PR14Ermida Route

From the town to the river, on foot

This route descends from the town to the river and climbs back up, with no car journey in between. It is not a stroll around the outskirts of Vinhais — it is a descent of more than 200 metres to the Tuela and the village of Ermida, whose chapel stands almost overhanging the water, as though keeping watch over it. In just over seven kilometres, the town gives way to pine forest, the pine forest to chestnut groves, and the chestnut groves to the river.

It is a short route, but the terrain demands effort: whatever is descended must afterwards be climbed. The surface is good, and the shade of the pine forest and chestnut groves helps on the steeper sections.

Start and finish in Vinhais

The route is circular and begins and ends at the Parque de Jogos e Lazer do Bairro dos Cabeços, in Vinhais, with parking and the town's cafés just a few minutes away. From here, the path winds across the hillside between the town and the valley of the Tuela.

Ermida and the chapel

Ermida is the point furthest from the town and the lowest on the route, at around 400 metres above sea level. The visit to the chapel is the reason for the journey: it stands right above the Tuela, and from there the river can be seen opening the valley in both directions.

The pine forest and the chestnut groves

Between Ermida and the town, the path climbs through pine forest and chestnut groves, with steep gradients that are well rewarded by the coolness and the views that gradually open over the valley. This is the section that makes the route a sound training ground for longer walks.

Part of a whole

The Rota de Ermida shares around one kilometre, in Ermida, with the PR15 · D'Arranca a Moás, waymarked in both directions like this one. The two routes combine into various tailored circuits from the same starting point in the town. For those wishing to begin with the shorter option, this is the appetiser.