Feature in Guardian about Camino da Geira

[Mark Francis Auchincloss]

The Guardian just published a short article of their readers Top 10 places to visit in Portugal and the winning tip is the Geira Way which they describe as the "walk to Spain on a roman road "!

"If you want something out of the ordinary with fantastic scenery and fascinating history, then go to Terras de Bouro in the far north of the country. This town is well worth a visit because it offers the chance to walk along a Roman road complete with original milestones. The Via Geira was built to link Braga with Astorga, now in Spain. It is signposted within Terras de Bouro. The trail winds through woodland and round mountains with spectacular views, waterfalls and, of course, the milestones. It goes through the Peneda-Gerês national park to Portela de Homem on the Spanish border. It’s magical "


I attach a link to the full article.

 

[peregrina2000]

If Spain is open for US peregrinos this fall, I will probably walk this route! Fingers crossed as many times as possible.

And if anyone takes up the Guardian’s suggestion for a more sustained visit to the park, I highly recommend staying in the town of Geres for a few nights. It’s an old spa town, compete with faded old spa hotel, which we very much enjoyed.

We took a lot of nice walks, but our favorite was on the east side of the park to Pitoes das Junias, where we walked out to the monastery in ruins and a waterfall, no more than 2-3 km each way, complete with partial cloister and Romanesque doorway. It’s in a beautiful spot right by a river.

 

[DaveFrew]

I notice on the camino website debragaasantiago.com there is a guidebook published in English for this route.
Does anyone know how to get this and have it delivered to the UK. Thanks.

 

[peregrina2000]

I notice on the camino website debragaasantiago.com there is a guidebook published in English for this route.
Does anyone know how to get this and have it delivered to the UK. Thanks.

It is available on Amazon, both in Spain and in the US, but not on Amazon UK. So I guess you would have to buy it on the Spain site and expect to pay a bit more postage.

From Braga to Santiago by the “Geira Arrieiros’ Way” (Jeira-Ribeiro-Minhoto): Pilgrim's Guide To The Camino : da Barreira, Carlos, Malheiro, Henrique: Amazon.es: Libros

From Braga to Santiago by the “Geira Arrieiros’ Way” (Jeira-Ribeiro-Minhoto): Pilgrim's Guide To The Camino : da Barreira, Carlos, Malheiro, Henrique: Amazon.es: Libros

www.amazon.es

 

[Theatregal]

The Guardian just published a short article of their readers Top 10 places to visit in Portugal and the winning tip is the Geira Way which they describe as the "walk to Spain on a roman road "!

"If you want something out of the ordinary with fantastic scenery and fascinating history, then go to Terras de Bouro in the far north of the country. This town is well worth a visit because it offers the chance to walk along a Roman road complete with original milestones. The Via Geira was built to link Braga with Astorga, now in Spain. It is signposted within Terras de Bouro. The trail winds through woodland and round mountains with spectacular views, waterfalls and, of course, the milestones. It goes through the Peneda-Gerês national park to Portela de Homem on the Spanish border. It’s magical "

This looks spectacular. On my list!

 

[Mark Francis Auchincloss]

This looks spectacular. On my list!

It sure is..check these videos that have just been issued :

 

[VNwalking]

For others who might be geographically challenged, it's this:


And:
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/camino-da-geira-e-dos-arrieiros-oficial-69939894 (Camiño da Geira e dos Arrieiros (OFICIAL)) at #wikiloc

Edit - looking at that website, I see they also sell a heritage guide, in Galician (though it looks like it it is not avalable electronically):

Camiño de Santiago da Geira e dos Arrieiros - Guía visual comentada do patrimonio cultural e natural : da Barreira, Carlos, Fernández, Jorge: Amazon.es: Libros

Camiño de Santiago da Geira e dos Arrieiros - Guía visual comentada do patrimonio cultural e natural : da Barreira, Carlos, Fernández, Jorge: Amazon.es: Libros

www.amazon.es

 

[peregrina2000]

Both the website and the videos stress that a good chunk of this route has not yet been marked. So a GPS is essential, unless you have @VN’s map-reading skills.

