SERRA DE MONTEMURO (NONINHA) 11.2.19

This is an ok trail without any complications that brings you to the dry schistose and granitic landscapes of the Montemuro mountain range throughout one of the region's wind farm. Don't expect amazing views or getting in contact with many animals or trees. In fact, sometimes the environment feels kind of lunar, which gives it a surreal and futuristic flavor. When you see slopes covered with trees it's mostly eucalyptus. The Portuguese woods really are in the hands of the paper industry. Very annoying and quite sad.

After more or less 10 km you start to descent to Noninha, a village of some interest surrounded by beautiful green terraces. Unfortunately, the place has in a way lost its typical character, though some nice wooden grain stores and a few old houses are still around. Down here you can see small herds of arouquesa cows, an indigenous brown breed from this northern part of Portugal.

You will notice that, leaving Noninha, I tried to take a nice path before turning back and picking the interior national road to Bustelo. This deviation from the original trail was due to some cows blocking this narrow path which I felt at the time should be left alone. Though they are known to be reliably tame, the long pointy horns and the fact that some were getting a bit nervous played a role in my decision. Without the animals it wouldn't have been a problem at all.

Finding water at this time of year was no trouble, but a bottle with some kind of filtration system is always advisable. Good boots are essential, because the ground can be quite stony and very uneven.

The Montemuro mountain range is situated south of the famous Douro river and, together with the Marão mountain range, situated north, it blocks the Atlantic winds from entering the Douro Valley, contributing in this way to the exceptional wine producing conditions of that region, where the Port Wine is produced.