Avoid mistakes in São Pedro de Rates

[edumad]

I have today heard of yet another couple of pilgrims taking the wrong turn in São Pedro de Rates.

Following the central route of the Portuguese you get to the center of S. P. Rates, near the church via an old train track now converted to eco route.

You must turn and go alongside the church to keep following the central route.

There are yellow arrows pointing you forward taking you along a section which converges with the coastal route in Fão, south of the river from Esposende. Don't end up on the shore of the river Cávado but 12km away

Please see this map for clarification:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z3r9TaIa1zcI.k36ZvC82Kwh8

It is not complicated to navigate, but unless you are curious to go see the church it is natural to keep going ahead, and you are soon reassured by the yellow arrows.

BTW, I urge all to take their time and check the church and stop at the albergue to get their cool stamp.


Bom caminho!

 

[Trekster]

I was totally engrossed in conversation with my Dutch walking buddy last year, and before we knew it, the yellow arrows had taken us to the sea. Needles to say, we were some of the later arrivals at the albergue.

 

[amancio]

wow, excellent map! looking back, I wish I had gone up the coast and then turned inland towards Rates, the bit from Vila do Conde to Rates is mostly dangerous with so much traffic and cobblestones

 

[edumad]

I have done the connecting section of camino from Vila do Conde to Rates and indeed it is not nice.
It would have been preferable to have pilgrims exit out of Povoa do Varzim and inland to Rates, I'm sure there are better options there.

 

[Camembert]

If you come from direction Vila do Conde and Vilarinho (both routes come together about 4 kms before Rates as soon as you see a big transportcompany with warehouses at the left side,cross the main road and keep on going straight on
After 2 kms,following the yellow waymarkers, you come at the mini supermercado and the church oposite the albergue of Rates.
We walked there last week.

 

[edumad]

I passed by Rates while biking and snaped these. Hard to see, but there is an arrow and scallop pointing you ahead, and an arrow (on the electricity pole) indicating the cobbled road to right.
Fortunately there is a very clear Caminho de Santiago plaque pointing you right.


The plaque near the tree with clear and useful information unfortunately is in this condition.

Albergues information still visible.