Pedra Furada to Tamel Sao Pedro Fins Last night our hospitalero Antonio told some stories of his life which was fascinating. How he had travelled to Paris without a passport when he was 17 hiding from armed guards on the border between Spain and Portugal.....how he had worked in Amsterdam for a while and what is was like under a fascist dictatorship. it is hard to believe that only 40 years ago, things were very different in Spain and Portugal where secret poli...

Vila do Conde to Pedra Ferrada Some days lift your spirits and remind you of the pleasures which long distance walking offers. We left the harbour at Vila do Conde and made our way inland through the outskirts of the town and then into more rural and agricultural landscape. There are more churches and obvious links with the historic Camino route. People are more likely to encourage you on your way as you cover the miles with your rucksack on your back. The to...

Porto to Vila do Conde There are two options on leaving Porto: up through the city suburbs and industrial areas or along the Atlantic Coast. Guess which route we took? The sky has been blue and the sun bright today which provides a lovely days walking up the Atlantic coastline to Vila do Conde. The sea has been calm with the sound of breakers washing on to the shoreline and the shimmering light of the sun on the ocean. Idyllic. There is an extensive boardwalk ...

Porto Porto is a lovely city to explore with port houses, churches, historic waterfront area etc. But today, we decided to take a trip up the Duoro river to see where the grapes are grown . Porto itself was where Portugal took its name as an independent nation back in the 12th century. By the 15th century, Porto was playing a leading role in the maritime discoveries of the New World. It's centre is a world heritage site. After an hour or so of travelling by rail ...

Grijo to Porto Last night I stayed in a €5 albergue which was basic - no sheets or blankets but wonderful hospitality. The woman who lives next door invited us all to her house for dinner where we enjoyed a lovely communal meal with her large extended family. This morning, our four hour walk into Porto was mainly in heavy rain but what a great sight to see the River Duoro and the great port houses including Sandemans, Grahams and Cockburns. It is a fabulous ...