PR5Meiral

The stream, in a shorter version

This route is the shorter version of the Ribeira de Ladrões: six kilometres around the lower part of the same valley, with water always close by. It is not a shortcut — it is a complete route, starting and finishing in Rio de Fornos and covering both banks of the stream. The upper part of the valley is left out; everything that makes the stream worth visiting is left in.

It is the right choice for an afternoon, for those going with children, or for those who want to experience the Parque Natural de Montesinho without spending the whole day.

Rio de Fornos

The route is circular and begins and ends at the small picnic area at the entrance to Rio de Fornos, a village recorded in the Inquirições of 1258. The trail passes through the village streets and by the Chapel of Saint Peter, whose terrace serves as a balcony overlooking the entire valley.

A Ribeira de Ladrões

Shortly after the last houses, the stream appears and does not let go. The water runs between moss-covered stones, drops in small falls, and widens into clear pools, with water meadows and alder trees on both sides. The route covers both banks, linked by the crossing at Meiral, approximately 2.5 kilometres from the village.

Going further

Those who arrive back at the picnic area with energy to spare will find at the same starting point the PR5 · Ribeira de Ladrões, which climbs to the head of the valley and doubles the distance.