Belmonte | Percurso Preto

Places of passage: Olas, Trigais, Bendada, Sortelha, Sabugal, Soito, Quadrizais, Meimão, Meimoa, Vale da Senhora da Póvoa, Terreiro das Bruxas, Casteleiro, Santo Amaro, Carvalhal

The route departs the Historical Village of Belmonte next to the castle and heads east towards Olas on a narrow and picturesque rural road. Further on it crosses the railway line, climbs for a short distance and descends towards Olas. Shortly after this small village it bears left towards Trigais and Bendada, with some demanding climbs in the vicinity of the Historical Village of Sortelha. Before the Historical Village of Sortelha, a demanding 3 km takes you up 200 m to the top of the village. The views make the effort well worthwhile. After passing through the village with several kilometres on cobblestones, it continues towards the Beira town of Sabugal with its imposing castle, which is the capital of the municipality. The route passes through Sabugal towards Soito and Quadrazais before entering the Serra da Malcata Natural Reserve, the habitat of the shy lynx of the same name. The Malcata Reserve has gentle gradients and constantly undulates. After a few kilometres along the reserve's magnificent roads it passes through the district of Malcata, close to the Sabugal reservoir. After passing the reservoir it bears left towards Meimão and there is a steep descent down into the village, demanding a lot from the brakes. After Meimão it passes the Meimoa Dam before the village of Meimoa itself can be spotted, and then turns right on the undulating N233 towards the Senhora da Póvoa Valley. From here there are further climbs towards Terreiro das Bruxas where there is a left turn onto the N18-3 that takes the route through Casteleiro, Santo Amaro and, further on, Carvalhal, before the climb to the Historical Village of Belmonte where the adventure ends next to the castle.