Coimbra To Porto or Porto to Valenca

[asoj]

Hi!

I'll be in Portugal in june, to visit 2 weeks with my family. Afterwards, I will continue my trip alone and would like to walk approximately 1 week on the Camino. My plane after is leaving from Porto airport, so i'm looking to walk nearby this city.

I'm wondering if I should walk from Coimbra to Porto, or Porto to Valenca. I dislike walking on roads, cities, industrial area, and prefer greener trails, along water, forest, vineyeards, fields, etc. Which of these to parts is more "natural"?

Thanks!

Sophia

 

[dougfitz]

Hi!

I'll be in Portugal in june, to visit 2 weeks with my family. Afterwards, I will continue my trip alone and would like to walk approximately 1 week on the Camino. My plane after is leaving from Porto airport, so i'm looking to walk nearby this city.

I'm wondering if I should walk from Coimbra to Porto, or Porto to Valenca. I dislike walking on roads, cities, industrial area, and prefer greener trails, along water, forest, vineyeards, fields, etc. Which of these to parts is more "natural"?

Thanks!

Sophia

My feeling was that I walked in more urban environments longer coming into Porto from the south than I did leaving to the north on the Central Route. I do not know about the Coastal and Senda Litoral routes.

 

[Camembert]

I agree with @ Dougfitz and should walk to the north from Porto.
In a week you easily can walk along the coastal all along to Caminha at the Spanish boarder where you eventualy can take the train back to Porto

about the so called senda and the coastal routes
Both lead to the same places every day to stay the night. One follows the coastline
The other follows a rocky and dangerous slippery path( when it rains or is moistered ) through the hills 200 meters away from the coastline.
I did both but my preference is the rota da beira mar, along the coastline.