Miradouro da Estrica trail, the initial sidewalk of this trail leads us to the river Vez, parish of Sistelo, Municipality of Arcos de Valdevez, Northern Portugal
Estrica do Sistelo Viewpoint Trail;
Distance: 4.77 km;
Circular: yes;
Technical Difficulty: Moderate;
Departure/Arrival Location: Centro Sistelo.
Distance: 4.77 km;
Circular: yes;
Technical Difficulty: Moderate;
Departure/Arrival Location: Centro Sistelo.
The initial sidewalk of this trail takes us to the Vez River to dazzle us with a magnificent riverside forest with river scents, the croaking of amphibians and the songs of river birds that reveal the biodiversity hidden in this landscape.
The gilbardeiras attract attention with their red berries and after crossing the river and walking along the walkway the path is shaded by the white oak grove taking us to one of the points where the grandeur of the landscape takes over the Miradouro da Estrica. Here the perspective over the valley is unique, the terraces between Sistelo and Padrão capture the eye with stunning beauty.
On this trail we are invited to discover the views over the "Little Portuguese Tibet" from the opposite bank of the Vez River. The various Small Route trails run around Sistelo, which explores the slopes on the left bank of the River Vez and its oak forest patches, visiting the town and the beautiful Estrica viewpoint.
An excellent observation point for much of the Vez River valley, the terraces created by these people for their smallholding agriculture and livestock farming, as well as the slopes of Serra da Peneda and proximity to the territories of the Peneda-Gerês National Park.
One of the trails that the Arcos de Valdevez Municipal Council recently improved on the land. The starting point of the trail in the center of Sistelo is also the starting point of several pedestrian trails in the municipality that share parts of their route with this one: GR2 AVV - Grande Rota Intermunicipal do Alto Minho (Arcos de Valdevez Norte) and the route is common between km 1.1 and 2.3, and between km 3.5 and 4.4.
At km 4.4 and 5.0 (the final 600 meters) the route of this trail overlaps with that of the trails GR1 AVV - Travessia das Serras da Peneda e Soajo, PR14 AVV - Trilho das Brandas de Sistelo, PR 19 AVV - Trilho das Pontes and PR24 AVV - Trilho dos Socalcos de Sistelo.
PR25 AVV - Trilho dos Passadiços. It has the same starting point and shares the first 500 meters with it.
The Ecovia do Vez crosses a good part of the municipality and goes from Jolda de São Paio to Sistelo at the same point where this trail begins. It has a total of 32 km and passes through Arcos de Valdevez and can be done on foot or by mountain bike and its route overlaps the first 500 meters of this PR 27 AVV.
The trail is signposted in such a way that it can be considered almost impeccable and there are no obstacles to overcome. The paths are of various types (tracks in granite slabs or on dirt roads, rural/forest roads, tarred roads) but the point is the climb from crossing the River Vez to reaching the Miradouro, which has a steep slope and uses dirt paths which in rainy weather will always be very slippery. The route is clockwise so you never have to do this section going downhill and the surrounding bush is clear so far.
The gilbardeiras attract attention with their red berries and after crossing the river and walking along the walkway the path is shaded by the white oak grove taking us to one of the points where the grandeur of the landscape takes over the Miradouro da Estrica. Here the perspective over the valley is unique, the terraces between Sistelo and Padrão capture the eye with stunning beauty.
On this trail we are invited to discover the views over the "Little Portuguese Tibet" from the opposite bank of the Vez River. The various Small Route trails run around Sistelo, which explores the slopes on the left bank of the River Vez and its oak forest patches, visiting the town and the beautiful Estrica viewpoint.
An excellent observation point for much of the Vez River valley, the terraces created by these people for their smallholding agriculture and livestock farming, as well as the slopes of Serra da Peneda and proximity to the territories of the Peneda-Gerês National Park.
One of the trails that the Arcos de Valdevez Municipal Council recently improved on the land. The starting point of the trail in the center of Sistelo is also the starting point of several pedestrian trails in the municipality that share parts of their route with this one: GR2 AVV - Grande Rota Intermunicipal do Alto Minho (Arcos de Valdevez Norte) and the route is common between km 1.1 and 2.3, and between km 3.5 and 4.4.
At km 4.4 and 5.0 (the final 600 meters) the route of this trail overlaps with that of the trails GR1 AVV - Travessia das Serras da Peneda e Soajo, PR14 AVV - Trilho das Brandas de Sistelo, PR 19 AVV - Trilho das Pontes and PR24 AVV - Trilho dos Socalcos de Sistelo.
PR25 AVV - Trilho dos Passadiços. It has the same starting point and shares the first 500 meters with it.
The Ecovia do Vez crosses a good part of the municipality and goes from Jolda de São Paio to Sistelo at the same point where this trail begins. It has a total of 32 km and passes through Arcos de Valdevez and can be done on foot or by mountain bike and its route overlaps the first 500 meters of this PR 27 AVV.
The trail is signposted in such a way that it can be considered almost impeccable and there are no obstacles to overcome. The paths are of various types (tracks in granite slabs or on dirt roads, rural/forest roads, tarred roads) but the point is the climb from crossing the River Vez to reaching the Miradouro, which has a steep slope and uses dirt paths which in rainy weather will always be very slippery. The route is clockwise so you never have to do this section going downhill and the surrounding bush is clear so far.
