Distance: 66 miles (105km) Grade: Moderate to difficult. The climb to Senhora do Minho is tough – not helped by the state of the road – and the final cobbled climb to Senhora Luzia also deserves respect.

Download: www.strava.com/routes/11366475

GETTING THERE

There are direct flights from several UK airports to Porto, from where it’s a 45-minute drive or 90-minute train journey (from Porto’s Campanha station) to Viana do Castelo.

WHERE TO STAY

The FeelViana Hotel is a luxury, beachside sports hotel a couple of miles outside Viana. It has excellent Scott CR1 10 road bikes for rent. You can also rent surf and paddle boards. The hotel has a spa, sauna, outdoor pool and excellent restaurant, where the fillet steak is the highlight. The local wine is also recommended. A double room including breakfast – buffet and cooked – costs from 114 per night. hotelfeelviana.com

FOOD AND DRINK

We cannot praise the food and wine at the hotel enough, but if for your fix of pasteis de nata, we recommend the Pasteleria Olympia in the centro histórico of Viana, or any of the cafés in the main square of Ponte de Lima. If we haven’t put you off the salted cod, any restaurant or tasca should be able to satisfy you.

TOURIST INFO

visitportugal.com