PR16Eastern Tuela Slopes

The shortest path to the swing

This is the short variant of the Encostas do Tuela that heads straight to the viewpoint. It is not half a route — it is the full loop around the hill that separates Cidões from Baloiço Rural Castanea, starting and finishing in the village, with more than 350 metres of ascent. The riverbank and Brito de Baixo are left out; the best view on the route is kept in.

The distance is eleven kilometres, with the lowest point at Cidões, at around 460 metres, and the highest at the swing, at around 835 metres.

Cidões

The route is circular and begins and ends at Cidões, a small village of stone houses above the Tuela valley, known for the Festa da Cabra e do Canhoto, held on 31 October.

The hillsides

Between the village and the summit, the trail uses two different paths along the eastern slope of the valley, through chestnut groves, pastures and pine woodland, so that the ascent and descent never share the same ground.

Baloiço Rural Castanea

At the highest point, at around 835 metres, Baloiço Rural Castanea offers what is perhaps the finest vantage point over Vinhais, with the town in the background and the Serra da Coroa rising behind it. Those wishing to complete the full loop, taking in the river and the three villages, can follow the PR16 · Encostas do Tuela from the same starting point.