Incio: Trails, Waterfalls and Cultural Heritage

In Incio, the Ruta de Vilasouto is a signposted trail with several recreational areas and wooden walkways along a large part of the shore of the Embalse de Vilasouto. Swimming, fishing, cycling and children's games are possible along the route. The footpath is 3.6 kilometres long and has a low level of difficulty.

Other destinations include: Chantada, Campa, Lago, Sabenche, Guitiriz, Pacios, Vilaxoán and Baralla.

Nature

The Embalse de Vilasouto lies nestled between Monte Agudo and Pena Furada. Another route, the Ruta de Trascastro, runs for around 5 kilometres between A Ferrería and Trascastro. It passes old mills on the banks of the Cabe and Antigua rivers and the Castro de Igresario archaeological site in Trascastro.

The Ruta de Eirexalba begins at the 18th-century church of Santo Estevo de Eirexalba and runs towards Vilarreguenga along the Embalse de Vilasouto. It is approximately 11.7 kilometres long and begins and ends in Vilarreguengo-Eirexalba. The route also includes the Mirador del Monte Eirexalba viewpoint at an altitude of 585 metres.

Trails

The Ruta del Hierro is approximately 12.6 kilometres long and runs between A Ferrería and Biduedo. It includes the Pena Escrita and Pena do Chao viewpoints and also passes numerous old iron ore mines.

The Ruta do Ferro runs along the northern slopes of Pico de Santa Bárbara, A Boibela and Penedo do Campo. All three mountains are higher than 1,000 metres. Designated PR-G 225 Ruta do Ferro, the route begins at Pena do Chao, a rocky area with a petroglyph and a viewpoint over the valley of the Antigua and Cabe rivers, and passes the Cova do Avión, Cova da Tinta and Cova do Couso iron ore mines.

History and Culture

The Iglesia de San Pedro Fiz de Hospital is classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural. The church of San Pedro Fiz de Hospital was built at the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century by the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, later known as the Order of Malta. The building was constructed largely from marble and features distinctive shades of blue on its façade. The church stands on a historic variant of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago that connected the French Way with the Winter Way.

At the Pena do Chao petroglyph site, the viewpoint has several benches, an information board about the petroglyphs and a sloping bench for stargazing. The viewpoint can be reached by car via Saa and Monteagudo and is 200 metres from the start of the Ruta do Ferro. The Pena do Chao petroglyph consists of a group of circular, hemispherical cup marks carved into the rock.

In Buxán, the climbing area has 52 climbing routes. The Museo da Pedra in Buxán displays works by Álvaro Pereiro as well as artefacts from local castros, including a mill and fragments of an axe. The PR-G 239 Ruta do Mamut e os Castros in O Incio is six kilometres long and links archaeological remains, mammoth sculptures and historic castros with life-size mammoth replicas; it begins at the Castro de Lebón.

Water

The Fervenza de San Pedro do Incio waterfall can be reached from the church of San Pedro de O Incio and descends approximately 4 metres at the Embalse de San Pedro. The Antigua River runs partly underground and resurfaces near its main waterfall. The Fervenza do Río Antigua can be reached by leaving the car in San Miguel and walking down to the river.

Traditions

The Feira de Artesanía y Productos de la Tierra combines craft stalls with workshops for all age groups. It also includes local food stalls offering typical products such as honey and cheese. A Ferrería de Incio is a rural settlement with houses built on rocks; it is home to the famous Balneario, which is currently being renovated, and the 15th-century Pazo da Ferrería.

The traditional dances of A Cervela are considered a tradition passed down for more than 500 years in honour of Saint Lucy. In the parish of Cervela, one form of dance has been passed down from parents to their children since ancient times. The traditional Romería dos Catro Cabaleiros took place on Sunday, 6 July 2025, at Pena dos Catro Cabaleiros, where the municipalities of A Pobra do Brollón, Folgoso do Courel, O Incio and Samos meet.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lugo.