Crossing from coast to central route

[gevalia]

Hello all
The Camino Ninja app shows a trail crossing from the coast at Gafa which is before Vila do Conde to join the central route at Vairao.
My question is has any one here taken this route? Is it on a road, is it marked?
Any info would be helpful.

Thank you

 

[JohnLloyd]

My memory is that it is still on a road at that point. Hold on....

 

[JohnLloyd]

Looking at the timestamps on my photos, that's about 90 minutes after Vila do Conde.

Not long after that, it becomes more green and pleasant.

 

[Former member 22438]

Hello all
The Camino Ninja app shows a trail crossing from the coast at Gafa which is before Vila do Conde to join the central route at Vairao.
My question is has any one here taken this route? Is it on a road, is it marked?
Any info would be helpful.

Thank you

This is a normal road and not waymarked but does not mean you can‘t walk from there to Vairão you only have to accept that you have to find out your way yourself i.e.with a navigation app or a roadmap.
The original waymarked connections between the coastal and the central route are in Vila do Conde and in Caminha

 

[trecile]

Hello all
The Camino Ninja app shows a trail crossing from the coast at Gafa which is before Vila do Conde to join the central route at Vairao.
My question is has any one here taken this route? Is it on a road, is it marked?
Any info would be helpful.

Thank you

I'm wondering how you see that on the Camino Ninja app. Which route did you choose?

 

[JohnLloyd]

Oh hang on, my route joined the central northeast of Vila do Conde, so my answer is irrelevant.

Sorry!

 

[koknesis]

Vila do Conde is a nice place to visit
From there one can switch to central route via Junqueira to Arcos:

 

[Former member 22438]

Vila do Conde is a nice place to visit
From there one can switch to central route via Junqueira to Arcos.

View attachment 120263 View attachment 120262

That is correct. There are two possibilities. One follows the aquaduct in Vila do Conde and leads through Arcos up to São Pedro de Rates and the other one follows the river Ave in Vila do Conde and goes directly to São Pedro de Rates. The distances in kms or miles are about the same.

 

[naplesdon]

If you want to do the Coastal why not stay for several days. It is beautiful and if it is not in the high season for tourist there are lots of places to stay and eat.

 

[gevalia]

I'm wondering how you see that on the Camino Ninja app. Which route did you choose?

On the central route with map view there is a brown line between those two towns. I assumed they were showing it as a connection between the two routes

 

[koknesis]

That is correct. There are two possibilities. One follows the aquaduct in Vila do Conde and leads through Arcos up to São Pedro de Rates and the other one follows the river Ave in Vila do Conde and goes directly to São Pedro de Rates. The distances in kms or miles are about the same.

I took the lower green one:

 

[gevalia]

For clarity

I'm wondering how you see that on the Camino Ninja app. Which route did you choose?

photo for clarity

 

[Former member 22438]

I took the lower green one:

View attachment 120264

As we did and I have to correct myself . the one starting along the aquaduct is not hitting Arcos but the one along the river. I walked both . So mixed it up.
in Arcos is an old medieval bridge I remember.

 

[EstebanCamino]

As we did and I have to correct myself . the one starting along the aquaduct is not hitting Arcos but the one along the river. I walked both . So mixed it up.
in Arcos is an old medieval bridge I remember.

Hello Albertinho, I have heard of the aquaduct, but have not been able to find a good resource/map that shows the route using the aquaduct. We are going from Vila do Conde to Rates. Is the aquaduct better/safer that using the green route to Arcos? Do you know where the aquaduct route starts and where joins the central Way? Thanks so much.

 

[TaijiPilgrim]

Hello Albertinho, I have heard of the aquaduct, but have not been able to find a good resource/map that shows the route using the aquaduct. We are going from Vila do Conde to Rates. Is the aquaduct better/safer that using the green route to Arcos? Do you know where the aquaduct route starts and where joins the central Way? Thanks so much.

I would also like the answer. So many pilgrims talk about the dangerous traffic from Vila do Conde to Arcos, I wondered if there was a safer, marked route.

