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The Prados da Messe (Messe meadows) Route starts at the Pass of Leonte and ends at Albergaria. It passes through the heart of the Serra do Gerês, along an old trail about 11 kms long, passing various corrals and mountain meadows. It is only passable on foot. We recommend about 8 hours to follow the complete route and to have time to appreciate the suggested points of interest (31 such points are identified and described, relating to the natural, cultural, geological and scenic features at each location).
This route is graded as high in difficulty, therefore being recommended for those who are physically fit and with experience of hill walking. Letter from the Route
Files for PDA
1 - Route start point
2 - Leonte Pavement
3 - Gerκs/Lobios tectonic fault
4 - View of Serra Amarela
5 - View of the Caniηada reservoir
6 - Granitic shapes (hollows)
7 - Abrigo (shelter) at Curral (corral) do Vidoal
8 - Granitic shapes (mushroom shaped rock)
9 - Prado do Vidoal (White birch meadow)
10 - English Yew wood
11 - Spring
12 - Juniper heath
13 - Pass (Chγ da Presa)
14 - Aplite vein
15 - Humid and turfaceous gorse-heath
16 - Thyme and juniper heath
17 - Abrigo (shelter) at Curral (corral) da Lomba do Pau
18 - Chγ - flattened area
19 - Panoramic View of Serra do Gerκs
20 - Veins
21 - Arenization
22 - Abrigo (Shelter) at Curral (corral) do Conho
23 - Spring of the Corral of Conho
24 - Gorse heath 3
25 - Fracturing of granite
26 - Moraines traces of glaciation
27 - Turf beds and patchwork of gorse-heath 3 with thyme
28 - Humid gorse-heath
29 - Abrigo (shelter) at Prado da Messe
30 - Prado da Messe (Messe meadow)
31 - Spring of Prado (meadow) da Messe
32 - Prado da Messe House
33 - Group of granitic shapes and the Ribeiro do Forno valley
34 - Oak woods
35 - Strawberry trees
36 - End point of route