Discover Covelo: Nature, Trails and Culture

Nature

The Río Tea river system stretches from Covelo to its mouth at the Río Miño and is part of the Natura 2000 network. In terms of its waters, banks and continuous river structure, the Río Tea is considered one of the best-preserved rivers in southern Galicia. Within the municipality of Covelo, the river is still in its middle to upper course. Its waters are clear and rich in oxygen, while its riverbed is rocky or sandy.

The Miradoiro Castelo do Faro viewpoint offers extensive views over the Tea Valley and the Sierra de O Suído. At Faro de Avión, the vegetation changes with altitude. The valleys contain meadows and cultivated land. The slopes are covered by forests and smaller woodland areas. Shrubland and rocks can be found at the highest elevations. Faro de Avión is 1,151 metres high and the highest point in Pontevedra Province.

This places two clearly different landscapes side by side along the Río Tea and at Faro de Avión: the river course shaped by water, banks and a rocky or sandy riverbed, and the mountain areas structured according to altitude. The view from the Miradoiro Castelo do Faro connects these landscapes with the Tea Valley and the Sierra de O Suído.

Trails

For planning your routes, the Ruta do Xabriña (PR-G 119) is listed as being 17 kilometres long. The PR-G 95 Sendeiro de “Os Carranos” hiking trail begins beside the former rectory of Fofe, descends to the Maceira river beach, visits the Os Carranos hydraulic sawmill and also includes the Roman Bridge of Fofe and Trasfontán along its route. If you include the Bridge of Fofe in the route, access is exclusively on foot.

The two trails mentioned focus on different aspects of Covelo’s landscape. For the Ruta do Xabriña, the specified length of 17 kilometres is the key reference point. The PR-G 95, by contrast, connects several named stops: the starting point at the former rectory, the river beach, the sawmill, the Roman Bridge and Trasfontán. The Bridge of Fofe remains subject to the expressly stated access on foot.

Culture

The Os Carranos sawmill is powered by water. It was built around 1922. The name of the PR-G 95 hiking trail refers to Os Carranos, while its route includes the former rectory of Fofe, the Roman Bridge of Fofe, Trasfontán and Maceira river beach.

The sawmill therefore brings together the historic use of hydropower and the route of the hiking trail. Its approximate construction date of around 1922 identifies Os Carranos as evidence of an earlier way of working and production. Together with the former rectory and the Roman Bridge, it is one of the named stops on the PR-G 95.

More destinations

Find more places in the same navigation section under A Telleira, Aldán, Meaño, Crecente, Estacas, Forcarei, Raxó, Meis.

To the higher-level travel overview: Pontevedra.