Northern Portugal Coast, Portugal

About Northern Portugal Coast

North of Porto the Portuguese coast turns quieter and greener, running up to the Spanish border through Esposende, Viana do Castelo and Moledo. It is a working coastline of river mouths, pine and small fishing towns, and it catches the Nortada — the north to north-westerly trade that blows down this coast through the summer at 15 to 25 knots, with afternoon thermals adding as much as half again.

The structure repeats at each town: a river mouth with a sheltered lagoon behind a sandspit, flat and shallow and ideal for learning or for freestyle, and the open Atlantic alongside it with real swell for anyone who wants waves. Esposende's Cávado lagoon and the Cabedelo at Viana do Castelo both work this way; Moledo sits further north beneath the Ínsua fort.

The most consistent wind runs April to October, peaking June to September at around two days in three. The water is northern Atlantic and cold — 14 to 20°C — so a 3/4 mm wetsuit is standard year-round. Porto is forty-five minutes from Esposende, which makes this an easy coast to combine with the city, the Douro and the vinho verde country behind it.

When to go

Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September.

Kite areas

3 distinct riding areas documented within this destination.

• Esposende

  Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September.

• Moledo

  Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September.

• Viana do Castelo

  Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September.