Machine-translated from Portuguese.
The Pertinho do Céu Trail is a
marked hiking trail known as a Short Route (PR). This
trail runs along the foothills of the Serra da Peneda, in the municipality of Arcos
de Valdevez, in the mountain parish of Gavieira. About 700 meters from the
intersection leading to the Gavieira church, right next to the road that
connects Rouças to S. Bento do Cando, an old
stone-paved path opens up on our left, marked by a sign indicating the start of the trail.
Setting
foot on the path, we walk along the wide flagstones marked by the ruts
of ox carts; this is a cart track, which will
lead us through the beautiful oak grove to Branda de Burgalinhas. As
we climb, we come across cattle of the native
Barrosã and Cacnhena breeds, which graze during the day and
return to their barns in the late afternoon. Shortly before reaching
Branda, we can see fields planted with rye, surrounded by
dry stone walls, and amidst the granite chaos, Branda de Burgalinhas emerges from the
rocky outcrop. It is a small settlement that is
only inhabited during the summer to support
shepherding activities. After visiting Branda, which belongs to the residents of
the village of Igreja da Gavieira, we follow a dirt road
toward Branda de S. Bento do Cando, also owned by the
residents of Gavieira. This is a settlement well known for the
pilgrimages to worship the image of St. Benedict. From here, we descend
toward the Rio Grande along a shepherds’ trail. On this descent, we must
exercise the utmost caution, paying close attention to the trail markers, as the path is not
clearly defined. After passing a rustic building
used to store farm tools and livestock, we cross a
stream via a path that opens up through the dense vegetation, which is the only
possible way to continue toward Gavieira.
We continue on our way, following the river to our left as it shapes the
landscape and creates beautiful waterfalls and inviting pools where we can cool off.
Shortly after, we come to a paved road that will take us to
visit the typical village of Igreja, and then we climb a path
covered in cement that will lead us to the place where this beautiful
route began.
