Walking in Northern Portugal

NORTHERN PORTUGAL, 4th edition (2019); Updated 7/6/2024

Updates for walks and drives in northern Portugal given below supplement the information provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book you can “upgrade” to the latest edition at half price.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes.

If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you.

Please send information, preferably by e-mail, to info@sunflowerbooks.co.uk.

Walk 1: No problems, though in following the alternative walk there is no need to take the loop to the west shown on the map as there is a fine alternative path heading south. (User, 17/10/22)

Walk 4: The return path to Ermida where it branches off right from the path as you are returning from the OLD SLAB BRIDGE is not visible and seems very overgrown. If you make a note of a path going left that you pass at 1.4 miles (it is the GR50) on the outward walk and then return to this point on the way back you can take this path and then join the original walk after about 400 meters. It seems to be marked as a dotted line on the map in the book. This is a lovely walk and do take some time to cool your feet at the slab bridge. (User, 6/24)

Walk 6: Today 09/06/19 I tried to do Walk 6 from Brufe. I had all the information from the latest updates but had to abandon the walk. The whole route is overgrown and unused. I suspect that the better option would be to get to the top via the GR 34, which I used as an escape route. (User, 6/19) [The author responds: I did not re-walk this stretch myself but colleagues did during last winter. At that time the only overgrown stretch they reported was near the start, from the iron gate to the converging tracks at 11mins. This section is due to form part of the new GR50 (completion due this year!) and so I had assumed this would, by now, be cleared. From 13 mins up to 27 mins is open country. Probably the climb up beyond 27 mins, following the huge old cairns (and the original route up) has become neglected thanks to the opening up of the GR34. This is extremely regrettable as the old cairns are a remarkable feature and almost unique in the area. I will endeavour to visit the area in the next couple of weeks and can then try to persuade the authorities to do something about recovering this section. Meanwhile, the only option to climb up to Casarotas will be to follow the dirt track straight ahead at 13mins which leads up to the intersection with GR34, thereafter waymarked right to the top.]

Walk 8: The point after 1 at which to leave the track when it heads north is extremely hard to find as it starts as a very minor trail through scrub and ferns. We could find no sign of the white quarried scar. We suggest the author re-visits this spot and tries to give alternative advice. (User, 17/10/22)

Walk 10: Leaving the car at the bridge 1.7km NE of Soajo, it is no longer possible to proceed much beyond the animal pens as the path from the junction indicated is now completely overgrown. Instead we crossed the river and climbed to reach the main trail near 8 using a series of narrow terraces joined by stone steps. It was a tiring climb! In our view Walk 10 should now be confined to the main loop from Soajo, passing 7, 8, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in turn. (User, 17/10/22)

We attempted Walk 10 on Wed 1 Nov 2023. We parked at a market next to the Espigueiros and walked down the road to the bridge. The start of the track was blocked by a large fallen tree. We managed to gain the track by climbing awkwardly over a fence/wall and then a further dry stone wall. After (1) the footpath becomes difficult to negotiate due to many fallen trees which need to be clambered under or over. On approaching the river, the path to the right described is completely overgrown and blocked. We continued close to the river, crossing a stone wall in a corner and climbing up through terraces to regain the path. Above the river, close to (2) there is a steep, narrow path which is falling away in places and completely blocked with vegetation. Even if we had made it to the river it would have been impossible to cross since it was in full spate. It seems that the rest of Walk 10, starting at the Espigueiros and following the loop marked as (7) to (8) and (3) to (7) would have been a good alternative, but we didn’t try this. (User, 12/23) [Comment from the author: Various walking routes were badly affected by the major storms we had in October (torrential rain and very strong winds). The section between waypoints 1 and 2 had already started getting overgrown but from the photos it is obvious that a lot of trees have come down in the storms. Crossing the river in the winter is always likely to be difficult (and ill advised – there is an alert in the introduction to the walk). How long it will take to get this section cleared is very difficult to say. For now the best option is, as you suggest, to make a circular walk by starting from the espiguieros. The description for the start of Walk 9 up to 6 mins will take you from the espigueiros, through the village until you link on to Walk 10 at 1h27min. Now follow Walk 10 as described, passing waypoints 7 and 8, thereby linking on to waypoint 3 and so completing the circuit back to the espiguieros. I hope this will be of help and if/when the problem section is finally cleared I will let you know.]

Walk 11: No problems in mid-October 2022. (User, 17/10/22)