If you had to skip some of the coastal route.. which part :-(

[Abigail Kelly]

Hi, I really want to do the Coastal /Senda Lit and Spiritual Way route but looking at the stages (some are long) I am a good walker but still recovering from a fractured knee a few months back. I am worried in case my knee might gives me problems along the way and time go's against me. I have 13 days and really want to get the Spiritual in and look forward to that climb I have looked at skipping Porto and starting in Matosinhos but it still leaves me with long km each day as such. Has anyone any suggestions on what I could cut out without me cringing I have gone through the stages and still wrecking my head and even feel bad leaving out Porto. Thank you so much. I leave 4th April and arrive in Porto late at night.

 

[jsalt]

I leave 4th April and arrive in Porto late at night.

Hi, I would just go, and let the weather, my dodgy knee, and the people I meet along the way decide for me.

Look up all the possible bus and train schedules between towns in advance, so you know what is available if/when you decide to jump ahead.

So arrive Porto late evening and at least visit the cathedral (get a stamp at the visitor’s counter inside the front entrance on the right), and take a walk across the high bridge for a stunning view of Porto and the river. Then go down to the river and start walking along the river, then the sea, to Matosinhos.

You might even get as far as Angeiras that day; if so, the Orbitur Camping gives a good pilgrim rate for their chalets.

If I had to skip a section I think I would take a bus from A Guarda to Vigo, which would save 60kms. If you are taking the Variante Spiritual you will be well within the 100km limit still.

Bom caminho!

 

[Former member 22438]

Hmm. The steep climb from Combarro to Armenteiras and a bad knee ?
I wouldn't take the risk. This climb is worse than the climb to the Alto de Portela Grande between Ponte de Lima and Rubiães.

 

[Mark Francis Auchincloss]

I agree with my mate Albertinho from Combarro the climb over the mountain is real tough...I would skip too Baiona yo Vigo as it's pretty urban..

 

[Abigail Kelly]

Hi, I would just go, and let the weather, my dodgy knee, and the people I meet along the way decide for me.

Look up all the possible bus and train schedules between towns in advance, so you know what is available if/when you decide to jump ahead.

So arrive Porto late evening and at least visit the cathedral (get a stamp at the visitor’s counter inside the front entrance on the right), and take a walk across the high bridge for a stunning view of Porto and the river. Then go down to the river and start walking along the river, then the sea, to Matosinhos.

You might even get as far as Angeiras that day; if so, the Orbitur Camping gives a good pilgrim rate for their chalets.

If I had to skip a section I think I would take a bus from A Guarda to Vigo, which would save 60kms. If you are taking the Variante Spiritual you will be well within the 100km limit still.

Bom caminho!

Thanks once again JSalt. I am not interested in the last 100km limit regarding getting a compostela I think I will figure out all of the buses etc at each point onroute. Baiona is suppose to be really nice so pit stop if I have to skip

 

[Abigail Kelly]

Hmm. The steep climb from Combarro to Armenteiras and a bad knee ?
I wouldn't take the risk. This climb is worse than the climb to the Alto de Portela Grande between Ponte de Lima and Rubiães.

I wonder Albertinho if that is meant to be my mountain to climb When I was laid up with my injury the thoughts of climbing a mountain again kept me going

 

[Abigail Kelly]

I agree with my mate Albertinho from Combarro the climb over the mountain is real tough...I would skip too Baiona yo Vigo as it's pretty urban..

If I was to do this ... now only IF I would miss doing the Spiritual Way right!

 

[Mark Francis Auchincloss]

If I was to do this ... now only IF I would miss doing the Spiritual Way right!

It sounds you're determined to do ALL the Spiritual Way..you can always take your time going up the hill..there's plenty of chances to stop and admire the estuary views ! Yes Baiona is certainly worth visiting..it has a small but attractive Old Town, lots of lively bars/places to eat and you must walk the 3 km around its fortress..one of the best walkways in the whole of the Galician coast !

 

[Abigail Kelly]

It sounds you're determined to do ALL the Spiritual Way..you can always take your time going up the hill..there's plenty of chances to stop and admire the estuary views ! Yes Baiona is certainly worth visiting..it has a small but attractive Old Town, lots of lively bars/places to eat and you must walk the 3 km around its fortress..one of the best walkways in the whole of the Galician coast !

