Easy-to-moderate walking with some ascents / descents, and occasional longer days.
The season for this holiday is:
01 April 2022 - 14 July 2022
25 August 2022 - 31 October 2022
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
°C | 12 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 20 | 15 | 13 |
mm | 166 | 157 | 119 | 104 | 90 | 48 | 16 | 23 | 66 | 132 | 161 | 170 |
Walk & explore
There are various options as to how to spend your day in Ponte de Lima.
Lakes and Gardens (starting by taxi): 9.5km, 3.5hrs
Take a short taxi ride (pay locally) to Lagoas de Bertiandos, where wooden walkways lead across the wetlands. Look for some of the many species of birds which shelter here, before returning to Ponte de Lima along the right bank of the river.
Visit Ponte de Barca
Catch the morning bus to neighbouring Ponte de Barca with its equally splendid bridge spanning the Lima and its compact old quarter. The ecovia is particularly picturesque at this point and you might like to stroll some of its length before taking the bus back to Ponte de Lima in time for lunch. For a change from walking, you could hire bikes (pay locally - no cycling notes provided) and cycle along the ecovia to Ponte de Barca and back again, a lovely way to enjoy both Ponte de Barca and the prettiest stretches of the ecovia (34km round trip).
Explore Ponte de Lima
Whatever you decide to do, you’ll want to leave ample time for visiting Ponte de Lima’s delightful gardens (the Annual Garden Festival runs from the end of May to the end October) and for strolling along its charming river front. There’s also a museum devoted to vinho verde, as well as a military museum housed in the 15th-century Paço de Marquês.
We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.
7 nights: 01 April 2022 - 14 July 2022 & 25 August 2022 - 31 October 2022
Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above
Starting | Price | Single room |
---|---|---|
1 - 30 Apr 2022 | £835 | £370 |
1 - 21 May 2022 | £875 | £385 |
22 May - 7 Jul 2022 | £895 | £390 |
25 Aug - 30 Sep 2022 | £895 | £390 |
1 - 24 Oct 2022 | £875 | £385 |
3rd & 4th person discount | -£10 | |
Single traveller supplement | £10 |
Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.
Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.
Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room
Mercearia da Vila, Ponte de Lima (B&B) | Double room | Single room |
---|---|---|
01 Apr - 14 Jul 2022 | £40 | £68 |
25 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 | £40 | £68 |
Paço de Calheiros, Calheiros (with dinner) | Double room | Single room |
---|---|---|
01 Apr - 14 Jul 2022 | £120 | £184 |
25 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 | £120 | £184 |
Travelling from the UK
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Aberdeen - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
Aberdeen - Porto (via Paris CDG) | Air France, KLM |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Birmingham - Porto | Ryanair |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Bristol - Porto | easyJet |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Edinburgh - Porto | Ryanair |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Leeds Bradford - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Liverpool - Porto | Ryanair |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Gatwick - Porto | British Airways, easyJet, TAP Air Portugal |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Heathrow - Porto | British Airways, TAP Air Portugal |
Heathrow - Porto (via Lisbon) | TAP Air Portugal |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Stansted - Porto | Ryanair |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Manchester - Porto | easyJet, Ryanair |
Manchester - Porto (via Brussels) | Brussels Airlines |
Manchester - Porto (via Frankfurt) | Lufthansa |
Manchester - Porto (via Lisbon) | TAP Air Portugal |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Newcastle - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
Newcastle - Porto (via Brussels) | Brussels Airlines |
Newcastle - Porto (via Paris CDG) | KLM |
Outward route | Airline |
---|---|
Norwich - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) | KLM |
This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.
Connecting travel options - flying via Porto
Outward route | Price per person |
Latest flight arrival time |
---|---|---|
direct taxi Porto airport to hotel (1h) | £50 | flexible |
coach Porto airport to Viana do Castelo (1h), taxi Viana do Castelo to hotel (0h30) | £32 | 1600 |
rail Porto Campanhã to Durrães (1h45, pay locally), transfer Durrães to hotel (0h05, included) | pay locally | 1700 |
Homeward route | Price per person |
Earliest flight departure time |
---|---|---|
direct taxi hotel to Porto airport (1h) | £50 | flexible |
taxi hotel to Ponte de Lima (0h15), coach Ponte de Lima to Porto airport (1h15) | £20 | 1230 (1730 Sat-Sun) |
taxi hotel to Viana do Castelo (0h30), rail Viana do Castelo to Porto Campanhã (1h20, pay locally) | £20 | 1230 |
If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?
We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >
Our highlights:
If staying in Durraes try the cafe down from the train station for an introduction to local life.
