Kartodromo de Baltar

In Baltar, in the municipality of Paredes near Porto, the Baltar kartódromo runs a large outdoor layout of twelve hundred and three metres, one of the longest in northern Portugal. You drive petrol-engined karts on a track built for racing yet open to the public, which also takes the youngest. The length of the circuit leaves real room to overtake and build up speed, far from small city tracks.

Karting stays open to everyone, no licence or experience needed: a briefing, a helmet, and off you go chasing your best lap. The format suits families and beginners as well as more seasoned drivers out to test themselves against the clock. The track is open Wednesday to Sunday, with a midday break, so it pays to check the hours before coming. People happily return to beat their time.

Baltar belongs to the municipality of Paredes, in the Sousa valley north-east of Porto, a region known for its furniture industry and its green landscapes. The great city of Porto, famous for its UNESCO-listed quays along the Douro, its bridges and its historic centre, is about thirty minutes' drive away. The region, between city and countryside, is easily reached by motorway, putting the circuit within reach of the whole north of the country.