combining the coastal /interior routes ?

robbocopa · Dec 26, 2015

Hi,
First timer on this forum
My wife and I are looking to walk from Porto to Santiago mid May
any suggestions for when to turn inland ?
cheers Rob

gerardcarey · Dec 27, 2015

I'm considering not turning inland. Just blundering along the Coast as far as I can. I presume others have done it but as yet I haven't started investigating.
Welcome to the forum, best of luck with your investigations.
And it's time for my first 'Happy New Year'.
Regards
Gerard

Former member 22438 · Dec 27, 2015

You can walk from Porto along the Douro river and Atlantic ocean to Matosinhos and Vila do Conde and from there head inland on the central route to São Pedro de Rates and on to Barcelos, Ponte de Lima and Valença do Minho to Spain.
Or head on alongside the coast to Viana do Castelo and Caminha and follow the Minho river to Valença

Or take the ferry in Caminha to a Guarda in Spain and follow the coast to Vigo and there head inland to the central route in Redondela. From there you can be in 3 or 4 days in Santiago
We walked both caminhos, the central one and the coastal one

Bom caminho

Utgaard · Dec 27, 2015

As Albertinho said, there several options and I'm not sure there is a bad choice. I walked the coast until Caminha and really enjoyed it. A friend walked the coast to Vigo and I'm sure he would recommend it, too. It may depend on how much company you want. The coast will be quieter than the Central route.

michelle grech · Dec 27, 2015

Hi
Would these connecting ways be marked?
Michelle

Former member 22438 · Dec 27, 2015

michelle grech said:
Hi
Would these connecting ways be marked?
Michelle

Yes all routes I mentioned are well marked.
If you like company , choose for the first one and head for the central route.
If you like to walk alone ,go for the coastal, but keep in mind that some parts of the coastal it is better to walk in company if you are a woman alone,

michelle grech · Dec 27, 2015

Thanks for info....we are 2 female cyclists. I guess we'll be fine. I think we will turn inland at Caminha.
Michelle

Former member 22438 · Dec 27, 2015

michelle grech said:
Thanks for info....we are 2 female cyclists. I guess we'll be fine. I think we will turn inland at Caminha.
Michelle

Okay ! If you turn inland at Vila do Conde, stop at casa da Fernanda in Vitorino de Piães (between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima)
The best privat albergue north of Porto ! See picture. We are there now !
Read the recent topic casa Fernanda here on the forum and see all references !

Bom caminho

musicman · Dec 27, 2015

Both are beautiful Caminos.I don't believe there are any security issues on theCoastal.
Given the choice, the coastal just wins it!
"Utreia et Suseia"

amourier · Dec 27, 2015

I've walked both the traditional inland route as well as the coastal. This summer I will be leading a tour group of Grandparents and Grandchildren on the Coastal from Matosinhos to Vigo. Both routes are fabulous, in fact I will say the Caminho Português is my favorite route to Santiago.
Arlène

19SY69 · Dec 27, 2015

gerardcarey said:
I'm considering not turning inland. Just blundering along the Coast as far as I can. I presume others have done it but as yet I haven't started investigating.
Welcome to the forum, best of luck with your investigations.
And it's time for my first 'Happy New Year'.
Regards
Gerard

I walked all the way along the coast last summer. If you want any information you can send me a pm. Or just ask. It was my first camino and I loved every inch of it!!

robbocopa · Dec 27, 2015

Albertinho said:
Okay ! If you turn inland at Vila do Conde, stop at casa da Fernanda in Vitorino de Piães (between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima)
The best privat albergue north of Porto ! See picture. We are there now !
Read the recent topic casa Fernanda here on the forum and see all references !

Bom caminho
View attachment 23006

thanks i reckon thats the go

19SY69 · Dec 27, 2015

Albertinho said:
Yes all routes I mentioned are well marked.
If you like company , choose for the first one and head for the central route.
If you like to walk alone ,go for the coastal, but keep in mind that some parts of the coastal it is better to walk in company if you are a woman alone,

I really had no problem walking alone. I met several other pilgrims on the way and in the albergues, even on the variante Spiritual.

gerardcarey · Dec 28, 2015

19SY69 said:
I walked all the way along the coast last summer. If you want any information you can send me a pm. Or just ask. It was my first camino and I loved every inch of it!!

Thanks for that. I'll keep it in mind for when I get organized.
Regards
Gerard

Cecy · Dec 31, 2015

I'm planning my first Camino going solo, Portuguese Way probably starting in Valenca, would this be inland or coastal start? Sept 2016

faye bettencourt · Jan 2, 2016

19SY69 said:
I walked all the way along the coast last summer. If you want any information you can send me a pm. Or just ask. It was my first camino and I loved every inch of it!!

I will be walking the coastal route in June 2016. Can you give me an idea of weather you encountered? Would a silk bag liner be enough? I want to travel very light and don't want to take any warmer items I won't need.

grayland · Jan 2, 2016

I stayed on the coast to Vigo in July this year.
Very well marked! It seemed to have been freshly and carefully done.

Good albergues available. Nothing second rate on the coast to Vigo.
Smaller crowds until you head inland after Vigo.

There is a small white guide available in the books stores in Porto.
A previous thread on this subject describes the guide.

Utgaard · Jan 2, 2016

Cecy said:
I'm planning my first Camino going solo, Portuguese Way probably starting in Valenca, would this be inland or coastal start? Sept 2016

Valenca and Tui are on the main Central route.

azzy · Jan 2, 2016

19SY69 said:
I walked all the way along the coast last summer. If you want any information you can send me a pm. Or just ask. It was my first camino and I loved every inch of it!!

