dossier
Peneda-Geres National Park
Travel Information
Season: Mayto October
First Hotel: This is at Caldas Geres. A taxi from Porto will cost approx. 95Euros/US$114. We can book this in advance and then you pay the taxi driver onarrival. Bus is much cheaper but could be complicated without localknowledge/language. A possible compromise might be taxi from the airport toBraga (35 Euros/US$42) and then bus to Geres.
End of Tour: From Arcos there are good express buses to Porto (6 Euros/US$7.20),travel time approx. 2 hours.
Level of Difficulty
Please Note: The conditions in the Geres National Park have deterioratedfor walking in recent years, due to the park authority not re clearing orwaymarking trails. Our man in the region is going through the area before theseason starts to clear and re waymark trails wherever possible. Some of thelong distance footpath has also become eroded in places and we do recommendgood footwear. Where there is an alternative to avoid the worst of theundergrowth, it will be taken and be indicated in the route notes. We areconfident that clients who are prepared to put up with these difficulties willbe more than rewarded by the scenery and the traditional life style they willdiscover.
Fitness:This holiday should present no difficulties to anyone in reasonable conditionand accustomed to hill walking. One or two days do present fairly stiff ascents(but on good paths) and this can become quite arduous in warm weather.
Waymarking: Fewpaths are waymarked and so clients should have some experience of route findingwith map and compass.
Singles:Because of the remoteness of this walk, it is not available to single walkers.
Footwear: Sometracks are quite stony and may have loose sand and pebbles; boots areessential. It is also best to avoid wearing shorts.
Day Stages:4 to 7 hours per day depending on the options taken on days 2 and 3.
Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation is on a bed and breakfastbasis with four evening meals included in the tour cost. The other threeevening meals are not included but can readily be obtained near theaccommodation.
Night 1: Isspent in a comfortable 3 star hotel in the centre of Geres. Bed and breakfast.
Nights 2&3: Are spent at a simple 'Pension' with comfortable rooms anda lovely terrace view out over the mountains; en suite facilities. Eveningmeal, bed and breakfast.
Night 4: Isspent in a very comfortable 'Residencial' in Ponte da Barca near to the riverand medieval bridge; en suite facilities. Bed and breakfast.
Nights 5&6: Are spent in an old converted granite house in the heartof Soajo village. A privately run guesthouse full of charm and character. Ensuite facilities. Evening meal, bed and breakfast.
Night 7:Is spent in the warmth and luxury of a lovely old converted house by the RioVez (claimed to be the least polluted river in Europe). Both rooms have en suitefacilities. Bed and breakfast included.
| ITINERARY |
| Day 1: Fly to Porto airport and transfer via bus/train/taxi to Braga and on to Geres. Day 2: 10km/6mi (with option for extra 5km/3mi). 4 to 5 hours walking (waymarked) from Geres over the Serra Geres (with a good weather option to climb Pe de Cabril 1226m) on into the Rio Homen valley to Covide. Our first day's walking takes us over the Serra de Geres. There is a very stiff climb to start with, (about 600m) after which it is an easy stroll over to Covide. If the weather is clear you will get splendid views of the landscape ahead. There is the option for a walk over to Pe de Cabril (1285m) for the more energetic. This is not a particularly long day's walking and the first part is done before it gets too hot. Overnight in Covide. Day 3: 21km/13mi. This day is spent exploring the area around Campo Gerees and Vilarinho. Relatively easy excursions (level walking) from Covide to include the Vilarinho de Furnas Visitor Centre which commemorates the way of life in this village, which was drowned by the nearby hydro scheme. The Centre has a fascinating display of traditional implements and techniques, which is well worth seeing as many of these will be seen on our walks. There is also the dam itself, and an old Roman road complete with milestones. Overnight is again at Covide. Day 4: A full day's walking, 24km/15mi, from Covide down 500m to the Roman bridge over Rio Homen, then back up 500m to Brufe, through the picturesque villages of Cutelo and Germil (with optional side excursion to Carvalhinha 1076m for the energetic). Finally a waymarked track down the Germil valley to Entre ambas os Rios. After a relatively easy day 3 you set out on quite a lengthy trek today, crossing the Rio Homen by a medieval footbridge, then climbing steeply up to the village of Brufe. The rest is quite easy going, passing through the delightful villages of Cortinas and Cutelo with plenty of local activity and color, up to the watershed between the Cavado and Lima Rivers where there is an option to climb up to Carvalhinha (1096m) with superb views. Afterwards it is a steady downhill walk through Germil alongside an irrigation channel until we reach another pleasant village at Sobredo. Finally the track takes you down to Entre Ambos os Rios where, from a local cafe, a taxi will be called to take you to Ponte da Barca. Overnight is at Ponte da Barca, a small market town on the Rio Lima. There is a very pleasant waterfront and mediaeval bridge. Plenty of restaurants to choose from too. Day 5: 22km/14mi. Starting from Ermida in its remarkable mountain setting, past the temporary summer village of Bilhares over to Mosteira, down to the Rio Lima to arrive at the large village of Saojo. From Ponte da Barca the taxi will take you back to Entre Ambos os Rios and on to Ermida where the day's walk will start from this remote village at the head of a spectacular valley. From Ermida the walk passes through some beautiful woodland up to the summer village of Bilhares, through upland pastures and on over to Lindoso. At Lindoso (with its fine castle and spectacular group of grain stores) the routes crosses the new dam and follows a lovely old granite paved track to end at Soajo. Overnight is at Soajo in and old granite guesthouse. Day 6: A 15km/9mi walk (waymarked) to Peneda, along the valley floor with lots of color and traditional agriculture to see, finally ending at Peneda in its wild and spectacular setting. This day the itinerary follows the old granite track from Soajo along the valley to Peneda. The path goes through many small villages and you will see plenty of local life. At the end you arrive at Peneda with its sanctuary and quite spectacular setting amongst the bare rocky mountains. From here there are many short walks out into the hills if you wish, finally to return on the trail back to Soajo (alternatively there are plenty of taxis or buses back). Overnight in Soajo. Day 7: 21kms/13mi from Mezio to Arcos (via Cabeca dos Bicos 1292m if weather permits). This day's walking will start at Mezio where there is the option (weather and fitness permitting) to walk on up to the Cabeca dos Bicos (1232m) well worth doing for the views. The tracks then reunite to walk along another fine granite footpath down to Carralcova and then to follow the valley of the Rio Azere to Arcos de Valdavez. Arcos is the overnight stop and accommodation is in a very pleasant private guesthouse. Arcos itself is a pleasant old market town and gives opportunity for some last minute shopping before your tour ends. Day 8: Departure from Arcos back to Porto is best done by one of the regular express buses run by Renex and Cairna. Sra Anita, at your overnight stop will be able to give up to date departure times and explain where the bus leaves from. The bus takes about 2 hours 30 mins. to reach central Porto from where you will have to take a taxi or airport bus back out to the airport. |