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| Day 4 - into the hills again (Frank Hofmann) |
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Route summary
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£600.00
(2013)
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7 nights
7 B&B, 1 evening meal, 6 picnics, luggage transfers between hotels
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Medium - Hard
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3½ - 7 hours
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Day 1 |
Arrive in Soajo. Freshen up, have a wander around the village, examine your first espigueiros cluster and decide which restaurant to eat in before a good night’s sleep. |
| Day 2 |
A Soajo circuit. Uphill first on good paths, you reach the hamlet of Adrão. Then choose an easy or a challenging route back to Soajo.
(18 km, 5½ hrs, CUSs 606m) Shorter/easier circuit possible. |
| Day 3 |
Soajo to Lindoso. An easy day’s walking along old paths in the river valley before climbing up to the well-preserved castle, lording over the attractive village and its espigueiros, nestling like chicks in its protective embrace. (11½ km, 3½ hrs, CUSs 450m) |
| Day 4 |
Lindoso - Brufe. For the determined walker, the unshortened route is tough but rewarding, up in the wild Serra Amarela, before dropping down steeply to cross the spectacular Ribeira de Carcerelha. Then up to the mountain village of Germil, and up again before heading down through steadily gentler country to your accommodation at Brufe, and an evening meal at Brufe’s renowned Restaurant Abocanhado (not included in holiday price). (From 13 km, 5hrs, CUSs 350m to 30 km, 8 hrs, CUSs 1240m for serial walkers). There are several shorter/easier options available for this day. Or, why not spend an extra night in Lindoso and split this walk in two (Lindoso to Lourido and Lourido to Brufe, using taxis as necessary). |
| Day 5 |
Brufe - Campo Gerês. From lovely Brufe the walk drops down steeply through old terraces to the Roman bridge over the Rio Homem. Then climb up through attractive woodland along a ridge to the village of Campo Gerês, and your hotel. Extend your walk to the old drowned village of Vilarinho.
(10½ km, 3½ hrs, or 16 km, 5hrs, CUSs 290m) |
| Day 6 |
Campo Gerês - Emaús. Walk along the old Roman road (Braga to Astorga) as it contours around the hillside, gently descending towards Chorense and Emaús. The walking is easy, generally on a level grassy surface, with Roman mileposts along the way. At Emaús, your charming pension and a swim in the garden pool (in season).
(24½ km, 7 hrs, or shorter option, CUSs 40m) |
| Day 7 |
Emaús - Santa Maria do Bouro. After a steep climb back to the Roman road, a more gentle climb to the pass at Alto Moraço. From here the walking is now steadily downhill through woods and fields to the former monastery, now Pousada Santa Maria do Bouro, a stylish end to your holiday and with the promise of a swim in the pool and an excellent meal.
(15 km, 4 hrs, CUSs 400m) |
| Day 8 |
Depart hotel or choose to stay further nights, or why not go to Porto and explore its charms, visit a port lodge and stay in our hotel or a self-catering cottage in the old part of Porto town?
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