What was weather like? I will be walking in June and we are taking the costal route.

mralisn · Jan 2, 2016

Just the thread I needed today. I will be walking from Lisbon in early June. Very much looking forward to as much coastal walking as possible.

Thanks ya'll,
Simeon

Cecy · Jan 3, 2016

Utgaard said:
Valenca and Tui are on the main Central route.

i guess i wont be walking along the coast then,

19SY69 · Jan 3, 2016

faye bettencourt said:
I will be walking the coastal route in June 2016. Can you give me an idea of weather you encountered? Would a silk bag liner be enough? I want to travel very light and don't want to take any warmer items I won't need.

I walked early July and only had a bamboo liner. Most of the times it was too hot to sleep in it, but then I used it as a blanket. All the albergues I've slept had blankets in case you needed them.
I only had rain for one day, and it was more like a drizzle. I used my lightweight runners jacket and it kept me dry enough. The long sleeve shirt I brought I only used once.
Hope it's useful information for you.

19SY69 · Jan 3, 2016

azzy said:
What was weather like? I will be walking in June and we are taking the costal route.

The weather was great! Because you walk that close to the ocean, there's always a cool breeze to keep you from overheating. This was one of the reasons I chose the coastal route, and I worked out great for me.

azzy · Jan 3, 2016

Sounds good. Thank you all for your info. I can't wait to get started.

faye bettencourt · Jan 3, 2016

19SY69 said:
I walked early July and only had a bamboo liner. Most of the times it was too hot to sleep in it, but then I used it as a blanket. All the albergues I've slept had blankets in case you needed them.
I only had rain for one day, and it was more like a drizzle. I used my lightweight runners jacket and it kept me dry enough. The long sleeve shirt I brought I only used once.
Hope it's useful information for you.

Very helpful!! Thanks for the information.. buen camino!

Kazles · Jan 4, 2016

Hi Rob and other and thanks for the good ideas and advice
Am also a first timer planning to travel from Porto and turn inland at some point. Also coming from NSW in May, coincidentally Rob, so may see you both at some point! Coincidence or budget airfares from down under?? Who knows?
Am glad to hear is people have found it ok on their own.
Hope weather wont be too cold in May and early June either, 19sy69.

PatriciaT · Jan 18, 2016

robbocopa said:
Hi,
First timer on this forum
My wife and I are looking to walk from Porto to Santiago mid May
any suggestions for when to turn inland ?
cheers Rob

Hi Rob
My husband and I are planning to leave Porto around the same time. Also plotting where to turn.

robbocopa said:
Hi,
First timer on this forum
My wife and I are looking to walk from Porto to Santiago mid May
any suggestions for when to turn inland ?
cheers Rob

hi Rob
My husband and I are departing Porto 15 may. Weather dependant we will do at least 1 day of the coastal route. Looks like vila do conde on the first night. Up till now I was thinking we would turn there but the more I read the more there are recommendations that the coastal walk is not to be missed. But in the mix we do want to spend a night in Barcelos and 2 nights in Ponte de lima.
If anyone could tell me where the best place to turn it would be hugely appreciated. So very excited!
Thanks
Trish

Former member 22438 · Jan 19, 2016

PatriciaT said:
Hi Rob
My husband and I are planning to leave Porto around the same time. Also plotting where to turn.

hi Rob
My husband and I are departing Porto 15 may. Weather dependant we will do at least 1 day of the coastal route. Looks like vila do conde on the first night. Up till now I was thinking we would turn there but the more I read the more there are recommendations that the coastal walk is not to be missed. But in the mix we do want to spend a night in Barcelos and 2 nights in Ponte de lima.
If anyone could tell me where the best place to turn it would be hugely appreciated. So very excited!
Thanks
Trish

Take motice that walking the coastal detour out of Porto to Vila do Conde is 30 kms on your first day.

If you want to stay in Barcelos at least you should turn inland at Vila do Conde.
Why stay two days in Ponte de Lima ? It is a nice small town which you may have seen in a couple of hours.
Better stay two days in Barcelos and take the bus to Braga, 20 km away , very interesting medieval town and the famous world heritage Bom Jesus do Monte church.
And.. In your itinerary you miss the best place on the entire caminho. casa da Fernanda to stay the night.. 18 kms from Barcelos and from Fernanda 15 kms to Ponte de Lima. Give Fernanda a call on beforehand. Beds are limited and everybody likes to be there.+351 914 589 521. Fernanda is a privat house, lodging up to 10 pilgrims , donativo .
Advise anyway is to stay in Ponte de Lima for the night because the next day you will face the Labruja ,mountain, the highest point on your caminho , partly an off road path.

PatriciaT · Feb 4, 2016

Albertinho said:
Take motice that walking the coastal detour out of Porto to Vila do Conde is 30 kms on your first day.

If you want to stay in Barcelos at least you should turn inland at Vila do Conde.
Why stay two days in Ponte de Lima ? It is a nice small town which you may have seen in a couple of hours.
Better stay two days in Barcelos and take the bus to Braga, 20 km away , very interesting medieval town and the famous world heritage Bom Jesus do Monte church.
And.. In your itinerary you miss the best place on the entire caminho. casa da Fernanda to stay the night.. 18 kms from Barcelos and from Fernanda 15 kms to Ponte de Lima. Give Fernanda a call on beforehand. Beds are limited and everybody likes to be there.+351 914 589 521. Fernanda is a privat house, lodging up to 10 pilgrims , donativo .
Advise anyway is to stay in Ponte de Lima for the night because the next day you will face the Labruja ,mountain, the highest point on your caminho , partly an off road path.

Thank you so much for your advice Albertinho

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