Ornal

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In Espinhosela parish, beginning in Vilarinho village, this trail follows the Ornal river and a section of the Baceiro river, to which it flows. The landscape is marked by Holm Oak woods, on areas of more skeletal soils, and by extensive areas of Pyrenean oak occupying the slopes, in the bottom of which are aligned strips of lameiros (seminatural meadows) delimited by riparian species. In Sardoal ultrabasic rocks, which produce toxic soils for most plants, small-sized holm oaks and rare species adapted to these soil characteristics, such as Armeria spp, Arenaria spp and Dianthus spp. Examples of traditional architecture are the lime kilns, used until the 60s of the 20th century testifying the limestone outcrops exploitation of Cova da Lua village. On the Baceiro river, 3 community horizontal watermills (2 belonging to Vilarinho village and 1 to Cova da Lua, this one next to the route), are another testimony of the natural resources use by the populations. Highlight for Santo Amaro chapel, built on the site of an Iron Age fortified settlement.