Walking from Ponte de Lima

[Arlene Carrigan]

A group of 5 of us are hoping to walk part of the Portuguese Camino on the 21st October 2016.
We fly into Porto and hope to start walking from Ponte de Lima. Is there a coastal route that we can go from there and if so would you recommend it so late in the season?

 

[Tincatinker]

www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/camino-portugues-coastal-route-from-porto.109/

 

[Arlene Carrigan]

Thank you for taking the time to reply, we have lots of time to plan and we will take all your help on board.

Kind regards

Arlene

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

A group of 5 of us are hoping to walk part of the Portuguese Camino on the 21st October 2016.
We fly into Porto and hope to start walking from Ponte de Lima. Is there a coastal route that we can go from there and if so would you recommend it so late in the season?

Ponte de lima is a bit off the coastal route so you may want to consider another starting point. In any case, once on Spain, the coastal route basically converges with the classic Portuguese Camino after Vigo, although you can always add kms by zigzagging along the estuaries.

Buen Camino

 

[Arlene Carrigan]

Hi
Thanks for taking the time to reply, as first timers we are open to any and all advice. We only picked Ponte de Lima as I had not heard about the coastal at that time, we arrive into Porto and travel up to start our walk as we only have 7 days walking. Viana do Castelo sounds like a good plan.
As we are travelling in October and the weather could be an issue and also accommodation on the coastal, I think we might play it by ear and decide when we land in Porto.
After all the fantastic reports in this forum, I don't think there will be a wrong route which ever way we go!!

 

[mspath]

Arlene Carrigan,

Viana do Castelo is a very nice seaside town with a pilgrim albergue, S. João da Cruz dos Caminhos. However if you are searching for private accommodation, consider the OLarenjeiro, rua Rua Manuel Espregueira, 24. .It a charming newly furnished small place with a very good dining room. Just before Christmas 2014 a double room with private bath and delicious breakfast was 45 euros. Quite a bargain!

Bom Caminho!

 

[jsalt]

I think we might play it by ear and decide when we land in Porto.

Hi Arlene, I don’t think that’s a good idea if there are 5 of you. One or two can play it by ear, but not a group of five (unless one of you is in charge and the others blindly follow). As it’s your first time I suggest you stay with the recognised route, and meet others along the way to chat to. You won’t meet many other walkers, if any, on the variant routes in October. Also, if the weather is bad then you will be quite miserable on the coastal path, as the wind and rain can come straight at you from the north west. Maybe stay with your plan of starting in Ponte de Lima. It’s a lovely little town, I love it there. Then, if you have 7 walking days, you can do:

Rubiaes, 18 kms
Tui, 19 kms
Redondela, 31 kms
Pontevedra, 18 kms
Caldas de Reis, 23 kms
Padron, 18 kms
Santiago, 25 kms

Or start at Valenca (across the bridge from Tui) if some of those days are too long.
Whatever you decide, Bom Caminho! Jill