Sand trail from Espinho

[ForesterKeith]

Hi all - I’m at the Watermill Moinho Garcia and the host has suggested trying the sand trail from Espinho to Porto.

1. Has anybody tried it?
2. Does anybody know the connecting route from Pinhero da Bemposta?

 

[jungleboy]

I haven’t tried it but he also recommended it to us. The regular way to Porto is nothing special (in my view) so if you’re feeling adventurous, go for it!

 

[David Tallan]

If you do try it, feel free to report back here (or in the Camino Portugues forum) on your experience.

 

[trecile]

Hi all - I’m at the Watermill Moinho Garcia and the host has suggested trying the sand trail from Espinho to Porto.

1. Has anybody tried it?
2. Does anybody know the connecting route from Pinhero da Bemposta?

I haven't tried it, but just wanted to say what a great place Watermill Moinho Garcia is - even though I tested positive for Covid while I was there - of course that had nothing to do with Moinho Garcia, I likely caught it a couple of days earlier.
I ended up walking to Estarreja where I found an apartment to wait out my isolation period.

Please do let us know how it is if you go that way.

 

[Flog]

I've walked the section from Espinho several times, and it's a lovely alternative to the suburban trudge into Porto. Last September I did it in reverse and posted here:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/looking-for-a-flexible-camino.76840/post-1068299

I haven't walked the route from Pinhero da Bemposta though. I would be interested to hear if anyone has done it, what that is like..

 

[The Yukon]

Yes indeed. Fabulous. I did it last December, thanks to Nicolas, who punched in Maps.me for me to some great trails near his waterfalls. I wanted to see the stunning church some hours northwest of his place in Valega once in this lifetime - not well known, but so beautiful both inside and out. Couldn’t find a place to stay here. There must be something. But it’s easy to make it to Ovar, where there is a hostel (and more).
And then it was off to Espinho where I found a room for 35€, and it happened to be the front room of My Casa Guesthouse, where you could hear and watch the breakers come in all night. The owner came to see me and offered the room for 30€ if I stayed another night. The next day, Christmas Day, I walked out into the golden warm sunshine during the thick of Covid with a big grin on my face while enjoyed the 7 Km boardwalk along the beach toward Porto. I left my pack behind to be retrieved by train at the end of the day. Waterfalls Nilcolas sent off to see a favourite church, a superb hotel, and a walk on the ocean in the warm winter sun. Eventually, you do need to head inland and rejoin the arrows to cross Eiffel’s marvellous bridge into Porto.
Having walked the Portuguese more than once, it’s easy to say that this route and the Espiritual are two deviations that make walking especial.

 

[clearskiescamino]

Thanks for this info.. I am picking up the Portugues Camino from Agueda and this deviation intrigues me.

 

[Lleslie]

I'm interested too, we are heading off from Lisbon mid May and had planned to stay at Watermill Moinho Garcia.