These are the official tracks, which I see VN has also linked:

Camiño da Geira e dos Arrieiros (OFICIAL)

Camiño da Geira e dos Arrieiros (OFICIAL) Hiking trail in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia (España). Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. Camiño de Santiago certificado polo Cabildo da Catedral e Oficina do Peregrino en marzo de 2019.Percorrido por máis de 3.000 peregrinos...

www.wikiloc.com

 

[Mark Francis Auchincloss]

I notice on the camino website debragaasantiago.com there is a guidebook published in English for this route.
Does anyone know how to get this and have it delivered to the UK. Thanks.

For others who might be geographically challenged, it's this:

View attachment 100320
And:
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/camino-da-geira-e-dos-arrieiros-oficial-69939894 (Camiño da Geira e dos Arrieiros (OFICIAL)) at #wikiloc

Edit - looking at that website, I see they also sell a heritage guide, in Galician (though it looks like it it is not avalable electronically):

Camiño de Santiago da Geira e dos Arrieiros - Guía visual comentada do patrimonio cultural e natural : da Barreira, Carlos, Fernández, Jorge: Amazon.es: Libros

Camiño de Santiago da Geira e dos Arrieiros - Guía visual comentada do patrimonio cultural e natural : da Barreira, Carlos, Fernández, Jorge: Amazon.es: Libros

www.amazon.es

Yes I've got both the English Guide which is a bit basic and the maps are real simple but for now it's better than nothing and the heritage Guide which is excellent as it's got a great list of heritage sites that you pass with photos. I got mine in person from @Carlos da Barreira.

 

[VNwalking]

So a GPS is essential, unless you have @VN’s map-reading skills.

Essential full stop, from the sound of it.

heritage Guide which is excellent as it's got a great list of heritage sites that you pass with photos. I got mine in person from @Carlos da Barreira.

It really sounds worth getting, for those planning to walk this route.

 

[Deleted member 73526]

Guidebook appears to be on amazon's UK site now:

From Braga to Santiago by the “Geira Arrieiros’ Way” (Jeira-Ribeiro-Minhoto): Pilgrim's Guide To The Camino: Amazon.co.uk: da Barreira, Carlos, Malheiro, Henrique: 9781980825951: Books

Buy From Braga to Santiago by the “Geira Arrieiros’ Way” (Jeira-Ribeiro-Minhoto): Pilgrim's Guide To The Camino by da Barreira, Carlos, Malheiro, Henrique (ISBN: 9781980825951) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[Isca-camigo]

Ivar tried to get it for his forum shop but they did not reply, They are giving out updated wikiloc readings for some of the stages so it might or might not mean there is an updated book on the way

 

[wisepilgrim]

FYI, I am working on a community supported app for this route. It will be ready by the end of the month!
It will include offline maps, which I believe will be a very handy thing indeed.

 

[Pelegrin]

It sure is..check these videos that have just been issued :

Thank you very much for these videos I also enjoyed the languages (rural and normative Galician and Portuguese).
I learnt that there is a river Deva (goddess name) like in Cantabria and that the name Arrieiros comes from the people who carried Ribeiro wine from Ribadavia to the rest of Galicia.
On one video it is said that the cathedral government (Cabildo) has already made this Camiño official. Is it because "Geira Arrieiros" is an international Camiño? I ask this because in the case of "Camiño do Mar de Ribadeo" is the Xunta de Galicia who has to approve it..

 

[Mark Francis Auchincloss]

Yes that's right ever since the 11th Century they have been exporting wine from Ribeiro (documented that from Gomariz the wine was transported using mules to Pontevedra, Baiona, Redondela etc via the Ports to UK and elsewhere).

The Braga Camino is an important, historical route,an alternative way for pilgrims travelling from Portugal to Santiago. Braga is one of the points of Portugal most linked to the history of Santiago de Compostela, we certainly can't say the same of the coastal camino from Ribadeo in relation to links between Spanish places and Santiago!!

I am sure we will be hearing alot more about the importance of the Braga camino, its history and culture and its relation with other caminos like the Portuguese caminos, Ruta de la Plata, Camino de San Rosendo, the Arreiros Ways...It certainly deserves attention and it transgresses UNESCO sites, a National Park, the whole of the wine producing area of Ribeiro and incredible architectural/historic sites and stunning landscapes.