With Louredo church at the starting point quickly the soil slope invites us to go down the regular and easy way. Do not be surprised if, a little further down, in the middle of the summer, you find a butterfly-hummingbird or any other kind of lepidopteran in a lacy flight looking for food pollen in flowers. So Louredo is rich in species and throughout the rail we see them overflying the aquilegia, the purple loosestrife, the eupatoria, or any of many other plant species that frame the route in spring, summer and even in autumn. Anyway, down below, before starting the climb that will take you up to points from where you can see the generous landscape of Louredo, the river Aguilhão waits for you adorned by two mills. The flow is always considerable, but of course, most abundant in winter. From this low point, is amazing to observe the starting point of the trail, marked by the church that looks like an extended arm to the sky from which is created a metaphor.
Above, and as we are acquiring altitude, appears the mountain ridges overlying the horizon that seems never ending. The stripes formed by millions of vines draw contour lines on the ledges and recesses of the slopes giving them an unmatched volume, a cut and a unique geometry.
Between the folds of the hills arise, almost unreal, small houses in shale, adorned with walled terraces of the same stone that was used to build the house, with vines and an occasional fig and orange tree. They look like toys in full size. And so the trail goes up through the villages of friendly people.
Further on we began the descent that leads us back to Aguilhão. We follow its course for a few tens of meters, in the ascent to the church, which awaits us. Along the way we can see the trees in the green foliage or the capricious design of its branches in late autumn and winter, seasons in which the mushrooms emerge, threatening and desirable. It is always worth observing them in the different beauty that they offers during the year. Chestnut, oak, strawberry tree, the ubiquitous maritime pine, ash trees, willows and many other species embellish the beautiful landscape of Louredo. The flora being rich, attracts birds and insects, causing the rail to seem short, so all these wonderful beings of nature dialogue with us throughout the route, so may we hear it.
Location: Santa Marta de Penaguião
Above, and as we are acquiring altitude, appears the mountain ridges overlying the horizon that seems never ending. The stripes formed by millions of vines draw contour lines on the ledges and recesses of the slopes giving them an unmatched volume, a cut and a unique geometry.
Between the folds of the hills arise, almost unreal, small houses in shale, adorned with walled terraces of the same stone that was used to build the house, with vines and an occasional fig and orange tree. They look like toys in full size. And so the trail goes up through the villages of friendly people.
Further on we began the descent that leads us back to Aguilhão. We follow its course for a few tens of meters, in the ascent to the church, which awaits us. Along the way we can see the trees in the green foliage or the capricious design of its branches in late autumn and winter, seasons in which the mushrooms emerge, threatening and desirable. It is always worth observing them in the different beauty that they offers during the year. Chestnut, oak, strawberry tree, the ubiquitous maritime pine, ash trees, willows and many other species embellish the beautiful landscape of Louredo. The flora being rich, attracts birds and insects, causing the rail to seem short, so all these wonderful beings of nature dialogue with us throughout the route, so may we hear it.
Location: Santa Marta de Penaguião