Paço de Vitorino presented a slightly forbidding exterior as the gates were closed due to Covid (April 2022) but when you enter you are provided with an interesting tour of a lovingly restored Manor House with all modern conveniences.
Paço de Calheiros, the Count is very passionate about promoting local tourism and provides another intersting tour but the beautiful grounds are best discovered walking his lovely dog, Leo.
Grahams Port Tour exceeded our expectations and the restaurant looked lovely,with great views over Porto, however a reservation was required.
Casa de Casal de Loivos, has stunning views overlooking the Douro.
Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros is set in beautiful gardens with an amazing view and facilities, from swimming pool and hot tub to tennis court and pool table.
INNTAVEL NOTE: these customers combined our walks Manor Houses of the Minho and Valley of Gold
As usual with Inntravel, we very much enjoyed being taken to accommodation that we might not have found ourselves and appreciated the variety of different places. The friendly hosting and excellent food at Quinta de Sobreiros were a particular highlight of our week.
The quintas were very beautiful especially at Calheiros, and we enjoyed the gardens. It was a "slow" holiday in lots of ways - no bustle anywhere except Ponte de Lima market which was amazing. (but only fortnightly). Not a holiday for anyone wanting "usual" hotel service such as choice for meals, room service etc but a very relaxing time with lovely walking and fascinating places to stay. Ponte de Lima was a delight and a good change from the remoteness of other places. We found we needed cash rather than credit cards in many places (except restaurants).
Our highlights:
If staying in Durraes try the cafe down from the train station for an introduction to local life.
Paço de Vitorino presented a slightly forbidding exterior as the gates were closed due to Covid (April 2022) but when you enter you are provided with an interesting tour of a lovingly restored Manor House with all modern conveniences.
Paço de Calheiros, the Count is very passionate about promoting local tourism and provides another intersting tour but the beautiful grounds are best discovered walking his lovely dog, Leo.
Grahams Port Tour exceeded our expectations and the restaurant looked lovely,with great views over Porto, however a reservation was required.
Casa de Casal de Loivos, has stunning views overlooking the Douro.
Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros is set in beautiful gardens with an amazing view and facilities, from swimming pool and hot tub to tennis court and pool table.
INNTAVEL NOTE: these customers combined our walks Manor Houses of the Minho and Valley of Gold
As usual with Inntravel, we very much enjoyed being taken to accommodation that we might not have found ourselves and appreciated the variety of different places. The friendly hosting and excellent food at Quinta de Sobreiros were a particular highlight of our week.
The quintas were very beautiful especially at Calheiros, and we enjoyed the gardens. It was a "slow" holiday in lots of ways - no bustle anywhere except Ponte de Lima market which was amazing. (but only fortnightly). Not a holiday for anyone wanting "usual" hotel service such as choice for meals, room service etc but a very relaxing time with lovely walking and fascinating places to stay. Ponte de Lima was a delight and a good change from the remoteness of other places. We found we needed cash rather than credit cards in many places (except restaurants).
The trip was up to the usual Inntravel standards and being entertained by The Count (just him and us for aperitifs and dinner) was huge fun, and very interesting.
The Quinta De Malta was excellent (save for the very hard mattress!). We didn’t mind having an unscheduled extra day there as they were so nice and the home cooked food excellent all round, including picnic. Paco de Calheiros was superb all round.
An excellent long awaited walking holiday. Thank you Inntravel. The Pandemic created circumstances of the last 18 months are unprecedented and you have all coped admirably. We are grateful that the holiday could run, in spite of three airlines rescheduling/cancelling flights and accommodation changes after the holiday had started! When you told us of these various alterations, which were completely beyond your control, there was always a solution presented. This is the gold standard way of coping with these sorts of problems.
Well done to everyone concerned. We will definitely be back travelling with Inntravel.
Probably the best pure walking holiday we have had for a few years, but accomodation apart from Ponte de Lima was disappointing. Paco de Calheiros could be outstanding but I suspect the Count is immune to change! Spend more time in Ponte de Lima. The gardens are fabulous and it is such a great City. For us, the treat at the end of a walk is a beer/glass of wine in a village square. Maybe the Manor Houses are too remote?
We enjoyed immensely the itinerary in northern Portugal despite a week of very poor weather which made walking impossible on one day and unpleasant on a few others. However our very helpful and supportive driver from the Limiana taxi company made sure we made good use of our time by taking us places when walking was not possible - thank you again to Antonio!
