You leave Braga behind in the quiet of the morning. First there are still streets and roundabouts, then the city gives way to small villages, vegetable plots and narrow lanes. This is where the real work begins.
The hills aren’t high, but they just keep coming. Up, down, up again. Allow almost 10 hours including breaks, and pace yourself well. Later in the day you walk downhill more than uphill, and you’ll feel it in your knees. Then Ponte de Lima lies ahead of you, by the water, with its old bridge. Here you join the Caminho Português Central, the route that takes you on to Santiago. There is a public albergue. Put your rucksack down and enjoy the evening. You’ve earned it.