Vila Real doesn’t let go of you straight away. First the last few streets, then the first climb, and then the city is gone. What follows is hill country: up, down, up again.
It’s an average day, but a long one. You’ll be walking for well over 7 hours, with the highest point at around 700 metres. You’ll feel that in your legs, especially if the sun is out early. Parada de Aguiar is a village, not a town. After the bustle of Vila Real, that comes as a relief: arrive, boots off, done. Walk at your own pace, the hills aren’t going anywhere.