Vila do Conde to Barcelos - Advice Needed - Thanks

[David Manzo]

Would appreciate advice on how best to follow the Camino Portugues from Vila do Conde to Barcelos? Confusing or clearly marked? Any particulars we should pay attention to? On-line map between these two points? Sites we should see? Many thanks peregrinos.

 

[Arn]

Hi,
Clearly marked. Have you decided to walk the interior/central or the coastal route? That will impact the information generated by folks on the Forum.
Bom Cominho
Arn

 

[David Manzo]

Hi,
Clearly marked. Have you decided to walk the interior/central or the coastal route? That will impact the information generated by folks on the Forum.
Bom Cominho
Arn

Thanks. First day Porto to Vila do Conde. Second day connect to central route ending in Barcelos on day 2.

 

[always me]

Hello David,
My partner Skip and I are doing the same route. We’ll be starting on May 16 from Porto. Very much looking forward!
Bom Caminho,
Elisabeth

 

[David Manzo]

Hello David,
My partner Skip and I are doing the same route. We’ll be starting on May 16 from Porto. Very much looking forward!
Bom Caminho,
Elisabeth

Thanks Skip. We are starting June 22. Bom Caminho

 

[naplesdon]

Back to the basic question is it: the Litoral or the Central? A big, well maybe not so big difference.

 

[David Manzo]

Back to the basic question is it: the Litoral or the Central? A big, well maybe not so big difference.

Central. Thanks

 

[Kazles]

It seems you are starting on the coastal then moving across. I did this in 2016 and the crossing from VdC to Rates was not very well marked.i used the Brierley guide, following the aquaduct but did get lost at one point, though was helped on my way by locals.
Going through to Barcelos in 1 day is quite a lot but perhaps you are in a rush?
There is a quaint albergue just opp Barcelos run by a Folk Dancing club. Really lovely with a great view of the river and town.
bom Camino

 

[robin dorkings]

You can take a taxi ( 10 euros) from Vila to Vilarinho, stay overnight and go from there to Barceolos

 

[surya8]

I walked from Vila do Conde to Barcelos almost a year ago to the day! There will be a lot of people in the albergue of Vila do Conde who'll be joining the central way as well as you do so ask around. It's always eaisier to walk with Germans who always have very detailed guides So we didn't walk along the aqueduct, but rather along the river, the way is not well marked but was relatively easy to find and follow. We walked to Barcelos, pretty doable, started around 6.30fm, came there some time after 3 or 4pm, so I had time to explore and enjoy the city Central way is vell marked after Barcelos.

 

[David Manzo]

I walked from Vila do Conde to Barcelos almost a year ago to the day! There will be a lot of people in the albergue of Vila do Conde who'll be joining the central way as well as you do so ask around. It's always eaisier to walk with Germans who always have very detailed guides So we didn't walk along the aqueduct, but rather along the river, the way is not well marked but was relatively easy to find and follow. We walked to Barcelos, pretty doable, started around 6.30fm, came there some time after 3 or 4pm, so I had time to explore and enjoy the city Central way is vell marked after Barcelos.

Thanks that’s very helpful.

 

[David Manzo]

Hello David,
My partner Skip and I are doing the same route. We’ll be starting on May 16 from Porto. Very much looking forward!
Bom Caminho,
Elisabeth

How did the connection between Vila do Conte and Barcelos work for you? Any tips?

 

[always me]

Hello David,
My partner Skip and I are doing the same route. We’ll be starting on May 16 from Porto. Very much looking forward!
Bom Caminho,
Elisabeth

Hello David,
It was clearly marked. We never got lost. It’s a longer section so get a good nights rest and stretch
It was an extraordinary walk to Santiago!
Bom camino.

 

[NualaOC]

Hi David.
We walked this route a couple of weeks ago. As @always me said, it's clearly marked but the arrows in Vila do Conde can be more difficult to spot.

You need to pay attention when leaving V do C. Start at the bridge over the river (the one you cross the previous day to enter the town). Walk for a very short distance with the river on your right and watch out for an arrow that directs you veer left. Keep watching for arrows - they are there, but sometimes hard to spot.

The next junction I remember is a roundabout with a main road and a tram line. There's an arrow there directing you to go straight ahead. After that, the route is pretty uncomplicated and mostly on country roads. Be mindful of the traffic - the cars can come very fast around those bends.
Buen Camino!

 

[Yodapsy]

We will be doing the same thing. We are starting on July 13 from Porto then July 14 from Vila Do Conde to Barcelos. This is all helpful information!

 

[NualaOC]

We will be doing the same thing. We are starting on July 13 from Porto then July 14 from Vila Do Conde to Barcelos. This is all helpful information!

Wishing you a Buen Camino!

 

[Aurigny]

I travelled this way eighteen months ago. Here's what I wrote then:-

Having brought people here [VdC], John Brierley offers no suggestions as to how to hack one's way over to the Caminho Central again. However, it's easy enough. One turns right off the main drag [N 13] onto the Rua da Lapa, and then it's a straight run into Touguinha, five or six kilometres to the north-east. In Touguinha village, after turning right and crossing the river, there are enough yellow arrows to make navigation without a map easy until one rejoins the main trail at the village of Arcos....

The road between Vila do Conde and Arcos is narrow, mostly cobbled, and surprisingly busy. On most of it there's no footpath or shoulder, and it can be extremely hazardous. I was nearly squashed as flat as a flounder against a high stone wall by the tail of a 'bus coming at speed around a blind bend. The one advantage of the cobblestoned surface is that it makes it easier to hear traffic you can't see. Great caution is necessary for the pedestrian, especially when approaching a bend to the left.