I am determined lol... thanks for the tip to walk around the fortress

 

[Lindy Lou]

I agree with my mate Albertinho from Combarro the climb over the mountain is real tough...I would skip too Baiona yo Vigo as it's pretty urban..

I agree. Vigo is not pretty and very steep. Skip this. Also skip the 1.5 days of boardwalks out of Matishinos. Just go from straight to Espesonde and start there.
Bom Caminho.

 

[Abigail Kelly]

I agree. Vigo is not pretty and very steep. Skip this. Also skip the 1.5 days of boardwalks out of Matishinos. Just go from straight to Espesonde and start there.
Bom Caminho.

Hi Lindy Lou, something in my mind is telling me to skip Vigo, Not sure why! Is the boardwalks out of Matishinos just boring to Espesonde or a pain to walk on?

 

[Former member 22438]

I agree. Vigo is not pretty and very steep. Skip this. Also skip the 1.5 days of boardwalks out of Matishinos. Just go from straight to Espesonde and start there.
Bom Caminho.

You can stay down all the time as far as from Ramallosa /Nigrán by following the coastline to Vigo.just follow green(GREEN) waymarkers .no need to go nto the steep hills.
You will end up at the Vigo busstation and from there follow "o centro" to the towncenter from there it goes down to the railwaystation and follow the railtrack to Redondela. Peace of cake.

 

[Lindy Lou]

Hi Lindy Lou, something in my mind is telling me to skip Vigo, Not sure why! Is the boardwalks out of Matishinos just boring to Espesonde or a pain to walk on?

They were the very beginning of our Camino and I was excited about everything but after 1.5 days of boardwalks I was glad to see the last of them. Looking back they are right on the beach (beautiful) and part and parcel of the Coastal Camino. If you’re short on time skip. If you have time enjoy them for what they are. They’re not dangerous and actually change design as you change councils. I hope that makes sense. I dont regret experiencing them.

 

[Anamya]

Skipping Porto would be a shame, as it it such an amazing city. Have you been there before? Starting at their cathedral is quite special.

That said, maybe take the bus/train from there to Viana do Castelo and go on from there?
I walked the Central route, which was amazing, so not qualified to give inputs on what to skip along the coast

 

[Former member 22438]

They were the very beginning of our Camino and I was excited about everything but after 1.5 days of boardwalks I was glad to see the last of them. Looking back they are right on the beach (beautiful) and part and parcel of the Coastal Camino. If you’re short on time skip. If you have time enjoy them for what they are. They’re not dangerous and actually change design as you change councils. I hope that makes sense. I dont regret experiencing them.

The boardwalks dangerous. No , hmm, but you have to pay attention to some aspects.
A) next to pedestrians the boardwalks are used by bikers and specially you have to take care for them coming from behind. you will hardly hear them and all of a sudden they will be next to you. Shocking experience If you are in your walking flow or using your headphones.
Specially during weekends and holidays there are lots of bikers,also in groups ,using the boardwalks.
B) a tip for your tip. If you use poles and walking on the boardwalks ,take off the rubber tips . the planks of the boardwalks sometimes have big gaps in between so you can loose your tips. Trying to get them back underneath -sometimes there is more than a yard underneath the boardwalk where is the sand, plants , dirt etc
-you will hardly find them back , if you are able to come underneath the boardwalk anyway.

Avoiding the boardwalk ,you could consider to take the metro out of Porto, direction Póvoa de Varzim and go out at Vila do Conde . You will then directly on the way to São Pedro de Rates on the Central caminho at the end of the platform of the metrostop -in the direction where the train was coming from you'll see a river. Keep the river at your right and you are on the waymarked route of the caminho Central
The metro to Póvoa de Varzim is not the same that comes in Matosinhos .
To walk to Matosinhos out of Porto along the Douro river and the Atlantic ocean is great. You could walk to the Leixões bridge over the Porto harbour and the metrostop Mercado. Then you will have a great time walking . Take the metro from Mercado in the direction of Porto to the stop Senhora da Hora and change there for the metro to Póvoa de Varzim to Vila do Conde for the Central caminho or the Coastal or go on to Póvoa de Varzim and continue the coastal caminho there. To avoid the wooden boardwalks