Accommodations were all good, with the standout being Quinta do Sobreiro at Facha, due to our host Ruth who, apart from being charming and generous and a good cook, was eager for us to make good use of non-walking time by driving us to Viana do Castelo whilst she had an appointment there. Ponte de Lima was a highlight and a good place to visit in poor weather as so much to see. The Calheiros visit at the end of the week was beautiful and atmospheric but our hosts were much less interested in providing comfort and good food than in talking about themselves.
The walking itinerary showed us wonderful country but we did find the conditions of the tracks which were not part of the Caminho to be quite deteriorated due to rain and erosion and we had great difficulty deciphering instructions for the walk around Durraes before the formal itinerary began. We got seriously lost on paths which were under water and where the alternative route provided was most unclear to us. We did wonder how recently the tracks and instructions had been checked and reviewed for accuracy and suitability. We are aware that your walking holidays cater for all levels of walkers, but as relatively inexperienced walkers we were not equipped with multiple pairs of walking boots and full-length wet-weather gear which I would recommend in order to be able to keep to the itinerary which we were not at times.
The transfers and luggage arrangements all went smoothly and we would recommend this holiday to friends who want to get up close to the environment in which they choose to walk. Thank you for putting it all together for us - but please consider reviewing the instructions for currency and wet-weather suitability.
We are pleased that you enjoyed the holiday so much despite encountering some unseasonably wet weather. We look carefully at weather patterns when deciding on season dates for all our holidays, but do also recommend taking wet weather gear, to minimise the impact of any inclement conditions. We noted also that you struggled to follow the circular route on the first day, partly as a result of heavy rain, and we'll monitor carefully and also look again at how the alternative route on this day, which was last walked by a member of our team earlier this year, is presented in the route notes.
I have now walked each year (bar 2) with Inntravel since 2002 - so you must have got it right. My friends continue to want to walk also until age & infirmity prevents it. An interesting and varied selection for accommodation adds to the joy and interest. Friendly welcomes and good meals are the norm and the walking is seldom anything but most enjoyable.
A lovely walk from characterful manor house to characterful manor house. Blessed relief from brexit with like-minded people.
This was our first experience of Inntravel but we were thoroughly won over by both the character of the places we stayed, the detail of the routes, and the efficiency of the arrangements. An added bonus was the conversations we had with people on the routes (especially the sections of the Camino) and in the evenings at the Manor Houses. For me the very best of the route was walking through the vineyards, the stretch along the Ecovia less so.
Our first walking holiday - and we were looking at options for next year on the way back. At 69 apiece, we were flattered by our abilities, indeed some days could offer longer options - we went daringly off-piste three times, even nipping up a 700-metre summit on the last day. Meeting fellow walkers, other guests at communal tables, and pilgrims on Camino was a treat. All our hosts were welcoming and very helpful. Travel via Porto proved simple. Do highlight the routes on the maps, to save wrestling with the copious notes! Food and wine wonderful - but we would like to have seen inside more than two manor houses!
A very relaxing ramble through beautiful countryside, staying in unique and unusual accommodation. Particular highlights were our visit to Ponte de Lima a beautiful town on the river Lima, lots of history, things to do and good places to eat. Plus our stay at Paco de Calheiros, a large and grand manor house presided over by the slightly eccentric Count of Calheiros. A great trip thoroughly enjoyed by our whole party.
Wonderful holiday. Beautiful countryside and lovely people. We were made welcome wherever we went. Highlight was being given a bunch of freshly picked grapes by the pickers during their harvesting.
Excellent holiday. Lovely scenery, fantastic people, no pressure! Would highly reccommend.
We had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed every moment. The area is so unspoilt with the vines and chestnut groves all around on our walks. All our hosts were amazing and very friendly. We were lucky to have 2 evening meals, just the 4 of us, with the Count of Calheiros who we saw on and off during our stay. We would recommend visiting the Toy Museum in Ponte de Lima, also the information building in the parc de Arnado, right next to the Toy Museum. The park is beautiful but in the information centre for 50c you can see a museum and videos of the areas culture - wine making, flax growing for linen etc. - well worth a visit. The International Garden festival was also an interesting visit in Ponte de Lima. Do spend time talking to the owner of the Mercearia de Vila - he is such an interesting man and is so keen to tell you about all the artefacts on display. We stayed in the Cha Verde themed room which was fabulous.
We loved the variety of the accommodation and the friendliness of all the owners and their staff. We particularly loved Ponte de Lima as we arrived just at the end of their fiesta. We also enjoyed relaxing in the swimming pools at the end of the walks. The quality of the food at Quinta de Malta and Quinta do Sobreiro was exceptional.
