WanderingNotLost
Director of Mirth & Merriment for the Cosmos
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Lost count. I'm addicted.
Though I have personally never walked along the coast past Vila do Conde, I've pulled together from various sources the following 11 day walk from Porto to Santiago for anyone interested.
In April 2013 when I walked from Lisbon, after 13 straight days of non-stop ark building rain and complete solitude, I decided to turn inland in search of equally insane pilgrims.
Returning to Porto to begin walking to Muxia on June 26. If it's not raining again I might choose to follow this route. I'm not really concerned with staying on track from Porto to Caminha. Keep the ocean on the left. My only question is in regards to way-marking from Caminha to Valenca. Any insight that can be provided by someone who has walked this segment would be greatly appreciated
(all distances & times are estimates)
Day 1: Porto – Vila do Conde (34 km / 21 Miles – 7/8 hours)
Follow the river out of Porto to the ocean, then keep the ocean on your left to Vila do Conde. Enjoy the views and the ease under foot of the boardwalks.
* variety of sleeping options
Day 2: Vila do Conde - Esposende (25,5 km / 15,8 Miles – 5/6 hours)
Start in Vila do Conde crossing the town through the historic centre and in a couple of miles you will reach the Povoa de Varzim a popular town strongly linked with the ocean. You will continue to head north along the coast crossing the Coastal Natural Park and the Cavado river in the direction to Esposende, an old fishing village with a great setting on the estuary of the River Cavado.
* Hostal as you cross the river and another by the old fort.
Day 3: Esposende – Viana do Castelo (23 km / 14,4 Miles – 4/5 hours)
You leave Esposende walking along the cycle-track and continue to hug the coast as you travel north admiring the views and the peace of the route. You will visit the villages of Marinhas, Belinho, Neiva and Darque until reaching the historic town of Viana do Castelo through the Eifell's old iron bridge over the River Lima.
* lots of options including youth hostel
Day 4: Viana do Castelo - Caminha (28,5 km / 17,7 Miles – 6/7 hours)
In this stage you will leave Viana do Castelo and enter in a world of “old farms. You will cross the villages of Areosa, Afife and Carreço walking through old narrow roads that split several 19th Century farmhouses. Continue until the old fishing village of Ancora and from there follow the coastline until you reach the secular Caminha.
*Albergue, hostals, tourist office has list
Day 5: Caminha – Vila Nova de Cerveira (15 km / 9 Miles – 3 hours)
Leave the medieval town of Caminha crossing the bridge over the river Coura. In this stage you will walk north following the river Minho. You walk through the famous villages of Seixas and Lanhelas. The short climb to Gondarem is rewarded with an astonishing view over the river and the Spanish territory across river. It is an easy walk to Vila Nova de Cerveira,.
* numerous options for places to stay
Day 6: Vila Nova de Cerveira - Tui (18 km / 11 Miles – 4 hours)
Leave the old town of Cerveira following the valley of the river Minho, passing the villages of Campos and São Pedro da Torre through fields and brushwoods until reaching the fortified town of Valença where you pickup the Portuguese Central way to Santiago.
* Many Options. See Brierley guide
Day 7: Tui – Redondela (32km / 20 miles – 7 hours) Brierley guide
Day 8: Rodondela – Pontevedra (20km / 12 miles – 4 hours) Brierley guide
Day 9: Pontevedra – Caldas de Reis (22km / 14 miles – 5 hours) Brierley guide
Day 10: Caldas de Reis – Padron (18km / 11 miles – 4 hours) Brierley guide
Day 11: Padron – Santiago (25km / 16 miles – 6 hours)
Peace and Love,
Craig
In April 2013 when I walked from Lisbon, after 13 straight days of non-stop ark building rain and complete solitude, I decided to turn inland in search of equally insane pilgrims.
Returning to Porto to begin walking to Muxia on June 26. If it's not raining again I might choose to follow this route. I'm not really concerned with staying on track from Porto to Caminha. Keep the ocean on the left. My only question is in regards to way-marking from Caminha to Valenca. Any insight that can be provided by someone who has walked this segment would be greatly appreciated
(all distances & times are estimates)
Day 1: Porto – Vila do Conde (34 km / 21 Miles – 7/8 hours)
Follow the river out of Porto to the ocean, then keep the ocean on your left to Vila do Conde. Enjoy the views and the ease under foot of the boardwalks.
* variety of sleeping options
Day 2: Vila do Conde - Esposende (25,5 km / 15,8 Miles – 5/6 hours)
Start in Vila do Conde crossing the town through the historic centre and in a couple of miles you will reach the Povoa de Varzim a popular town strongly linked with the ocean. You will continue to head north along the coast crossing the Coastal Natural Park and the Cavado river in the direction to Esposende, an old fishing village with a great setting on the estuary of the River Cavado.
* Hostal as you cross the river and another by the old fort.
Day 3: Esposende – Viana do Castelo (23 km / 14,4 Miles – 4/5 hours)
You leave Esposende walking along the cycle-track and continue to hug the coast as you travel north admiring the views and the peace of the route. You will visit the villages of Marinhas, Belinho, Neiva and Darque until reaching the historic town of Viana do Castelo through the Eifell's old iron bridge over the River Lima.
* lots of options including youth hostel
Day 4: Viana do Castelo - Caminha (28,5 km / 17,7 Miles – 6/7 hours)
In this stage you will leave Viana do Castelo and enter in a world of “old farms. You will cross the villages of Areosa, Afife and Carreço walking through old narrow roads that split several 19th Century farmhouses. Continue until the old fishing village of Ancora and from there follow the coastline until you reach the secular Caminha.
*Albergue, hostals, tourist office has list
Day 5: Caminha – Vila Nova de Cerveira (15 km / 9 Miles – 3 hours)
Leave the medieval town of Caminha crossing the bridge over the river Coura. In this stage you will walk north following the river Minho. You walk through the famous villages of Seixas and Lanhelas. The short climb to Gondarem is rewarded with an astonishing view over the river and the Spanish territory across river. It is an easy walk to Vila Nova de Cerveira,.
* numerous options for places to stay
Day 6: Vila Nova de Cerveira - Tui (18 km / 11 Miles – 4 hours)
Leave the old town of Cerveira following the valley of the river Minho, passing the villages of Campos and São Pedro da Torre through fields and brushwoods until reaching the fortified town of Valença where you pickup the Portuguese Central way to Santiago.
* Many Options. See Brierley guide
Day 7: Tui – Redondela (32km / 20 miles – 7 hours) Brierley guide
Day 8: Rodondela – Pontevedra (20km / 12 miles – 4 hours) Brierley guide
Day 9: Pontevedra – Caldas de Reis (22km / 14 miles – 5 hours) Brierley guide
Day 10: Caldas de Reis – Padron (18km / 11 miles – 4 hours) Brierley guide
Day 11: Padron – Santiago (25km / 16 miles – 6 hours)
Peace and Love,
Craig