Sobreiral (b)

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This route is located in the west area of Serra da Malcata Nature Reserve, on one of the slopes of Sobreiral hill that borders Meimoa river dam (built in 1982). The path evolves by Sobreiral hill in areas of Cork Oaks and Strawberry Trees. In Spring a Common Hawthorn area gives a white touch to a small valley that runs through it. Typical of the central region of Malcata mountain, these deciduous woods protects, in its understorey, species such as Paeonia broteri, endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, European Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), Primula acaulis ssp acaulis (a primrose), Genista falcata (a broom), as well as some orchids. The woods are made up species such as the heath (Erica australis ssp. australis), often used for coal production and as an ornamental, the Poplar-Leaved Cistus (Cistus populifolius), the Montpellier Cistus (Cistus monspeliensis), the Erica umbellata, Rosemary, the Sand-everlasting (Helichrysum stoechas ssp. stoechas), the False Olive (Phillyrea angustifolia) and Foxglove. A substantial part of the trail borders the reservoir and you can observe waterfowl such as the Great Crested Grebe who spends the winter here, the mallard nests in these waters and the gray and white Wagtails run along the banks searching for insects. The Grey Heron and the Black Stork come to the dam to feed at and, though more sporadically, may also be sighted. In winter, this area has the appeal of oak warm colors, while in Summer the visitor can cool off in the bathing area on the other side of the reservoir.