The highlights for us of the Douro holiday were the train journey from Porto to Pinhao and the lunch at Manuel's restaurant in Pinhao. Also the circular walk whilst staying at Casa Vilarinho via Sabrosa. By amazing chance, we hit the very day the village was celebrating 500 years since Magellan circumnavigated the globe. We saw acrobats and tumblers performing in the little square and later had a beer in the central bar when players from the band piled in. What an atmosphere! A local was trying to tell us something but it was too noisy to hear him. It was a lovely walk too, especially going through the pine woods. Made a change from vines!
The wine & port tasting and tour at the Quinta de la Rosa was excellent and well worth the 5km walk down there.
We enjoyed the Minho part of the holiday and felt the highlights were staying at Quinta de Sobreiro and accidently walking to Cruz where we were treated to the church bells at 12pm (Westminster Chimes) and at 12.03 (Ode to Joy, twice round!) while we sat in the bar opposite.
As always, it was good meeting the other Inntravelers and eating at a large table together.
INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our Valley of Gold and Manor Houses of the Minho walking holidays.
This was by far the most wonderful walking tour we have taken. The information provided was excellent and the routes were all perfect for us both in distance and sights. We really enjoyed the historical and interesting notes. The routes were well thought out for going through interesting sites. Except for the downpours on the first day the weather was glorious.
The manor houses of the Minho was a very good way to find out about northern Portagual. We had no idea what a beautiful, verdent part of the country it is. The villages you walk through are well populated but truly rural and the valleys support mixed small scale farming which creates the perfect environment for wildlife. This is where all the house sparrows have gone! We are not really bird watchers but we also saw hoopoe twice, heron and also swifts in Ponte de Lima. Often you are walking along the Caminho de Santiago following in the footsteps of hundreds of years of pilgrims. You really can step away from the busy life we all lead and relax.
We enjoyed staying in the manor houses and meeting the owners who made us very welcome and mostly spoke good English so that you could really learn about the region. This is less impersonal than staying in a hotel but also a bit different. For instance there is no bar if you want a drink before dinner, but we asked for a glass of the local white wine and it was willingly provided. So really the best of both worlds.
In Ponte de Lima - which is absolutely charming - we hired bikes and rode to Ponte da Barca where we had the most delicious lunch in a restaurant called Via a Fava. We would highly recommend the trip if you have time. Duarte at InMountain bikes speaks very good English and they do offer electric bikes if you want to make the trip easier. In Ponte de Lima we would particularly recommend the Taberna Cadeia Velha where we had a delicious meal one evening with a beautiful view of the river too.
Although we have suggested to Inntravel some extensions to the walks - which are mostly not quite as challenging as those we have completed on other holidays (2/3 star), we still enjoyed this holiday very much. The Portuguese are very welcoming and will definitely return to the area again. I was slightly concerned from other reviews that the food would disappoint, but actually we ate some delicious dishes and especially fish - both the traditonal salt cod and also plenty of fresh fish. If we had wanted to eat meat or vegetarian the options were usually there too. We extended for two days in Porto which was a good contrast.
Tips: Sakurana (restaurant) in Ponte de Lima for delicious sushi (freshly prepared on the spot) also very tasty noodles and prawns. Best walk - around Calheiros (Day 6).
An excellent holiday, in a marvellous part of the world. So much nicer than the Algarve. The villages we walked through could not have been more beautiful, the food was wonderful and the people we met were genuinely friendly.
This was our second trip to Portugal with Inntravel and it won't be our last. The Portugal we have experienced is still unspoilt and has a distinct character. The people are warm and welcoming and language is not a problem - smiles, a mixture of bad Spanish and English work well. Ponte de Lima was charming and Porto did not dissapoint either, fantastic for just people watching. It was easy to see why the Ribeira is deemed a UNESCO site. The food on the whole was good and plentiful, if not the most exciting and the wine, again although not spectacular, was very quaffable and relatively cheap. To be recommended.
INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers added on a two night stay in Porto after our Manor Houses of the Minho walking holiday.
The combination of the well-prepared walking notes and the excellent detailed maps ensured that we did not get lost, while still presenting us with the challenge of finding our way through unknown territory. For part of our route we coincided with walkers on the Caminho de Santiago and were grateful for the relative slowness of our walk which allowed us the better to enjoy the surroundings. The four houses differed in scale and degree of grandeur, but in each we were warmly welcomed and treated as if our presence mattered. The chance to dine with others on most evenings added an unexpected dimension and interest to our holiday, not least dining with the Count and his guests at his Paco de Calheiros. Walking round the vineyard in the evening sunlight, among the orange and lemon groves, was unforgettable.