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Nature · 5 min read

The Tâmega: greenway, riverbanks and river beaches

A river with banks for summer and the old railway line that runs beside it, now a path for walking or cycling. It has a station in Codeçoso.

Facts researched from public sources. Check opening hours and contact details before you go.

The river and the municipality

The Tâmega is a tributary of the Douro and runs through the municipality of Celorico de Basto, where Minho meets Trás-os-Montes. Along its banks there are river beaches, picnic areas and the path of a former railway line.

When the train arrived

The Tâmega valley line was metre gauge, with one metre between the rails. It left Livração, on the Douro line, and ran 51.7 km to Arco de Baúlhe. There was talk of taking it on to Chaves, but it never went past Arco de Baúlhe.

  1. 1905 a 1909Work begins at Livração and, in 1909, the first stretch opens, as far as Amarante.
  2. 1926The line runs from Amarante to Chapa.
  3. 1932On 20 March it reaches Celorico de Basto. A special train opens the line, and people wait at the stations, Codeçoso included.
  4. 1949On 15 January it reaches Arco de Baúlhe, the end of the line.
  5. 1990In January the trains between Amarante and Arco de Baúlhe stop running.
  6. 2011 a 2013The railbed opens, in stretches, as a greenway. to be confirmed
  7. 2022The restoration of Codeçoso station is inaugurated.
  8. 2023The old Veade station reopens, restored with its azulejo tiles.

The greenway, station by station

39 kmof greenway between Amarante and Arco de Baúlhe, on the bed of the old railway. It is almost flat.

The path crosses three municipalities: Amarante, Celorico de Basto and Cabeceiras de Basto. In Celorico it is 21 to 24 km, depending on the source. to be confirmed

Kilometre zero is the old Celorico de Basto station. From there, Codeçoso is about 9 km to the south and Arco de Baúlhe about 17 km to the north. On foot, Codeçoso to Celorico takes about two hours (our estimate); by bike, under one.

  1. CodeçosoThe station of the parish where the cabins stand, 8.8 km from Celorico’s. It served the village from 1932 until the line closed in 1990. Restored and reopened in 2022, it now supports greenway users, visitors and the community. The exact distance between the cabins and the station: to be confirmed
  2. LouridoA former halt, 5.3 km from Celorico, with a rest area. This is where you leave the greenway to reach the Ponte de Arame.
  3. Celorico de BastoKilometre zero. The old station is now an interpretation centre, youth hostel and bike rental point. Hours and prices: to be confirmed
  4. Veade5.6 km to the north. The station served Mondim de Basto, which is why the façade says “Mondim de Basto” even though it stands in Celorico.
  5. Arco de Baúlhe17.2 km to the north, already in Cabeceiras de Basto. The old station has a small museum and the last 400 m of track.

Bridges and tunnel

Amarante

Gatão tunnel

The only tunnel on the line, 150 m long, next to the former Gatão halt, to the south.

Ribeira de Fiães

Ponte das Carvalhas

It comes before Codeçoso station when travelling from Amarante. The inaugural train, in 1932, made a stop here.

Ribeira de Levadoiro

Ponte do Barreirinho

It comes right after Codeçoso. Barreirinho is also the name of one of the places in the parish.

Near Lourido

Ponte de Arame (wire bridge)

From 1926, with a deck suspended from cables. It was restored by the municipalities of Celorico de Basto and Amarante. You reach it by road, from Lourido.

Tâmega river

Ponte do Caniço

A natural viewpoint over the river, north of Celorico.

Veade river

Ponte de Matamá

At 190 m long and 52 m high, it has a wide view over the valley and Monte Farinha.

Where to get your feet wet

Tâmega riverbank

Vau

Shallow water, at the point where the districts of Braga, Porto and Vila Real meet. The last kilometres from Britelo are on a dirt road. Very popular in summer.

River beach

Freixieiro

A shaded sandy beach on the left bank, near the campsite and the park with water mills.

River beach

Vila Boa

Large lawns by the river, described as a place of clean water. You get there by car and it fills up in summer.

The sources we found say nothing about lifeguards, changing rooms or a bar in these areas. to be confirmed Check before you go.

Before you go

  • Because the route is linear, plan your return or your transport before you set out.
  • Some stations and halts are abandoned: visit them with care.
  • Between Chapa and Barreirinho, where Codeçoso lies, the surface is dirt, according to a cyclist’s account. to be confirmed
  • Bring water, sunscreen and shoes that can get wet.
  • Check whether there is a lifeguard where you want to swim. to be confirmed
  • The access to the Vau ends in a dirt road.

Sources

Consulted in November 2026 and rewritten by us. Hours and contacts change: check before you go.

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