BTT10Agrochão Route

From the realm of the mines to the olive groves

This route changes landscape at every stage. It is not a loop through the east of Vinhais — it is a full day of contrasts: the sanctuaries above the Tuela, the mining ruins of Ervedosa at the bottom of the valley, the olive groves and museums of Agrochão, the Cascata do Cachão da Malhadinha, and the chestnut groves of Negreda and Melhe, across 77.8 kilometres and approximately 2,700 metres of accumulated climbing. It is a black-rated route, with three long descents and three equally demanding climbs.

Start and finish in Vinhais

The route is circular and begins and ends at the Porta de Vinhais, at the Interface de Transportes. The first nineteen kilometres follow the Rota da Senhora da Saúde: Moás and the Baloiço da Eira at kilometre 5.8, Armoniz at kilometre 10.1, the descent to the Tuela and the climb to the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Saúde at kilometre 17.9, and Vale de Janeiro at kilometre 18.9.

The realm of the mines

Between kilometres 19 and 27, the track descends approximately 270 metres to the lowest point of the day, at 328 metres, in the Tuela valley. Café Patrício at kilometre 25.3, the Praia Fluvial de Soutilha and Café Beira Rio at kilometre 26.4, precede the ruins of the former mining complex at Minas de Ervedosa at kilometre 27.1, and the mines bridge. These are industrial ruins visible in passing, with no access to the interior.

Ervedosa and the olive groves of Agrochão

Between the mines and Ervedosa, at kilometre 32.8 — with its Church of Saint Martin, pillory, chapel and café — the route climbs approximately 350 metres. The landscape changes: chestnut groves give way to olive groves. Agrochão, at kilometre 40.6, has medieval origins, mentioned in the Inquirições of 1258 and granted a charter by D. Dinis in 1288; it has the Igreja de São Mamede, the Santuário do Divino Senhor da Piedade, the Capela de Nossa Senhora do Areal, and two museums, the Etnográfico e Rural and the do Azeite. There is a fountain, a café and fuel pumps.

Negreda and the waterfall

Between Agrochão and Negreda, at kilometre 50.5 — with a fountain and church — the track descends to the Ribeira de S. Cibrão and climbs to the plateau, where chestnut groves reappear. Shortly afterwards it descends into the valley of the Ribeira de Melhe, and around kilometre 52 the Cascata do Cachão da Malhadinha comes into view — two or three drops with natural pools, a mandatory stop.

Eiras Maiores, Melhe and the return

Eiras Maiores, at kilometre 54.6, and Melhe, at kilometre 60.2 — with a church and café — sit on the plateau. The Capela de Santa Catarina, at kilometre 63.8, precedes the highest point of the day, at 928 metres, at kilometre 64.4, with a fresh view over Vinhais. Nunes, at kilometre 70.9 — with a fountain — and the Ponte D'Arranca, at kilometre 73, at the bottom of the valley, leave the final four kilometres climbing nearly 200 metres back up to the town, where the Pelourinho and the viewpoint at the Casa dos Militares await those arriving. Those seeking another major black-rated crossing from the town will find it on the Rota de Rebordelo.