Coastal v Central from Porto ?

[scubajunky]

Hi all, I'm leaving on monday the 4th of April and my head is starting to spin a little with options ! So what are the differences between walking the camino on the coastal or the central apart from walking by the sea ? how is the scenery different ? is the central much busier than the coastal ? are there more accommodation options on the central or the coastal ? are there more alberges on the central or the coastal ?
which would be the best place to join the coastal ? at villa de conde or further ahead ?
Any help is appreciated.

 

[Walli Walker]

Porto to Villa de Conde along the coast and then inland to Rates. Excellent.

 

[scubajunky]

Thanks for that, getting the bus feels like cheating though, could I not walk to Valenca from Vina do castelo ?

 

[mspath]

You could ' wing it ' walking on small roads using Google maps. For example the distance is 50 km via Caminha from Viana do Castelo to Valenca do Minho. Lots of towns with simple accommodation along the uncharted way.

Bom caminho!

 

[Dutch]

Nice option would be Day 1 on the coast from Porto to vila do conde and day two go inland towards barcelos.

The whole coastal is more of a solitary camino. The central route is much more social with lots of albergues/cafes/bars every few km.

Dont walk (imo) day 1 from porto to vilarinho. This is an awfull walk. Hardly anybody likes it.

Day one on the coast, than inland. Very nice way to go

 

[scubajunky]

HI Dutch, That sounds conclusive, I really don't fancy a solitary camino, part of why I love the Camino is the people you meet, the Portugues being quieter than the Frances then if the Coastal is much quieter than the central then I think I will follow your advice, I do love the sea though but I don't want to walk solo every day to be honest.
Thanks to everyone who helped.

 

[Dutch]

If you loved the social aspect of the Frances, you will love the Portugues camino as well. I call it a mini Frances. Just as social, just a bit shorter

 

[scubajunky]

Music to my ears

 

[MarcelaGi]

Nice option would be Day 1 on the coast from Porto to vila do conde and day two go inland towards barcelos.

The whole coastal is more of a solitary camino. The central route is much more social with lots of albergues/cafes/bars every few km.

Dont walk (imo) day 1 from porto to vilarinho. This is an awfull walk. Hardly anybody likes it.

Day one on the coast, than inland. Very nice way to go

I walked from Porto to Moreira (on the way to Vilarinho) on Day 1 (yesterday April 3rd). In truth I did not like it much I walked along neighborhoods and warehouses all day . Hope it gets better from now on, although from what Dutch says it might be the same way all the way to Vilarinho??

Buen Camino!

 

[Former member 22438]

I walked from Porto to Moreira (on the way to Vilarinho) on Day 1 (yesterday April 3rd). In truth I did not like it much I walked along neighborhoods and warehouses all day . Hope it gets better from now on, although from what Dutch says it might be the same way all the way to Vilarinho??

Buen Camino!

A little bit suffering for about 10 kms. From Vairão you will come into a more rural area.
I advise to read on this forum about the caminho Portugues .
80% or even more ? of the forummembers who walked the track you describe ,do advise NOT to walk out of Porto but to choose for the coastal way from Matosinhos to
Vila do Conde. I walked and drove both . From Vairão it is okay and soon it connects the stage from Vila do Conde to São Pedro de Rates.

 

[MarcelaGi]

A little bit suffering for about 10 kms. From Vairão you will come into a more rural area.
I advise to read on this forum about the caminho Portugues .
80% or even more ? of the forummembers who walked the track you describe ,do advise NOT to walk out of Porto but to choose for the coastal way from Matosinhos to
Vila do Conde. I walked and drove both . From Vairão it is okay and soon it connects the stage from Vila do Conde to São Pedro de Rates.

Thank you Albertinho... I think I did not, for some reason, find the warnings (probably I just looked in the wrong places). I'm north of Junqueira now, hope to make it to Barcelos or further tomorrow.

The road does get better after Vilarinho!

 

[Former member 22438]

Thank you Albertinho... I think I did not, for some reason, find the warnings (probably I just looked in the wrong places). I'm north of Junqueira now, hope to make it to Barcelos or further tomorrow.

The road does get better after Vilarinho!

Try to get to Casa Fernanda 18 kms beyond Barcelos. The place to be.
In the village of Vitorino de Piães It is on the caminho. At the left side of the road in front of the gardenpath is a sign "lugar do Corgo."

 

[MarcelaGi]

Try to get to Casa Fernanda 18 kms beyond Barcelos. The place to be.
In the village of Vitorino de Piães It is on the caminho. At the left side of the road in front of the gardenpath is a sign "lugar do Corgo."

Hi Albertinho! I did not make it to Casa Fernanda (stayed in Barcelos last night). I've been doing 20-23 km a day, maybe will stay in Casa Fernanda tonight. Thank you so much for the advise .