 

[Former member 22438]

Hello Albertinho, I have heard of the aquaduct, but have not been able to find a good resource/map that shows the route using the aquaduct. We are going from Vila do Conde to Rates. Is the aquaduct better/safer that using the green route to Arcos? Do you know where the aquaduct route starts and where joins the central Way? Thanks so much.

Olá Esteban. Entering Vila do Conde on thebridge over the Ave river you can turn right to Arcos and São Pedro de Rates by following the waymarkers
But looking ahead in front of you is a big building on to of a cliff
so when you cross the road and pass the cliff at the left side , soon you will see the aquaduct. The road leads to Póvoa da Varzim bus at a certain time you have to leave this road to continue to São Pedro.
i have to look at the map to see where it was.
i’ll let you know

 

[Former member 22438]

I would also like the answer. So many pilgrims talk about the dangerous traffic from Vila do Conde to Arcos, I wondered if there was a safer, marked route.

Mind that the friendly Portuguese people turn into Formula 1 drivers, once they are behind the steeringwheel. So always be aware of cars . Wear safety jackets .

 

[Former member 22438]

The building on top of the cliff is sanctuario Santa Clara
shortly after you‘ll see the aquaduct at your left side. It starts at the backside of the Sanctuary . I suggest you look at Google maps from the sanctary follow the road northwards and find the metro station. Vila do Conde ( not SantaClara - that’s on the way to Arcos) a bit northwards is a road, the N 206. This road is the alternative to São Pedro de Rates and comes together after about 7 kms with the waymarked caminho from Arcos.
the N206 is a bad alternative.
Anyway keep at the left side so you see thecars coming towards you what does not mean that it is safe because cars coming from behind you and overtake and come close to you. We used our poles to keep them a bit further away from us. And wore fluoriscent safety jackets. Better its to take the waymarked path because drivers expect pilgrims there however this does not guarantee nothing. You have to take care all the time

 

[naplesdon]

Most of the truck drivers are Formula 1 participants as well and their draft can suck you right into the road after they pass.

 

[koknesis]

I don’t recall that there was a dangerous traffic between VDC - Arcos. I turned to the right after crossing the bridge, before Santa Clara sanctuario. The gpx track to Arcos attached.

 

[Former member 22438]

Most of the truck drivers are Formula 1 participants as well and their draft can suck you right into the road after they pass.

That is true . The average truck drives 95 kms per hour while legaly is permitted 80 kms per hour .
But in common it is not that busy on the roads there compared with the Netherlands where I live and nearly only transito and heavy traffic is with fast and aggressive truck drivers, mostly from eastern Europe.

I don’t recall that there was a dangerous traffic between VDC - Arcos. I turned to the right after crossing the bridge, before Santa Clara sanctuario. The gpx track to Arcos attached.

View attachment 120340View attachment 120342

when you arrive in the rural area after Vila do Conde the roads are smaller .And you walk aside the road. you have to take care for cars coming onto you and from behind especially when they are overtaking

 

[koknesis]

when you arrive in the rural area after Vila do Conde the roads are smaller .And you walk aside the road. you have to take care for cars coming onto you and from behind especially when they are overtaking

Certainly, there are some unpleasant parts on CP with a nasty traffic. Are those pics above from the VDC-Arcos stage?

 

[Former member 22438]

Certainly, there are some unpleasant parts on CP with a nasty traffic. Are those pics above from the VDC-Arcos stage?

No.they aren’t but give an idea what you can encounter.
i remember lots of roadwalking to Arcos and São Pedro de Rates with narrow roads .
in São Pedro is a logistic center of a transport company so there even were some heavier transport movements going onwhile pilgrims walk aside the road on the very small hard shoulder.
The last time I was there in 2018 we came from a different direction, from Vairão That was a more rural and quieter area to walk through until Arcos.

Notorious is the road to Barcelos where it is dangerous around Pedra Furada .Special big signs warn drivers that they can encounter pilgrims walking on the road.

and in Spain between Redondela and Pontevedra the second picture is taken there.
some where on the trail between Lisbon and Porto

 

[GailGwyn]

That's the route we took.