Terras de Granito Trail
In this parish in the Águeda municipality, granite rules, Águeda being the only area where the houses are made entirely of this type of stone. At one time, the council and locations of the parish were teeming with people that, little by little, were then concentrated in communities or left for other places on the coast. Currently and according to the 2011 Census, 110 people live in the parish.
Along the entire track there are different elements that show the strong connection to the land that the people of the mountainous area have always had. The threshing floors and the granaries, that in the Serra do Caramulo region are called canastros, They are still in use today and their well preserved condition denotes the cultural and historical value they have for the local people.
The landmarks along the trails are the Elementary School (now a traditional restaurant), the "River Pool", the watermills, the House of the Teacher, the main building of the Junta de Freguesia (parish board) and a cruzeiro next to it, the water springs, the remnant woodlands with autochthonous trees, the stories and tales that the people tell, among many more, such as chapels, alminhas (shrines) and the Parish Church.
Source: C.M. Águeda
Mills Route
Fact Sheet:
Departure and arrival: Souto Bom Welcome Center
Coordinates: 40º37’ 52,56” N 8º 6’ 48,18” O
Scope: Sports, cultural, environmental and scenic.
Type of route: A small route, using rural, traditional, and mountain paths.
Walking distance: 5.2 km circuit.
Difficulty level: II - Easy.
Duration of the route: Around 2 hours.
Unevenness: Moderate.
Maximum Spot Height: 760 meters
Recommended time of year: all year round.
Source: C.M.Tondela
Santiago Route
Fact Sheet:
Departure and arrival: Monte de São Marcos
Coordinates: Latitude: 40º35'11.42"N Longitude: 8º7'50.38"W
Scope: Sports, cultural, environmental and scenic.
Type of route: A small route, using rural, traditional, and mountain paths.
Walking distance: 5.5 km circuit.
Difficulty level: low
Duration of the route: Around 2 hours.
Unevenness: Moderate.
Maximum Spot Height: 460 meters
Recommended time of year: All year round.
Highlights:
• St. Mark Chapel
• Muna Chapel
• Santiago Route
• Santiago Church
• Ponte da Portela
Source: C.M.Tondela
Crosses Route
Fact Sheet:
Departure and arrival: Jerónimo Lacerda Park
Coordinates: Latitude: 40º34'14.23"N Longitude: 8º10'0.63"W
Scope: Sports, cultural, environmental and scenic.
Type of route: A small route, using rural, traditional, and mountain paths.
Walking distance: 8 km circuit.
Difficulty level: 6 - Medium.
Duration of the route: Around 4 hours.
Unevenness: Moderate.
Maximum Spot Height: 820 meters
Recommended time of year: All year round.
Highlights:
• Landscape of the Serra do Caramulo
• Main Church of Guardão
• Cruzeiro (next to the Main Church)
• Cruzeiros Route
• Janardo pillory/jailhouse
• St. Sebastian Chapel
• St. Bartholomew Chapel
• St. Bartolomeu Hillfort
• Cruzeiro (next to the St. Bartholomew Chapel)
• Cruzes Festival
• St. Lucy Chapel
• Fauna and flora
• Museu do Caramulo
Source: C.M.Tondela
Flax Route
Fact Sheet:
Departure and arrival: Coração de Maria Park.
Coordinates: Latitude: 40º32'47.55"N Longitude: 8º9'22.35"W
Scope: Sports, cultural, environmental and scenic.
Type of route: A small route, using rural, traditional, and mountain paths.
Walking distance: 8.8 km circuit.
Difficulty level: 7 - Medium-High.
Duration of the route: Around 4 hours.
Unevenness: Moderately steep in some spots.
Maximum Spot Height: 500 meters
Recommended time of year: All year round.
Highlights:
• Landscape of the Serra do Caramulo
• Flax Processing Center
• Lady of Deliverance Chapel
• Waterfalls
• Watermills
• Flax Fields
Source: C.M.Tondela
Culverts Route
Fact Sheet:
Departure and arrival: Caramulinho
Coordinates: Latitude: 40º 32' 55.38" N Longitude: 8º12'6.75"W
Scope: Sports, cultural, environmental and scenic.
Type of route: A small route, using rural, traditional, and mountain paths.
Walking distance: 8.2 km circuit.
Difficulty level: 6 - Medium.
Duration of the route: Around 4 hours.
Unevenness: Moderate.
Maximum Spot Height: 1000 meters
Recommended time of year: All year round.
Highlights:
• Caramulinho
• Landscape of the Serra do Caramulo / Rock Formations
• Jueus Chapel
• Medieval Sidewalk
• Watermills/Culverts
• Fauna and flora
Source: C.M.Tondela
Orange Groves Route
Fact Sheet:
Departure and arrival: Coração de Maria Park.
Coordinates: Latitude: 40º32'47.55"N Longitude: 8º9'22.35"W
Scope: Sports, cultural, environmental and scenic.
Type of route: A small route, using rural, traditional, and mountain paths.
Walking distance: 7.5 km circuit.
Difficulty level: 3 - Medium-Low.
Duration of the route: Around 3 hours.
Unevenness: Moderate.
Maximum Spot Height: 460 meters
Recommended time of year: All year round.
Highlights:
• Landscape of the Serra do Caramulo
• Main Church of Castelões
• Fonte Funda
• Fonte de Chafurdo
• Watermills
• Waterfalls
• Our Lady of Concepcion Chapel
• Quinta da Cruz
• St. Anthony Chapel
• Vila de Rei Cruzeiro
• St. Simon Chapel
• Ribeiro Cruzeiro
• Orange Groves
Source: C.M.Tondela