Maybe you can help me a little bit more, is there anything 20km approx from Vitorino de Piães? Ponte de Lima seems too close (12 km) and Arcozelo 15km. Are there any towns further up (+5-7km?)

Thank you very much in advance for your advise. Now that I'm asking so many questions I should introduce myself: I'm Marcela, from Colombia and this is my first Camino (solo)! VERY excited for what lies ahead... I hope to make it to SdC on the 14th in time for the pilgrim mass... So wish me luck!

 

[Former member 22438]

Hi Albertinho! I did not make it to Casa Fernanda (stayed in Barcelos last night). I've been doing 20-23 km a day, maybe will stay in Casa Fernanda tonight. Thank you so much for the advise .

Maybe you can help me a little bit more, is there anything 20km approx from Vitorino de Piães? Ponte de Lima seems too close (12 km) and Arcozelo 15km. Are there any towns further up (+5-7km?)

Thank you very much in advance for your advise. Now that I'm asking so many questions I should introduce myself: I'm Marcela, from Colombia and this is my first Camino (solo)! VERY excited for what lies ahead... I hope to make it to SdC on the 14th in time for the pilgrim mass... So wish me luck!

- Hola Marcela ! Encantado. The problem is that after Ponte de Lima you will encounter the highest point of the Caminho Português , a 20 km offroad trail over a 420 mtrs high mountain without any facilities except one small shop/restaurant just before the climb the first oportunity is Rubiaēs So better stay at Fernanda's. Go tomorrow to Ponte de Lima and climb the Alto de Portela Grande the day after.
Boa sorte !

 

[sgbmom]

A little bit suffering for about 10 kms. From Vairão you will come into a more rural area.
I advise to read on this forum about the caminho Portugues .
80% or even more ? of the forummembers who walked the track you describe ,do advise NOT to walk out of Porto but to choose for the coastal way from Matosinhos to
Vila do Conde. I walked and drove both . From Vairão it is okay and soon it connects the stage from Vila do Conde to São Pedro de Rates.

 

[sgbmom]

Today I ended the first Brierley's coastal stage at Vila de Conde. Walking on all the uneven cobblestones made it not a fun day. May have to take a rest day tomorrow, but what's the best way (not walking) to get from here to the cental route & then Casa Fernanda? Thanks in advance for sharing your expertise!

 

[Former member 22438]

Today I ended the first Brierley's coastal stage at Vila de Conde. Walking on all the uneven cobblestones made it not a fun day. May have to take a rest day tomorrow, but what's the best way (not walking) to get from here to the cental route & then Casa Fernanda? Thanks in advance for sharing your expertise!

You could go back to Porto and take the train to Barroselas (NOT Barcelos !)
And walk from there 9,2 kms off caminho to Fernanda
From the station you walk to Balugaês where you will find the yellow waymarkers
Or take a taxi from the station to Fernanda.

Bom caminho

 

[sgbmom]

You could go back to Porto and take the train to Barroselas (NOT Barcelos !)
And walk from there 9,2 kms off caminho to Fernanda
From the station you walk to Balugaês where you will find the yellow waymarkers
Or take a taxi from the station to Fernanda.

Bom caminho

 

[sgbmom]

Thanks! I figured I would have to go back to Porto for public transportation. Do you recommend walking path from Vilarinho to Casa Fernanda? If it's not cobblestones, I think these old, tired bones could handle it

 

[Former member 22438]

Loo

Thanks! I figured I would have to go back to Porto for public transportation. Do you recommend walking path from Vilarinho to Casa Fernanda? If it's not cobblestones, I think these old, tired bones could handle it

Look at my video. It leads from one village before Vilarinho and goes to Fernanda. Judge yourself. It did not bother us last year

Ha ha and you'll see our "old bones"

Bom caminho

 

[sgbmom]

Loo
Look at my video. It leads from one village before Vilarinho and goes to Fernanda. Judge yourself. It did not bother us last year

Ha ha and you'll see our "old bones"

Bom caminho

Great news!! Do you think you could save me a bed @ Casa Fernanda for Monday night with your insider advantage card? Am in Barcelinos tonight. So glad that I switched over to cental route today! Walk much better on these old bones

 

[Former member 22438]

Great news!! Do you think you could save me a bed @ Casa Fernanda for Monday night with your insider advantage card? Am in Barcelinos tonight. So glad that I switched over to cental route today! Walk much better on these old bones

Oh I am sorry I see this now. We are travelling through Portugal now from camping to camping so not allways have availability of wifi so read your message right now. But I think you managed staying with Fernanda allready.
Bom caminho

 

[sgbmom]

Oh I am sorry I see this now. We are travelling through Portugal now from camping to camping so not allways have availability of wifi so read your message right now. But I think you managed staying with Fernanda allready.
Bom caminho

Yes, I was there last night and kept hoping that you & wife would arrive so I could meet you. Had so much fun with Casa Fernanda family that I did not want to leave! Safe travels to you.