Hiking in Portugal in the São Mamede Natural Park.
Hiking the footpaths of Galegos in the Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede, Portugal
| Distance |
12 Km |
Grade |
Easy to Moderate |
| Time |
3 hours |
Type |
Circular walk |
Starting from the village of Galegos, this walk passes close to
the Spanish village of La Fontanera. Winding along medieval laneways
and dirt tracks, the only sounds are from the sheep and goat bells
as they graze and scramble in the hilly granite countryside. Enjoy
the wild but beautiful landscapes and stop at the many streams and
places of interest along the way.
A 1/25000 scale walking map is provided showing the walking
route. Guidance notes tell you how to get from the Quinta to the
start of the walk, directions and observations.
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Ancient walled lanes fringed
with cork oak and olive trees are typical on the
Galegos walk.
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This view of Marvão looking
west on the road back to Galegos walk is brightened by
the mimosa which flowers in February.
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Walk between the granite
boulders which form the walls of ancient
tracks.
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It is common to see the
black areas on the trunk and lower limbs of
cork trees but few realise how light and pink
they are shortly after being cropped.
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You will see more goats than people.
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At one particular spot
in May and June the walking route is frequented
by these beautiful Thread-winged Lacewing or
Spoonwings (order Neuroptera, family
Nemopteridae). They flit between the grasses
but it is easy to get a close up view of
them.
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A knarled cork oak
alongside the granite chip path. The paths here
sparkle in the sun because of the high mica
content in this pale pinkish granite.
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Next to the Spanish village of
La Fontanera hike down this old smugglers road with
Marvão up ahead.
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The landscape to the north of
the peak of Serra de São Mamede is very different
to the other parts. Here there are huge megalithic
plutons of granite which were once protuding magma
flows several miles below the earths surface. The
surrounding softer rock eroded long ago to reveal these
boulders, some as large as houses.
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