Portuguese Camino

[Gregory Stegman]

Hi,
2016 I walked the Portuguese Camino, in April 2024 I'm taking the coastal route from Porto to Labruge. The following day I wish to hook up with the central route and stay in Vilarinho. What's the best path from the coast to go inland?

 

[Martin 888]

Greetings from Newfoundland! I walked the Portuguese in March this year. I walked up the coast from Porto to Vila do Conde and it was there that I turned east to connect with the central route at Arcos. I essentially followed the Brierley route along the river out of town with the river on your right. I made the mistake of taking the right fork in the road about half a mile in when I should have taken the left fork. Not a huge deal……my inclination was to stick close to the river (right fork) but the route is the left fork. I got lost for a while but ploughed on east and eventually found a faded yellow arrow about 3kms further on (much relieved). From then on it was pretty straight forward, not much signage but enough to get by and some fairly tight roads to walk along close to traffic. It’s obvious when you hit the central route as the trail turns North and the signage dramatically improves. Less that a kilometre into the central route was a fabulous bar/cafe called Cafe Barbosa…..terrific!
I have heard that others have walked along a route following a viaduct inland from Vila do Conde but I don’t know much about it. It may be better but perhaps others could comment.

 

[Gregory Stegman]

Thanks Martin, this is exactly the info I required