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THe TâMeGA lIneThe Tâmega metre gauge line opened in March 1909 between livração, the junction on the broad gauge Douro line, and the town of Amarante, a distance of just under 13Km. It was extended in stages to Chapa in 1929 (8Km), Celorico de Basto (13Km) and finally to Arco de Baúlhe (17Km) in 1949, the last extension to any metre gauge line in Portugal.

The section from Arco de Baúlhe to Amarante closed in 1990 and has now been turned into a cycle path, with the bridges along the route repaired and brought back into use. The remaining section was closed in 2009, ostensibly for upgrading but the financial crisis hit Portugal hard and the line was formally closed in 2012, with the replacement bus service also being withdrawn. This southern section has not been converted to a cycle path and indeed the local council in Amarante have proposed the line be reopened as electrified broad gauge between livração and Amarante as part of the scheme to extend electrification on the Douro line from Caíde to Marco de Canaveses.

The walking tour will start in Arco de Baúlhe and head south, with a slight general downhill

railway rambles - linha do TamegaA new idea in Portugal, we will be arranging walks over now closed lines around the country. Many of them have been converted to cycle paths, with bridges repaired and tunnels fitted with lighting. It is an opportunity for those who travelled over them by train to once more see the scenery and stations they passed through, and for those who were not able to do the lines by train, this is a way to try and imagine how it would have been. Our first walk will be along the full length of the Tâmega Line, from Arco de Baúlhe to Livração. We will also include the shorter extension of the Guimarães Line to Fafe.

2 to 9 Sept 2015

£899

gradient and will be done in manageable stages. Accommodation will be in Amarante with transport arranged to take us out to the start point of the walk each morning and collect us at night, thus avoiding the need to walk with all our bags. lunch/drinks stops will be available at the villages we pass through. Of particular railway interest are the museum at Arco de Baúlhe station and an interpretation centre about the Tâmega line at Celorico de Basto.

Note that the distances walked each day may be altered according to weather and other conditions at the time. The daily plan is a guide only, but clearly the walk each day must start/end at a station where the transport can reach us.

On the last day we will travel by train along the Douro line to Tua for a well-deserved lunch in the famous Calça Curta restaurant, and an optional stroll up the Tua line as far as the dam works.

ITInerArY

Wednesday 2 September Direct flights from London Gatwick, London Stansted and Bristol to Porto where we will gather and stay overnight. Alternatively fly from Manchester to Lisbon for rail connection to Porto. Overnight in Porto.

Thursday 3 September (B) This morning we take the modern metro to São Bento station for our electric suburban train to Guimarães. At Guimarães our transport will be waiting for us to take us to the start of the cycle path along the old Guimarães – Fafe line. This line closed in 1986 as part of the project to convert the line as far as Guimarães to electrified broad gauge. The distance is about 14 Km and our transport will meet us in Fafe for the onward journey to Amarante, our base for the rest of the tour. Evening in Amarante.

Friday 4 September (B) We travel by road to the top of the line at Arco de Baúlhe where we begin with a visit to the excellent museum. We hope to be able to arrange for one of the museum’s petrol railcars to be started and driven out of the museum for photos and short rides on it. We then begin our walk from Arco de Baúlhe station as far Celerico de Basto, a distance of 17Km. This part of the line has been converted to a cycle path so it should be relatively easy walking. One of the highlights is the Ponte de Matamá over Rio de Veade. At the end of the day we will be met and taken back to Amarante by road.

Saturday 5 September (B) A much shorter walk today, we return to Celerico de Basto (by road) and

CulTure

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begin with a visit to the Railway Interpretation Centre at the old station. Our walk today is also along a part of the track bed which has been converted into a cycle path and includes Ponte do Barreirinho, finishing at Condeçôso station. We expect a mid-afternoon return to Amarante, allowing some free time to explore this lovely town or rest our weary legs! Total length of the walk today is 9Km.

Sunday 6 September (B) Today we cover the last stretch of the former line to be converted to a cycle path, from Condeçôso to Amarante, a distance of 13Km. After leaving Condeçôso we cross Ponte das Carvalhas and Ponte de Santa Natália, and as we approach Amarante we have the only tunnel on the line.

Monday 7 September (B) We are now covering the section of the line that closed in 2009, apparently for major repairs, but, like the other Douro narrow gauge lines, the financial crisis hit hard and the line was formally closed in 2012. Most of the track has been lifted, though the track around Livração station is still in place. This will be the most difficult part of the walk as the track bed has not been converted to a cycle path, given the local council’s desire to have broad gauge electric trains come to Amarante. Some bridges may not be safely passable and in these cases it may be necessary to use a short diversionary route. We return to Amarante for the last time.

Tuesday 8 September (B, L) On our last day we will travel back to Livração to catch a train on the stunning Douro Valley Line (one of the world’s great rail journeys) to Tua where we will lunch at the fabulous Calça Curta restaurant for a farewell lunch. During our time in Tua we will also explore the bottom stub of the Tua Line, walking up as far as the Tua Dam construction site. There are future plans to run a combined boat/train tourist service with Tua Line trains running from Mirandela to Brunheda with a boat sailing down the flooded valley to the dam, however this is still some years away. We return on the Douro Line to Porto and our hotel for the last night.

Saturday 9 September (B) We return to the airport today for our flights back to the UK.

HOlIDAY PrICeS (Per PerSOn)• Full 8 day holiday including flight from London: £899

• Own travel to and from Porto: £699• Full 11 day holiday by rail from London St Pancras: £1,349

Options• Single room Supplement in hotels: £180

Deposit • Travelling by air: £500• Own travel: £300

Highlights• Leisurely walk on flat railway line• Beautiful old tiled stations • Stunning scenery

Price includes• All travel and excursions as outlined in the itinerary

• Good quality en-suite accommodation • Meals as shown in the itinerary; B = Breakfast• Services of our local tour manager. Holiday is fully escorted.

Flights• Various indirect flight options. Enquire for details. Flight upgrades also available.

neW TOur!