BTT07Tuízelo Route

A route of a single sustained effort

This route has the coherence of a single sustained effort. It is not a patchwork of sections but a sequence of high-quality trails that leaves Vinhais along the Caminho de Santiago, enters the Parque Natural de Montesinho at Sobreiró de Cima, and passes through a series of villages with well-preserved traditional character before reaching Tuízelo, with around 900 metres of cumulative ascent. It is a red-graded route, compact and homogeneous in its trail types, landscapes, and villages.

Tuízelo is a place of character: there are traces of human occupation predating the 12th century, remains of ancient settlements and hillforts, and two places of worship that speak to the importance of local devotion.

Start and finish at the Parque Biológico

The route is circular and begins and ends at the entrance to the Parque Biológico de Vinhais. The first three kilometres cross a plateau at around 940 metres, followed by two kilometres of descent into Vinhais, at kilometre 5.7, where cafés and restaurants can be found in the town centre.

The Caminho de Santiago

Just beyond Vinhais, the route follows the Caminho de Santiago, combining sporting activity with the spiritual dimension of pilgrimage. The lowest point of the day, at 614 metres, is reached at kilometre 7.9. Castro, at kilometre 10.1, has its own chapel, and at kilometre 12.5 there is a water fountain.

Sobreiró de Cima and the villages of the Park

Sobreiró de Cima, at kilometre 14.3, with a chapel and café, marks the entry into the Parque Natural de Montesinho. This is followed by Cubelas, at kilometre 15.8, and Peleias, at kilometre 18.3 — villages that have lost some of their former vitality but retain well-preserved traditional stone houses, set beside streams and woodlands of oak and chestnut. Nuzedo de Cima, at kilometre 21.7, has the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção and a water fountain.

Tuízelo

Tuízelo is reached at kilometre 24.4, with the Igreja de Saint Andrew, the old church, the Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, a water fountain, and a café. It is the right place to stop before the final section, and the last point of support for the day.

Beneath the Serra da Coroa

Salgueiros, at kilometre 26.7, with the Chapel of Saint Lawrence, and a water fountain at kilometre 27.4 open the most demanding section: between kilometres 27 and 30 the path climbs around 250 metres along wide, panoramic tracks beneath the slopes of the Serra da Coroa, reaching the highest point of the day at 1,012 metres. From there to the Parque Biológico the terrain levels out onto the plateau. Those wishing for a shorter loop across the same plateau will find the blue-graded Rota de Paçó starting from the same point.