I just saw this post and am probably too late to help you, but am posting the information for anyone else interested. I walked Caminha to Valenca in 2014 using the map by Luis Freixo. If you can follow a map you should be able to use his map to get from Valenca to Vila Nova de Cerveira or...
  5. Utgaard

    The Nuts and Bolts of walking the Camino Portugues

    Ah, the great debate of the Portuguese route. You will be walking on a lot of rough cut granite paving stones. Someone on this forum referred to them as blister massage. I met a pilgrim who started from Lisbon in nearly new trail shoes and had holes in her soles by the time she reached...
  6. Utgaard

    Help section Esposende – Viana do Castelo

    There are very few markings when you go left after Ponte Sebastiao. I followed the Freixo maps to stay along the coast, but ended up in some dunes and had to find my own way. The markings get much better between Viana and Caminha (and it was my favorite day walking). Be aware that there are...
  7. Utgaard

    Portuguese Coastal Camino 2016

    I did this route in 2014 using the Freixo maps. The Caminha to Valenca link is well marked and the Freixo map was easy to follow. I was the only one walking this route that day and had no concerns. The locals will recognize you as pilgrims. I ran into a road crew that was digging on the...
  8. Utgaard

    training/getting fit before my Camino portugués

    I was mostly concerned about making sure my boots and pack would be comfortable for 15-25 km per day. About a month before I left, I started walking the 10km home from work about three times a week in my boots and pack, with longer walks on the weekends. I kept adding weight to the pack until...
  9. Utgaard

    Camino Costal in May 2016

    I walked the coast until Caminha then to Valenca and the central route in May, 2014. I was told that there were big groups of people a day ahead or behind me, but I did not meet another northbound pilgrim until Valenca. I had no concerns about my safety as a solo female walker...outside of a...
  10. Utgaard

    Advice on walking the coastal route from Santiago to Porto.

    I was told by a gentleman who walked south from Finisterre that the coast path in Spain was well marked. If you are comfortable with reading maps, the Frexio maps should take you all the way from the border to Porto. Sounds like a great walk!
  11. Utgaard

    Walking through Porto

    I loved walking in Porto, too! I walked along the Douro to the Atlantic in late May, 2014. It was a great start to my Caminho. And the views were pretty nice. Along the Atlantic by Utgaard posted Jul 25, 2015 at 7:34 AM
  12. Utgaard

    Started walking today

    Bom Caminho! I enjoyed your blog and am looking forward to following your caminho.
  13. Utgaard

    Coastal Route Option

    Yes, it is mostly pavement between Caminha and Valenca. A lot of it is smaller roads and lanes. I don't recall many areas that had buffers you could walk on. It became quite a slog the last few km into Valenca. I would stop at Vila Nova de Cerveira if I did this section again. I felt fine...
  14. Utgaard

    Where is the starting point for the Lisbon Camino?

    I would hesitate to walk without a guide book. You might have better luck looking at one of the local bookstores or using a guidebook by a local author. How well do your read Portuguese or Spanish? There is an English guide available for download from the Resources tab on this forum.
  15. Utgaard

    Coastal Route Option

    I walked from Caminha to Valenca last May. The people in the Viana district pilgrims group are very dedicated to the people who walk through their country. I used the Frexio map, but rarely pulled it out. The waymarking is good, although I did question whether the arrow pointing up the front...
  16. Utgaard

    Camino Portuguese: Coastal vs Central, which way??

    How much does getting lost bother you? The literal coastal route I used was not well marked. You will need to be able to navigate using a map. I didn't mind getting lost. Yes, it led to a slog through the sand dunes before Viana do Castelo, but also to a gentleman who went out of his way to...
  17. Utgaard

    Costal Route

    Crossing the Minho from Valenca to Tui isn't that bad... Coming into Tui by Utgaard posted May 27, 2015 at 7:09 PM
  18. Utgaard

    Camino Portuguese: Coastal vs Central, which way??

    My personal opinion - you can't lose which ever way you decide. I walked from Porto along the coast until Caminha, then turned and followed the river to Valenca to join the traditional route. I had the coast to myself and always was able to find company when I wanted it after Valenca. It was...
  19. Utgaard

    Who's Walking the Coastal Route in 2015?

    Welcome to the forum! My question for you is what do you want to accomplish? Stepping out your door and onto the camino is an attractive option, but the 30+ km day is a rough way to start, especially if your feet are not used to long distances on pavement. If you want a more traditional...
  20. Utgaard

    A silly sand question

    Just repeating what Albertinho said, you will have good boardwalk, trail, or pavement between Matoshinhos and Vila do Conde. I did one short sand walk, but the people just behind me found a trail maybe 20m inland that I missed. If you come face to face with an unwanted beach walk check around...

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