Distance & Terrain:
The ride is 1000 km altogether, which can be completed comfortably on a three week trip. The route is fully on-road, with the vast majority of road surfaces being smooth tarmac. Occasionally there is a poorly maintained road, but nothing that a standard bicycle with 700c x 28 tyres couldn’t cope with. The route has some high mountains and long climbs. A triple chainset is highly advised, with a lowest gear of around 25 inches.

Getting there...and back:
Flights to Santiago de Compostela can be found on the RyanAir website from Liverpool and London Stansted. Ryanair want the bike to be boxed or wrapped safely and charge £15 per journey to carry it. www.ryanair.com
There are plenty of options for returning from Lisbon to the UK, but you will have to change either in Paris or Brussels. Most airlines now charge a fixed fee for a bicycle. Check with them and insist on paying a fee upfront, as this reduces unanticipated excess baggage charges. Air France, for example charged 40 euros. www.airfrance.co.uk

Wrapping your bicycle:
The system I use for a point to point tour is to box my bicycle for the outward journey. Unwrap and discard the box at the destination airport, and carry a polythene cycle bag for the trip, wrapped up on the rear rack. They are not too heavy and are available for CTC shop for about £5. This can be used to wrap the bicycle for the return journey. www.ctcshop.com

Maps:
Michelin Regional Series
571 Galicia 1cm to 4km
591 Portugal Nord 1cm to 3km
592 Portugal Central 1cm to 3km
This size of map is just about enough. For more detailed maps try local shops.
www.ViaMichelin.com

Accommodation:
Even the smallest towns have some sort of Pension or hotel. Try the great website, www.virtualportugal.pt for comprehensive guidance on what to expect where, and for how much. Lots of other Portugal facts on that site as well.

Amenities:
Towns are typically European. Shops tend to close for a long lunch from 1pm to 4pm, and then are open a bit later than in the UK. Supermarkets provide just about everything you will need. I saw several bicycle shops. Mountain biking is very popular and spares are easily found. Don’t expect to find public toilets in towns; use the facilities in a cafe bar instead.

When to Go:
Winters are comfortable but cool. Central highlands can be wet in Spring although I took a chance and was lucky in March with continual sunshine. By June, I would think it will be a bit too hot for comfort, so try April/May or September/October for perfect cycling conditions. If you are planning a winter ride, check the conditions on the Serre de Estrela – it does snow up there.

Final word....
I have to mention the one and only downside of cycling in Portugal. Dogs. They are frequently not chained up, they are very loud and excitable, and they just love to chase cyclists, sometimes for miles, even after a lost cause. Get a dog dazer – they really do work, and are the best thing you will buy for £40!!
www.dazer.com