CRD02Parque Natural de Montesinho Route

The great loop of Montesinho

This is the network's great road loop. It is not a trip to the Parque Natural — it is a journey of 108.4 kilometres through its heart: the river beach at Soeira, the mountain villages, the border road to Moimenta, the high mountain terrain of Pinheiro Velho and Pinheiro Novo, and the Zona da Lomba, with around 2,900 metres of accumulated ascent. It is a red-graded route, demanding, always in a cycle-touring register.

Start and finish in Vinhais

The route is circular and begins and ends at the Porta de Vinhais, at the Interface de Transportes. The EN103 leads to Vila Verde at kilometre 6.0, and to the Praia Fluvial da Ponte de Soeira at kilometre 9.7, which has a café and restaurant and serves as the first stop to take in the rio Tuela.

The mountain villages

Soeira, at kilometre 14.5, with its church, fountain, and tavern, and Fresulfe, at kilometre 19.8, open the longest climb of the day: around 450 metres between kilometre 10 and the highest point, at 1,058 metres, at kilometre 27.6, passing through Mofreita in a calm, unhurried setting.

Along the border

After Mofreita, the road to Moimenta runs close to Spain, with wide views across to the neighbouring country. Moimenta, Aldeia de Portugal, lies at kilometre 36.1, with toilet facilities and the Museu do Contrabando well worth a detour into the village centre. Carvalhas, at kilometre 39.2, has a café.

High mountain terrain

Cerdedo, at kilometre 45.5, and Vilarinho das Touças, at kilometre 47.0, with its church and fountain, precede the high mountain section — rugged, with long, hard climbs and the rio Assureira for company. Pinheiro Velho, at kilometre 61.3, with a fountain, and Pinheiro Novo, at kilometre 65.3, with a fountain, a communal mill, and the information panel for the walking trail PR1 · Fragas do Pinheiro, are the Transmontane gems of the route.

The Zona da Lomba

From Pinheiro Novo the route descends to Rabaçal and enters the Zona da Lomba, the plateau between the rivers Mente and Rabaçal, passing through Quirás and Passos de Lomba, at kilometre 77.7, with a café, and Gestosa. The Parque de Merendas do Rabaçal, at kilometre 86.2, is the lowest point of the day at 491 metres, and marks the start of the final climb: around 400 metres up to kilometre 98.

The return via Tuízelo

Cruz de Revelhe, at kilometre 90.9, Peleias, at kilometre 93.1, and Tuízelo, at kilometre 96.9, with its sanctuary and café, complete the return along the edge of the park to the EN103 and back to Vinhais. Those seeking the same border landscape over fewer kilometres will find the Travessia da Serra da Coroa, also red-graded, a fitting alternative.