Two days of hiking around Gerês

There are a number of marked trails in this mountainous area.  We hiked one, right from town, yesterday, and another today just a 30-minute drive away.

Yesterday we walked the Trilho dos Currais (Corrals Trail), a 10 km loop we could do right from our hotel in town.  It's rated as "medium" difficulty.  The route passes a number of pastures and corrals where local ranchers run their animals in the summer.  The annual migration up and down is a big deal here.  The first mile plus was steeply up: initially on a paved track and then alternating between double- and single-track through the woods.  Much of the climb was over 20 percent grade.  We've learned on previous hiking trips in Europe that switchbacks have not made it to this side of the Atlantic.  Part way up there was a spring to take a break, and at the top a great viewpoint with views over the valley and of Geres.

Water break at the Fonte do Curral do Gaio

Looking down on Geres

After the initial climb to the viewpoint the trail went through rolling terrain for several km.  The granite outcrops are magnificent, and there are intermittent views of the more distant ranges.

These rural lands are collectively owned and managed by the local ranchers.  Near the larger pasture areas there were stone huts for their use.

The descent was as steep as the climb up.  A great and challenging day of hiking.

Today we drove to the nearby town of Campo do Geres to take another loop trail, the Trilho da Águia do Sarilhão (Sarilhao Eagle trail).  It runs though rolling terrain, then along the shore of a large reservoir, and follows the track of an old Roman road part of the time.  Although there was a fair bit of vertical, it was alternating ups and downs so a little easier on the legs.  Still, the trails are quite rocky and uneven so always a bit of challenge.

A stretch of Roman road and stone fence, and one of the mile markers.

Near the end of our loop we passed through the small village of Campo do Geres.

When we arrived back at Geres there was a town festival going (with my limited Portuguese I never did figure out what was being celebrated).  They were auctioning off large hams and sausages (we passed) but we did score some excellent soup and pork sandwiches (note the soup cauldron over fire and meat grilling) for an early dinner.