Detour to Braga

[MQB]

A festival in ponte de Lima caused us to detour to braga ( no rooms!!). We are trying to decide whether to take the central route from braga to ponte de Lima or go back to Barcelos and head to ponte de Lima. What is the distance from braga to PDL and is it well marked? Advice appreciated (true confession- we took the bus from Barcelos to braga and would bus back if that is best). Thanks in advance

 

[jsalt]

A festival in ponte de Lima caused us to detour to braga ( no rooms!!). We are trying to decide whether to take the central route from braga to ponte de Lima or go back to Barcelos and head to ponte de Lima. What is the distance from braga to PDL and is it well marked? Advice appreciated (true confession- we took the bus from Barcelos to braga and would bus back if that is best). Thanks in advance

Hi, Braga to Ponte de Lima is over 30kms (by bus). Sorry, haven’t walked that route, so no idea how well-marked it is. Personally, I would bus back to Barcelos, AFTER first phoning Casa da Fernanda at Lugar do Condo (914-589 521); your current accomm can do it for you; and book a bed for tomorrow night. Casa da Fernanda is about 19kms from Barcelos on the main, central route. Whatever you do, DON’T MISS Ponte De Lima, especially if there is a festival on! There was a festival the first time I was there, and had no trouble getting a bed. Jill

 

[MQB]

Thank you Jill. Good advice on casa fernanda. Not a room to be had in ponte de Lima tonight or tomorrow

 

[jsalt]

Thank you Jill. Good advice on casa fernanda. Not a room to be had in ponte de Lima tonight or tomorrow

Hi, where are you seeing that there are no rooms in Ponte de Lima? Booking.com has only a small allocation. The municipal albergue, next to the really quaint Toy Museum, has 60 beds for a start. I have walked past the Encanada Restaurant twice (once on festival day), and been approached by a guy selling rooms. He is quite OK and the rooms are great! Bom caminho! Jill

 

[MQB]

Thank you Jill but we Have already relocated to braga for 2 days and will either head on central route or backtrack to Barcelos but in either case head to ponte de Lima after the feiras de novas

 

[RodlaRob]

Hi MQB
This track is on the "Camino Torres" from Salamanca to Santiago ( http://caminosantiago.usal.es/torres) ...the stages are shown in detail on the website. translates automatically into English when I use google Chrome.. See "Estapas del Camino" - stage 16. There are also links to some Blogs from other pilgrims under "Relatos" on that site.
I walked this in April this year. Distance 34kms ...with more asphalt & cobblestones on the Roman XIX than I had on previous days! ... but nice rural areas. All safe walking but can be hard on feet. There is a hostel at Goaes if you wish to split the trip.
I was glad to walk into Ponte de Lima ....but would also love to walk this stage again one day!

 

[scruffy1]

If in Braga hop a bus for the Bom Jesus shrine! Baroque staircase or 1930's tram up the hill to the shrine, it is a marvelous visit and yes they do have a sello!

 

[MQB]

Hi MQB
This track is on the "Camino Torres" from Salamanca to Santiago ( http://caminosantiago.usal.es/torres) ...the stages are shown in detail on the website. translates automatically into English when I use google Chrome.. See "Estapas del Camino" - stage 16. There are also links to some Blogs from other pilgrims under "Relatos" on that site.
I walked this in April this year. Distance 34kms ...with more asphalt & cobblestones on the Roman XIX than I had on previous days! ... but nice rural areas. All safe walking but can be hard on feet. There is a hostel at Goaes if you wish to split the trip.
I was glad to walk into Ponte de Lima ....but would also love to walk this stage again one day!

Hi MQB
This track is on the "Camino Torres" from Salamanca to Santiago ( http://caminosantiago.usal.es/torres) ...the stages are shown in detail on the website. translates automatically into English when I use google Chrome.. See "Estapas del Camino" - stage 16. There are also links to some Blogs from other pilgrims under "Relatos" on that site.
I walked this in April this year. Distance 34kms ...with more asphalt & cobblestones on the Roman XIX than I had on previous days! ... but nice rural areas. All safe walking but can be hard on feet. There is a hostel at Goaes if you wish to split the trip.
I was glad to walk into Ponte de Lima ....but would also love to walk this stage again one day!

