Discover Vedra: Mills, Hiking Trails and Holiday Apartments

The River Ulla and its tributaries shape the valley landscape of Vedra, which is part of the Natura 2000 network. The Ruta del Pereiro is a 5-kilometre linear hiking trail of moderate difficulty; the approximate walking time is 2 hours and 15 minutes one way. The trail begins in the parish of Vedra next to the bridge over the Pereiro River. Two bus routes operated by Monbús and Seoane connect the individual parishes of Vedra with Santiago.

Nature

The Área de Interpretación dos Muíños is located on the Merín stream, whose mills form a very well-preserved ethnographic complex. The area includes eight mills along the Merín River. At the site, visitors can learn how mills work and compare types of mills such as channel and bucket mills. The Muiño do Coxo, meaning „Lame Man’s Mill“ in English, is considered the only mill with an open raceway in this area. The Área de Interpretación dos Muíños also includes a waterfall visible from a small viewpoint, shade-providing trees, as well as meadows, gardens and vineyards along the trail. A hiking trail of approximately 2 kilometres along the Merín River is considered suitable for families.

Culture

The parish church of Santa Eulalia de Vedra stands on a hill above the valley and forms a complex with the cross and the spring in front of it. The Santiago Chapel in the village of Outeiro in the parish of San Pedro de Vilanova was built in the 18th century. The Gundián Bridge was built in the 1950s and connected Santiago with Madrid by railway; its arch has a span of 50 metres. The Ponte de Ximonde is 55 metres long and uses stay cables without piers in the river to protect the natural habitat.

Landscape

At the Miradoiro de Gundián, two quartz pillars approximately 100 metres high form the escarpment of San Xoán da Cova. The Ponte do Ave rises more than 100 metres high and frames the old Gundián Bridge. In Couto de Ximonde there is a 110-metre-long weir that formerly served as a fishing weir and was also part of the old milling operation. Fishing platforms and small footbridges extend into the river there.

Activities

The San Xoán da Cova hiking trail is 12 kilometres long, runs along the banks of the River Ulla and begins at the Miradoiro de Gundián. The southern section of the Ruta BTT is 35 kilometres long and runs along the River Ulla. Both sections of the Ruta BTT are of moderate difficulty and are considered suitable for cycling all year round. On summer weekends, canoeing on the Ulla is offered at the Agronovo recreational area.

Festivals

Os Xenerais da Ulla is a distinctive carnival tradition practised in Vedra. Its origins are attributed to armed conflicts of the 19th century, such as the War of Independence and the Carlist Wars. Os Xenerais da Ulla has been recognised as a festival of tourist interest. In Vedra, the tradition takes place in the parishes of Vilanova, Trobe and San Xián: in Vilanova on the Saturday before Shrove Tuesday, in Trobe on Carnival Sunday and in San Xián on the Saturday after Carnival.

Wine

Pasabodeghas is a wine route through eight wineries where traditional music is played. The Exaltación do Viño da Ulla takes place every second Sunday in April in San Miguel de Sarandón and offers the opportunity to taste Albariño and get to know various wineries in the Ribeira do Ulla region.

Pilgrimage Routes

The Vía da Prata enters Vedra via Gundián. The Camiño de Inverno enters Vedra at the Virxe de Gundián and runs down to Ponte Ulla. Before Santiago, the Camiño de Inverno leads to the Fonte do Santiaguiño, where sculptures by Mestre Mateo can be seen. The Camiño Miñoto Ribeiro enters the municipality of Vedra via the Ponte de Sarandón and continues to the Pazo de Ximonde. The Ximonde Ichthyological Station works on the reintroduction of salmon and other species, such as the freshwater pearl mussel, into the River Ulla.

Further Places

Other place pages: San Xulián De Sales.

To the higher-level travel overview: Coruña.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Queo De Abaixo, Serra de Outes, Guitiriz, Rois, Verdes, Zas, O Milladoiro.