Trilho do Vale do Ceira

Since the Ceira I Valley Trail is a loop trail, you can start it at the Old Cabreira Bridge, the village of Candosa, or Sandinha, where you’ll find informational signs.If you start at the Old Cabreira Bridge (a spot of great scenic interest, featuring a wine press, a mill, granaries, and the bridge itself), cross the bridge and then turn left. Further ahead, next to a wayside shrine, there is a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the area around Ponte Velha da Cabreira. Walk through the centuries-old hazelnut groves, heading uphill toward the village of Cadafaz. In Cadafaz (Largo Santo António), you’ll find an information panel explaining the area’s landscape, including the old tungsten mines and the region’s main peaks. Be sure to check the route ahead and learn about the history of Cadafaz. Cadafaz is a stunning village. Wander through its narrow streets lined with schist buildings and visit the Portos picnic area. After exploring the village, return to the trail, where it begins to descend toward Pocariças, an uninhabited hamlet. A little further on, you’ll come to the Piçarra mill and bridge. Take the path on your right, without crossing the bridge. You’ll pass an old footbridge over a stream. Once on the main road, you’ll come to a natural viewpoint overlooking Foz da Fonte (a tunnel cut through the Ceira River), where you have the option to take a shortcut through Sandinha to shorten the route or continue straight on toward the village of Candosa. When you reach Candosa, take the opportunity to explore the village, follow the path to the mill, visit the olive press, and stroll through the village itself with its traditional buildings. Cross the new bridge, turn left, and pass through a place called Candosa Velha. Further along, the trail passes by Foz da Fonte (where the Ceira River flows through a tunnel), a unique feature of the Ceira River. Cross Sandinha and follow the trail to the end of the hike, passing by old haylofts, wayside shrines, and houses. Before reaching the end, you can also visit a weir, the site of an old water-powered sawmill.