What you will miss is the nice camping to stay the night in Angeiras.
As our famous Dutch scoccerplayer Johan Cruyff said " every advantage has a desadvantage "

Pega bem e bom caminho

 

[Abigail Kelly]

The boardwalks dangerous. No , hmm, but you have to pay attention to some aspects.
A) next to pedestrians the boardwalks are used by bikers and specially you have to take care for them coming from behind. you will hardly hear them and all of a sudden they will be next to you. Shocking experiance as you are in your walking flow or using your headphones.
Specially during weekends and holidays there are lots of bikers,also in groups ,using the boardwalks.
B) a tip for your tip. If you use poles and walking on the boardwalks ,take off the rubber tips . the planks of the boardwalks sometimes have big gaps in between so you can loose your tips. Trying to get them back underneath -sometimes there is more than a yard underneath the boardwalk wheret is the sand, plants , dirt etc
-you will hardly find them back , if you are able to come underneath the boardwalk anyway.

Avoiding the boardwalk ,you could consider to take the metro out of Porto, direction Póvoa de Varzim and go out at Vila do Conde . You will then directly on the way to São Pedro de Rates on the Central caminho at the and of the metrostop -in the direction ehere the train was coming from you'll se a river. Keep the river at your right and you are on the waymarked toute of the caminho Central
The metro to Póvoa d Varzim is not the same that comes in Matosnhos .
To walk to Matosinhos out of Porto along the Douro river and the Atlantic ocean is great. You could walk to the Leicões bridge over the Porto harbour and the metrostop Mercado. Then you will have a great time walking . Take the metro from Mercado in the direction of Porto to the stop Senhora da Hora and change there for the metro to Póvoa de Varzim to Vila do Conde for the Central caminho of the Coastal or go on to Póvoa de Varzim and continue the coastal caminho there. To avoid the wooden boardwalks

What you will miss is the nice camping to stay the night in Angereis.
As our famous Dutch scoccerplayer Johan Cruyff said " every advantage has a desadvantage "

Pega bem e bom caminho

The boardwalks dangerous. No , hmm, but you have to pay attention to some aspects.
A) next to pedestrians the boardwalks are used by bikers and specially you have to take care for them coming from behind. you will hardly hear them and all of a sudden they will be next to you. Shocking experience If you are in your walking flow or using your headphones.
Specially during weekends and holidays there are lots of bikers,also in groups ,using the boardwalks.
B) a tip for your tip. If you use poles and walking on the boardwalks ,take off the rubber tips . the planks of the boardwalks sometimes have big gaps in between so you can loose your tips. Trying to get them back underneath -sometimes there is more than a yard underneath the boardwalk where is the sand, plants , dirt etc
-you will hardly find them back , if you are able to come underneath the boardwalk anyway.

Avoiding the boardwalk ,you could consider to take the metro out of Porto, direction Póvoa de Varzim and go out at Vila do Conde . You will then directly on the way to São Pedro de Rates on the Central caminho at the end of the platform of the metrostop -in the direction where the train was coming from you'll see a river. Keep the river at your right and you are on the waymarked route of the caminho Central
The metro to Póvoa de Varzim is not the same that comes in Matosinhos .
To walk to Matosinhos out of Porto along the Douro river and the Atlantic ocean is great. You could walk to the Leixões bridge over the Porto harbour and the metrostop Mercado. Then you will have a great time walking . Take the metro from Mercado in the direction of Porto to the stop Senhora da Hora and change there for the metro to Póvoa de Varzim to Vila do Conde for the Central caminho or the Coastal or go on to Póvoa de Varzim and continue the coastal caminho there. To avoid the wooden boardwalks

What you will miss is the nice camping to stay the night in Angeiras.
As our famous Dutch scoccerplayer Johan Cruyff said " every advantage has a desadvantage "

Pega bem e bom caminho

Thank you so much for all of that information. I better watch the cyclist as I have a fear of them since my knee got broke back in July (cyclist)

I will take note