The Ramiscal’s Track is a pedestrian path of small route (PR), which passes through two places of the Cabreiro’s village; places typically of half-slope and bathed by the Ramiscal and the Cabreiro’s rivers.
Starting from Vilela Seca, we follow on a sidewalk that takes us to the places of Lordelo and Branda do Rodrigo. With a strong landscaped component, all its surroundings are associated to a heritage valuable of flora and fauna, highlighting the majestic Galician-Portuguese oak and the imposing cattle of the “cachenas and garranos”. Territory of roebucks (Capreolus capreolus), wolves (Canis lupus) and marten (Martes martes) where its apparition is, nowadays, a rare event. The landscape is sumptuous; in the top, we can see, the “Bicos” and the morphology of Serra da Peneda and Soajo (Peneda and Soajo’s Hills), while below we see the lush valleys of the Ramiscal and the Arroyo, and on the other side of the river, we can highlight the Chã da Torre and the places of Avelar and of Vilar.
Along the track, we spot an agrarian structure, consisting of various types of fields; with greater intensity the lime meadows near the Corga de Mangão, the terraces of fertile soil, the dryland areas in the Branda do Rodrigo, and a small floodplain located in the Carvalheda. Areas that, since always, are for the cultures of the subsistence. The customs and traditions are still well engrained in these communities, to prove it, the tradition of the St. John’s night, when the inhabitants of Lordelo go through the place and its surroundings in search of the specific plants which will be used to the preparation of domestic remedies, for aromatization and for seasoning food.
Every day, on this path, known as the way to the school, would wander the children of the Lordelo towards the elementary school of the Vilela Seca. A lot of them still remember of the wild journey full of adventures but also difficult and bitterness that crossing this path, in the winter would bring.
Sometimes even the sky improves and with some luck, we can watch the characteristic flight of the largest Portuguese bird of prey. It is here, in the Ramiscal steep slopes that inhabit the only golden eagles couple (Aquila chrysaetos) of the Peneda-Gerês National Park.
Points of interest:
Comunidade Rural de Vilela Seca;
Panoramic view over the Ramiscal’ river and surroundings;
Comunidade rural de Lordelo;
Branda do Rodrigo.
Typology: Small Route
Length: 7, 2 km
Duration (hours – approximate): 4h00
Type of tread: Sidewalks and trucker’s ways
Degree of difficulty: Easy
Starting point: Vilela Seca – Cabreiro’s village
Arrival: Vilela Seca – Cabreiro’s village
Location: Arcos de Valdevez
