Hiking in the Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês, Portugal
- Lee John
- Mar 25, 2015
- 3 min read
The Parque Nacional Peneda-Gerês is Portugals only National Park. It was created in 1971 and covers … of the very northern reaches of the country, right on the Spanish border. It is an excellent region for walking holidays and luckily, is within fairly easy reach of Oporto International Airport. You can reach it by car, bus or train.
Photo Courtesy: http://www.unidasprev.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/03-Parque-Nacional-da-Penêda-Geres.jpg
There are a number of excellent trails throughout the National Park and no matter your age or fitness level you are bound to find some delightful walks to suit you. There is everything here, from verdant valley strolls to challenging hikes for true mountain addicts. You can explore on your own with the aid of the maps and GPSs that can be found and hired at the tourist information sites at the main entrances to the park. The trails are, for the most part, well sign-posted and easy to follow although English translations on guides can be a little hard to follow on occasion. Alternatively, you could choose to go with a guide. There are many companies offering guided walking tours and the like in Portugal and they are a good choice for less confident or inexperienced walkers. With a guide you will also learn more about local customs and culture of the villages that you pass through.
Photo Courtesy: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Parque_Nacional_da_Peneda-Gerês.jpg
A good starting point for your explorations is the picturesque Lima valley, with its hiking and biking trails that lead from Viana do Castelo, through Ponte de Lima and Ponte de Barca, to the Peneda-Gerês mountains. Whether or not you walk the entire distance or travel by road, the Lima Valley is a particularly pleasant place to spend some time en route to the National Park.
When you arrive in the National Park there are several points of interest. Firstly, the village of Parada, an interesting village and the starting point for several beautiful trails. One such trail is the 'Path of the Mills', which leads you along rock-lined trails and across wooden bridges. Another, 'Charming Boulder Path' takes you to see some ancient rock art.
Photo Courtesy: http://i0.wp.com/juliedawnfox.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Trilho-dos-Moinhos-Parada-Peneda-Gerês-National-Park.jpg?resize=601%2C800
At the centre of this central region of the park are the traditional and picturesque villages of Lindoso and Soajo, either of which would be a good base for hiking in the park. From Lindoso you can visit the Lindoso Dam, though tours are only in Potuguese. There are a number of interesting old grain stores to see, and the remains of a castle. Be sure to take a look at the mountain pilgrimage site of Senora da Peneda. You may well meet some horned cachena cows on the route. Also with a castle and distinctive grain stores, Soajo is the meeting point for many different walking trails from around the region. In stone paths above the town you will see the grooves made by ox-drawn carts over generations as corn was transported up to local mills and flour transported back down.
If you are in search of true mountain adventure then you should head to the Serra da Peneda to the far north of the park, while the epicentre for water action such as rafting and kayaking is around Rio Caldo or Campo do Gerês. Wherever you wander and whatever you do, the beautiful, tranquil Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês has plenty to offer.
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