What could be better than enjoying autumn walking among the trees on the banks of a river, or climbing the mountain, or looking straight at the sea, breathing in the fresh breeze. In the province of A Coruña there are many routes to do this. What are we waiting for? Comfortable clothes, a backpack with water, a snack, a notebook for artists and poets, a sophisticated walking stick or cane, and a camera or mobile phone for some good photos. All ready? The walk begins!
Route from Zarzo to Chelo. Among the hiking trails on Mount Chelo, in the municipality of Coirós, within the “Mariñas coruñesas e Terras do Mandeo” Biosphere Reserve, this is one of the best known. It is a circular route of 10.5 km. It starts at the Central de Zarzo, in the municipality of Padern, and goes along the riverbank to the Presa da Cabra. It crosses Caresma, Chelo and A Espenuca. If we are lucky we can see roe deer, otters, and pick some mushrooms.
Dexo Coast Natural Monument Route – Serantes. We continue in the “Mariñas coruñesas e Terras do Mandeo” Biosphere Reserve, but this time with views of the sea. The route begins in O Seixo Branco and, for 7.45 km, runs along a path near the sea and higher cliffs, where we can cautiously look out over several furnas. We also pass through Punta Torrella, a natural viewpoint with views of the Betanzos estuary and the cliffs, until we reach the port of Lorbé, the end of the journey.
Monte Xalo. This 514 m mountain extends through the municipalities of Culleredo, Carral, Cerceda and Laracha. There are several paths to reach the top. We can start on the As Xesteiras route, 1 km long, which leaves the parish of Cea, following the stream that descends from the mountain. In the middle of the vegetation we find 11 mills. After the route, following the path, we ascend the mountain, among megalithic remains, rocks with curious shapes and perhaps even wild horses. From the summit there are good views of Culleredo, O Val de Loureda, Sabón, the port of Arteixo and even the outer port of Ferrol.
Camiño dos Encomendeiros. In the natural park of As Fragas do Eume, the best preserved coastal Atlantic forest in Europe, and one of the few of its kind, this route is the most famous. It is linear and covers 5.5 km. It starts at the Cal Grande bridge, where we cross to the right bank of the river. 3 km away there is another bridge, which we can cross and continue to Santa Cristina, or not cross and continue to the Caaveiro monastery. In addition to this, there are seven signposted routes. In the middle of nature, the Fragas also have an interpretation center, a recreational area, an ethnographic museum, and two architectural gems: the Caaveiro and Monfero monasteries.
Route of Os Penedos de Pasarela e Traba. It begins in Pasarela, in the municipality of Vimianzo and reaches Laxe. For 6.5 km we walk along forest paths until we see the first rocks, which rise to the sky in capricious shapes. A Cap, A Ferida, Or Boat, Or Singer, Or Camel, Or Shark. O Fígado… and many other rocks accompany us and trigger imagination and poetry. If not, tell Pondal: “Penedos de Pasarela,/ Cando vos vexo, penedos/ Suspiro d’amor por ela”.
Refuge of Verdes. In the parish of Verdes, in the municipality of Coristanco. We access the route by crossing a footbridge over the Anllóns River. On this tour along the river bank there are 15 traditional mills, some of which have been rehabilitated, which you can enter. It also has recreational areas. The route is small, 1.7 km, but very bucolic. And, step by step, in a photo landscape, we arrive at Ponteceso, crossing Ponte Dona.
Fervenza das Hortas. It runs along the banks of the Ulla, starting from the mouth of the Lañas, in the municipality of Touro, and ending at the fervenza (waterfall). In these 20 km we pass through the Torrente de O Maroxo, the Portodemouros reservoir, O Enredo do Abelleiro, a honey museum, and arrive at the waterfall, with a drop of about 30 m from the Saímes stream, between Arzúa and Touro.
Corrubedo dune complex and Carregal and Vixán lakes. The complex, between the Arousa and Muros y Noia estuaries, includes the dunes, the Corrubedo beach and the freshwater Vixán and Carregal saltwater lagoons. There are three short routes that can be done one after the other: the sea route, 6 km, to the Carregal lagoon; the one of the water, until the one of Vixán, of 3 km, and the Way of the wind, of the beach of Vilar to the great mobile dune, of 5 km. Autumn is a good time to observe birds in this ornithological paradise.
Devesa de Nimo route. The route, 7 km round trip, follows the trail of the rodeiros of the river Tambre, in Noia. The rodeiros are traditional constructions in the river, made of stone and wood, for the capture of the lamprey. The route begins at the hydroelectric plant, with the Palacios building and, after crossing the bridge, follows the course of the river. The most characteristic section is that of the narrow wooden walkways fixed to the rocks of the canyon. It ends in the municipality of Brión.
Fervenza do Rexedoiro. This is a circular route, 13.3 km long, beginning and ending at Campo da Feira de Bembibre, in O Val do Dubra. It goes along the right bank of the Dubra to Ínsua, in Santa Mariña de San Román. Through the middle, it deviates to the Rego do Portonabo, where there is a waterfall of about 10 m. The route is varied, along fishermen’s paths, meadows, forests… We also pass by the Fonte das Augas Virxes miracle worker and the chapel of San Xoán Bautista e Santa Margarida.
