S. Pedro Velho

This hiking trail begins in the area adjacent to the campground and initially follows the “Geosites Route,” specifically the “G3 – S. Pedro Velho” section. It shares an initial section with the PR7 and then with the PR15 and GR28, here over a distance of about 300 meters.

It climbs to the S. Pedro Velho geosite, an imposing viewpoint from which one can see the entire ocean coastline from the Ria de Aveiro to Porto, the Gerês Mountains, the Larouco Mountains (Montalegre!), Sra. da Graça, Marão, Montemuro, Estrela, and Caramulo. From there, you can see half of Portugal!

Then it descends to Albergaria and, along the irrigation canal, to the Foz stream, which it crosses, meeting the PR15 at Junqueiro, passing by the “Pedra Brôa” geosite. After about a thousand meters shared with the PR15, it climbs toward the ridge and the wind farm.

You reach the highest point of the Serra da Freita at Detrelo da Malhada, at 1,100 meters above mean sea level.

It follows the ridge with the magnificent Arouca Valley always in the background. To the northwest, Porto, “so close by.” Continuing westward, it passes by the wind farm’s substation, the antennas, and the radar.

Upon the Vale da Raiz picnic area, it returns to the ridge, which it follows until it meets the municipal road, with the village of Merujal and the Shrine of Nossa Senhora da Lage in the distance.

On this road, it continues to the left until the campground, where it ends.