Do it yourself

TRAVEL

Cyclist flew to Porto, which is a 90-minute drive from the start town of Peso da Régua or one hour from our accommodation in Viana do Castelo. Both towns can also be reached by train from Porto. There are direct flights to Porto from several UK cities.

ACCOMMODATION

We stayed at the beachside Feelviana Sport Hotel on the outskirts of Viana do Castelo. The hotel caters for cyclists as well as windsurfers and kitesurfers, offering quality bike hire, guided or self-guided itineraries – from a choice of dozens of routes around the region’s quiet, scenic roads that have been researched by ex-pro Ricardo Felgueiras – and customised tours.

The hotel also offers airport transfers, as well as transfers to and from the start/finish of the Douro Granfondo (about a 90-minute drive). For post-ride comfort, the hotel includes a spa, outdoor pool and restaurant serving great food and wine. A double room including breakfast costs around €135 (£113). For more details visit feelviana.com.

BIKE

The hotel offers a range of high-end Swiftcarbon road bikes for hire. And if you like the bike you ride, you can buy it at the end of your trip and a brand new model will be delivered to your home.

THANKS

Thanks to Ricardo Felgueiras for being an excellent riding companion, a goldmine of interesting information about northern Portugal and for introducing me to the exquisite Portuguese dessert of farofia, a sort of poached meringue. Thanks also to José Carvalho at Feelviana for his hospitality and for setting up our bike perfectly. And finally, thanks to Manuel Zeferino, organiser of the Douro Granfondo, for inviting us and providing a moto for our photographer.