What's Leixeos Like?

Re: What\'s Leixeos Like?

Thanks for that. I'll speak my local contact to see if it's busier at the moment now the high season has started. Sounds as though the quay may have been extended a little - to something over 100m long - were the French boats rafted up with you? Or individually against the quay?
 
Re: What\'s Leixeos Like?

I'll second that! I was there 3 weeks ago during Festo do Mar and it was fine, good showers, reasonable, though diesel very expensive. Getting to Oporto is easy by public transport - out of the marina turn right, up the road to the first bridge and the railway station is just over the bridge. Yes, get the multitrip/daily ticket. Oporto absolutely fascinating. I was also in Lexoies just after the fire, it's improved since then. The club (the biggest of the four...) is very friendly and has internet (chargeable).

The fish is very good in the restaurants up the hill directly opposite the marina entrance road, though it's not cheap.

Great fun at the fuel quay with the large local friendly doplhin getting amorous with the Optimists....

From the marina turn left and 1/2 mile to the supermarket (Modelo I recall), it's hidden away under the sea front flats.

Yachts did anchor outside the marina but I can't say whether they were able to land or not.
 
Re: What\'s Leixeos Like?

I would forget Leixeos, Povoa do Varzim is very nice, I,ve used both ports, but won,t go back to Lex'. Iles Cies, Bayonne, Vianna, Figuerra, Nazarre, Peniche, Caiscais, Sines, but as said, beware of onshore swell, pm if I can help more, been up and down there a few times. Bill.
 
Re: What\'s Leixeos Like?

I have never taken a boat into Leixoes (pronounced lay-soish)or any other places mentioned but I lived in Porto until May this year. I have been to Leixoes marina many times, its never been that dirty, not exactly picturesque but is well sheltered. Povoa north a bit is slightly nicer, Viana de Castello is much nicer. You quite often see yachts going up the Douro river to Porto usually tying up along the wall in Ribera which is the tourist bit of town. Sometimes I've seen yachts anchored in the bay just inside the entrance of the river on the south side. Its out of the main current, there are lots of shallow fishing boats moored, there are a few pontoons there but may be quite shallow. Its really quaint over there, its a bit of Vila Nova de Guia called Afurada, you could walk to the touristy bit of Vila Nova de Guia with all the Port wine cellars and restaurants or you can take the tiny ferry across the river to Porto. Beware the current in the river, after some periods of rain I have seen the current just ripping along, 15knots or more. I wouldn't leave my boat unattended anywhere in Porto, there are plenty of low life petty criminals who might nick stuff. There are some good fish places in Leixoes, grilled sardines are good and quite cheap. Porto is beautiful, I have a cute house there wanna buy it?
 
Re: What\'s Leixeos Like?

Jim
Some photos to illustrate what I was talking about. I visited by rail in June 07 to check mooring arrangements. There was a Portuguese warship and two rafted french yachts. I did not see the main high quay used by the tour boats. It is not really suitable for embarking passengers except perhaps at high water. The tour boats embark at pontoons near each end of the stone quay.

Porto01.jpg


Porto02.jpg


Porto03.jpg


An overview of Porto harbour from the bridge.
Porto04.jpg


My boat moored in Porto a week or so later, note quay ladder near the bow.
Porto05.jpg


More photos and notes on Porto and Portugal here.
 
Re: What\'s Leixeos Like?

Many thanks, Roger; brilliant. Yes, since I was there they've obviousy dredged out beneath the town wall to extend the available mooring space.

I've also in an earlier year anchored downstream of the moorings on the south bank. But that was in the days when the town sewage fed two or three great clouds of grey mullet on the outgoing tides - 1999. I guess they've stopped that now!
 
Re: What\'s Leixeos Like?

[ QUOTE ]
...............................
I've also in an earlier year anchored downstream of the moorings on the south bank. But that was in the days when the town sewage fed two or three great clouds of grey mullet on the outgoing tides - 1999. I guess they've stopped that now!

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh Lord yes!! We remember the massive sewage outlets well - dreadful, and the main reason we used to anchor in Leixeos when visiting Porto! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Used to ride our bikes round there from the anchorage.

What really seemed weird to us, were the large number of people who used to crowd on the quay above the outlets to watch the fish swarming! Ugh! Ah well, takes all sorts I guess .............. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Have they REALLY dealt with the outlets?
 
Re: What\'s Leixeos Like?

Guessed not!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: What\'s Leixeos Like?

Hi...I was in Leixeos in early March this year for about a week..it was clean enough,and the staff at the marina office were very helpful...they let me use their PC pretty much whenever I wanted...for free.Porto airport is about 12 euros by taxi ..the marina was about 1 1/2 euros per M per night.The local food is excellent and cheapish...
On the down side...there is a fairly daunting local grey haired customs lady...with a fetish about VAT status!
Worth a visit though...
 
Re: What\'s Leixeos Like?

Leixeos is dreadful. 11 miles away is Povoa de Varazim - delightful.

BTW, further south - Sines is a personal favourite.
 
Re: Access to Porto

We were in Leixoes for a night about 4 weeks ago and it was not as dirty as expected. The staff were friendly and took our lines on arrival. Showers and loos clean but on the basic side. We didn;t try to visit Porto.
 

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