The bicycle: undoubtedly one of the healthiest means of transport. We only have to take the helmet, a backpack with the basics (water, food, patches…) and the mobile, in case we have a mishap or want to take photos or call, of course. So… Get going! Where to? Here are some routes:
Route of As Fragas do Eume, Pontedeume (A Coruña). Among the paths in this natural park to ride a bike, this is one of the easiest, apart from some tough climbs. It is a circular route of 24 km, which begins and ends at the As Fragas Interpretation Center, which is good to visit either on the way out or on the way back to learn more about the place where we are. The route has variety, which is where the taste lies: road, paved track parallel to the river, unpaved track, paths… And we not only pedaled through trees, to the music of the Atlantic forest and the water of the Eume, but we find the monastery of San Xoan de Caaveiro, so well located.
Xove Coastal Path (Lugo). Here is a route for fit people without vertigo. And linear, almost 20 km. It begins in the Ethnographic Park of Portiño de Morás and goes west along the paths next to the cliffs, with a lot of ascent. In this landscape, breathing first class sea breeze, the effort is worth it. In about two and a half hours we traced the Xovense coast to the access track to Portonovo beach, the end of the journey. Perfect place to rest, and perhaps take a bath, before starting the return.
Route of O Val de Ulla (A Coruña). This is a very traditional route, with many mills, granaries, laundries… It begins in the chapel of O Santiaguiño, in Vedra, and covers 34 km, which can be done in two and a quarter hours or thereabouts. We can stop to stretch our legs at the Dos Muíños Interpretation Center in O Rego de San Cristovo or in Santo André de Trobe, for example, where there is a church, a rectory, a cruceiro and a bridge. In the final part, the path follows the river Ulla, where there are also recreational areas where you can stop.
Ribeira Sacra Nature Trail (Ourense). This linear route covers 23.5 km. It starts at O Alto do Couso, in Maceda, and ends at the Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil station. It offers three branches: one goes to Melón de Abaixo; another to Arcos, and returns to the main path through a leafy oak grove and, the third, begins at the monastery of Santo Estevo and ends on the road on the banks of the Sil. The route is not excessively demanding and it is also very complete: mountain, forest, monastery, river and… what a view!
O Barbanza route (A Coruña). This is one of the longest and hardest, for trained people. So much so that it is done in two stages: one of 50 km and another of 55, rounding off. There are sections that go very close to the beach and others along a forest track. The attraction of the area is the Corrubedo dune complex, and the remains of rock art that we find on the mountain. Stage 1 begins in Porto do Son, at the Casa de la Cultura de Caamaño, and stage 2, at the San Roque de Ribeira viewpoint (or vice versa, which is circular for that).
Route of Castro de Rei (Lugo). This is a circular route of 47 km, of moderate difficulty, which begins at the Casa Consistorial de Castro de Rei. We are in the heart of the Terras do Miño Biosphere Reserve, which guarantees a quality landscape. A pleasant ride awaits us on paved tracks and paths. Also, the Castro de Viladonga and the historic complex of Castro de Rei also await us.
Monte Aloia Route (Pontevedra). Among the many possibilities of walking through the Aloia, we choose this circular route that starts in Tui, goes up to the Tripes mills and the Frinxo waterfall until reaching the Celta viewpoint. Arriving at the Aloia hostel we begin the descent. Medium difficulty and 22.5 km in total. Extra incentives besides the natural park and the views? The visit to the historic center of Tui, of course.
Natural path of San Rosendo Celanova-Ourense (Ourense). This linear path is long, about 66 km adding the two stages. It is exciting to know that we are pedaling following the route of the ancient Roman roads. The first stage starts from the church of Santa Comba de Bande and reaches Celanova. From here starts the second stage, which ends in Ourense, in Don Bosco square. In case we don’t realize we are walking on Roman roads, there is the Aquis Querquennis camp to remind us of it. By the way, the entire route reaches Foz, where San Rosendo had gone to be named bishop.