 

[MQB]

Thank you Rodiarob for this excellent advice. Will review the site
MQB

 

[MQB]

If in Braga hop a bus for the Bom Jesus shrine! Baroque staircase or 1930's tram up the hill to the shrine, it is a marvelous visit and yes they do have a sello!

Scruffy1 we will plan on it!

 

[Former member 22438]

Hi, Braga to Ponte de Lima is over 30kms (by bus). Sorry, haven’t walked that route, so no idea how well-marked it is. Personally, I would bus back to Barcelos, AFTER first phoning Casa da Fernanda at Lugar do Condo (914-589 521); your current accomm can do it for you; and book a bed for tomorrow night. Casa da Fernanda is about 19kms from Barcelos on the main, central route. Whatever you do, DON’T MISS Ponte De Lima, especially if there is a festival on! There was a festival the first time I was there, and had no trouble getting a bed. Jill

Casa Fernanda is in Vitorino de Piães. Her house is called "Lugar do Corgo"
If you ask around, nobody knows Lugar do Corgo but many know "casa Fernanda.

 

[MQB]

Casa Fernanda is in Vitorino de Piães. Her house is called "Lugar do Corgo"
If you ask around, nobody knows Lugar do Corgo but many know "casa Fernanda.

Thank you we have been in touch with het

 

[MQB]

we have decided to hike from braga to ponte de Lima in hopes it is marked well. That way we don't have to back track. Fingers crossed

 

[jsalt]

we have decided to hike from braga to ponte de Lima in hopes it is marked well. That way we don't have to back track. Fingers crossed

Excellent! Let us know how it goes.

 

[Steven Dwyer]

I am planning to walk Braga to Santiago next week so hope you will let us know how it went.

 

[MQB]

Excellent! Let us know how it goes.

The trail is well marked with golden arrows or via XIX signs if you are observant. Easiest to miss is the sign at ponte de Lima golf course. Made it to ponte de Lima without incident although have to say that the festival was not conducive to sleep. Thanks to all for your help.

 

[tarredon]

The trail is well marked with golden arrows or via XIX signs if you are observant. Easiest to miss is the sign at ponte de Lima golf course. Made it to ponte de Lima without incident although have to say that the festival was not conducive to sleep. Thanks to all for your help.

MQB, I realize this has been awhile, but would you happen to remember if the trail from Braga to Ponte de Lima passed by any villages where accommodations could be found? We are preparing to walk this path, and can't find the route anywhere - we want to break it into two days, but we're not sure where to look for lodging.

 

[peregrina2000]

MQB, I realize this has been awhile, but would you happen to remember if the trail from Braga to Ponte de Lima passed by any villages where accommodations could be found? We are preparing to walk this path, and can't find the route anywhere - we want to break it into two days, but we're not sure where to look for lodging.

Braga to Ponte de Lima is a stage on the Camino de Torres from Salamanca to Santiago. You can find more info on that stagge here.

If you have a GPS, tracks here.

This thread describes an albergue in Goaes, about halfway. It was from 2019, so relatively recent, but who knows what has happened with covid. The albergue has a facebook page that is active, so you can probably contact them that way.

Albergue Goães

Albergue Goães. 666 likes. O Albergue de Peregrinos S. Pedro de Goães é um espaço que acolhe todos os peregrinos e caminheiros que percorrem o Caminho de Santiago.

www.facebook.com

In that same village there appears to be a Casa Rural Quinta de Casais, and google maps gives this info:

Rua Sr do Bonfim 229, 4730-190 Goães, Vila Verde, Braga, Portugal. +351 917 894 050

Their website says they will be closed till the end of 2020 because of covid, so no recent updates. https://www.quintadecasais.pt/

Good luck and bom caminho! Laurie