Caminha is the first in a chain of historic fortified towns running west to east along the Portuguese bank of the river Minho, which forms the border with Spain. Once a major port, it's now a quiet spot with plenty to see and a good base for exploring the Minho hinterland.

Caminha from Santa Trega (photo: Christopher Page)

There's a small car ferry across to La Guardia in Spain or you can drive about 10km east to Vila Nova de Cerveira and cross the road bridge. Or you can take the train (which runs up from Porto and Viana do Castelo, most of the latter part of the journey close to the sea) along the river and go up to Valenca, about 30km from Caminha. This has a magnificent old walled town complete with fortress. About half an hour's walk further up there's an iron bridge designed by Eiffel, across which is Tuy, an old Spanish town with rail links to Vigo and Santiago de Compostela, the historic destination for pilgrims.

Minho from Santa Trega (photo: Christopher Page)

Other places well worth exploring on the Portuguese side are Moncao (15km east of Valenca), with fantastic views across the river into Spain, and Melgaco, about 20km further east. Melgaco is famous for its vinho verde wine and smoked ham. Also from there you can visit the thermal spa at Peso, near which John of Gaunt agreed to give his daughter Philippa in marriage to King Dom Joao in 1386. Following this the Treaty of Windsor was signed and the unbroken alliance between England and Portugal was born.

Minho from above Vila Nova de Cerveira (photo: Christopher Page)

The further up the Minho, the narrower the river and the steeper the hills surrounding it, with breathtaking views the higher you're prepared to climb. At sea level, there are superb beaches at Moledo, west of Caminha, and off the mouth of the river Insua island with a ruined fortified convent and church you can visit by small boat.

Caminha old town (photo: Michell Zappa)

On the Spanish side, a visit to Santa Trega is a must, if only for the spectacular views across to Caminha and up the river.

The local cuisine as you might expect boasts superb fish: eels (enguias), lamprey (lampreia, in season during the winter), trout (truta) and salmon (salmao), in particular.

You can enjoy all of this during your holiday at Barge, our villa for 8 people at Venade, set in beautiful countryside about 5km inland from Caminha.

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