Environmental issues are firmly on today’s agenda, hold a prominent place in politicians’ concerns and are felt by each of us as an emergency.
It is the respect and love for Nature that troubles us more and more — seen in the devastation of forests, in the much-discussed global warming linked to the growing frequency of environmental disasters we witness.
This feeling touches each of us, the true lovers of Nature and the legacy we want to leave to those who come after us. Our planet is beautiful. It has sublime places. Everything is a gift of Mother Nature. Portugal is no exception. It has the sun, the waters of the sea and rivers, the mountains and the river plains.
Each of us holds a desire and a sense of connection with Nature — to know it, admire it, respect it or defend it… in short, to be a part of it.
The pilgrim or the walker absorbs the pleasure of contemplation, the noting of the chance moment, in this umbilical relationship with Nature. Paths, routes and trails are a privileged way to fulfil this communion.
The Alto Minho is rich in the quantity and quality of its trails, which foster this intimacy with Nature — with climbs up to the highest landscapes or a refreshing dip in some waterfall on a hot, sunny day.
There are countless platforms — AllTrails, Wikiloc, etc. — on this subject, with information and routes that give hiking lovers vast and equally surprising options. In our area, Valdevez, the Sistelo eco-trail is the most iconic and of low difficulty; there are others for the most varied challenges.
This is an activity we cherish for the good it does to body and mind. And at the end, the comfort to recover your energy at Carvalha House - www.carvalhahouse.pt .
