Walking in Northern Portugal: The Lima Valley and Green Coast

Arrive in Ponte de Lima where you spend 2 nights.

Transfer to Ponte de Barca for your first walk. Leaving Ponte da Barca, you walk alongside the peaceful Rio Lima for most of your day back to Ponte de Lima following the river on an Ecovia for most of the route. The going is very gentle, being virtually level and traffic-free nearly all the way. Take your swimming things if you like a dip – there are some lovely swimming spots along the river.

Today you have gentle walking again, as you continue along the valley of the Rio Lima from Ponte de Lima. You leave Ponte de Lima along the magnificent avenue of plane trees by the river then mainly walk on tracks or rural roads, through fertile agricultural land and woodland. At Passagem, where there used to be a ferry across the river, you turn south towards the hills and into an area of intensive grape growing and wine production. The walk ends at Solar de Merufe winery where you will be collected for your transfer on to Viana do Castelo.

Head up to the neo-Byzantine Santa Luzia church on the hilltop high above town, you can take the 650 steps up, or use the funicular! From there follow a walk through eucalyptus forest to the stone Arcos (arches) do Fincao, from where you walk along the top of ancient, square-cut stone water pipes for more than 2km. Quite extraordinary. Towards the end of the route you pass the ruins of a Celtic settlement (Citania), dating to the 4th Century BC.

Spend the day relaxing at Viana do Castelo. Explore the medieval centre with leafy 19th-century boulevards and narrow lanes of rococo palaces, stroll along the attractive riverfront or head to the beach just outside the city.

The walk today takes you along the ‘Green Coast’ northwards from Viana to Vila Praia de Ancora. Apart from one modest hill at Montedor mid-way along the route (and occasional sand-dunes) the walking feels more or less level. Some of the time you have the option to walk along the beach.

Today’s walk is in two distinct sections. The first takes you to the town of Caminha. You can then extend the walk by taking a ferry across the Rio Minho to Galicia in Spain to walk up Monte de Santa Trega (aka Tecla or Tegra), the striking conical hill opposite Caminha, returning later by ferry. Starting along the ‘prom’ in Vila Praia de Ancora, you continue your trek northwards along the coast until you pass the resort town of Santana. Thereafter you leave the bustle behind and walk through shady pine forest to the mouth of the Rio Minho estuary and a sheltered beach. If you would like a swim but don’t fancy the open sea at Santana, this is a good place to stop. Return by train from Caminha (payable locally).