Coura - Autumn Colours & Valley Views

Some landscapes are best discovered slowly. In the hills of Paredes de Coura, the walk through Corno do Bico leads us into an autumn world of oak and cedar woods, granite outcrops and rounded slopes. Leaves turn gold and copper beneath the trees, while streams and open meadows bring softer greens to the hillsides.

From the high ground, our view stretches across the Coura Valley and the surrounding ranges. We are able to easily glimpse the distant mountains of Peneda, Amarela and Gerês inland and Serra d’Arga towards the coast. But the landscape around is just as compelling: fields, pastures and lameiros - moist meadows traditionally used for grazing and hay - form a patchwork among the woods, docile cattle and horse will bear witness to our discoveries.

This is a countryside shaped over generations by both nature and human work. Farming and grazing left their mark in the fields carved into the slopes, the stone walls and the woodland edges. We’ll make a stop at Vascões, where that story took a particular turn in the 1950s, when an agricultural colony was established to bring former common land into cultivation. The first settlers arrived in 1957, tasked with clearing the land, working the meadows and building new lives here.
As we follow the paths through this changing landscape, we’ll experience more than the beauty of the autumn colours. We’ll also read the traces of a rural world in the valleys, fields and hills and see how the seasons continue to shape the valleys of the Alto Minho
Important Information – do not skip this section!
📏 This is an easy / moderate hike of approximately 12km / 7.5 miles, with around 300m / 985 feet of elevation gain. A good choice for anyone who enjoys a steady climb without any sharp ascents, beautiful views and a full day outdoors.

We’ve allocated some 3h30 hours to cover it in a leisurely place, but it will take whatever it takes for you to do. No special gear is needed, just comfortable clothes and adequate footwear for treading over leaves, pebbles, side-stepping a puddle here and there and definitely not slippery tennis shoes. Of course, if you’re not the most sure-footed individual, a trekking pole is always advisable).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION (do not skip this section):
💰 Price € 59 / person (includes door-to-door transportation – so, we pick you at home drive to the different locations and back to your home

🚗 “I do have a car, thus wouldn’t need a ride, can I join? Yes, absolutely, we have special conditions, do enquire!
How do I sign up for the tour? Because seats are extremely limited, RSVP-ing alone is not enough, we'll have to insist on advance payment, only that will secure a place. To this effect, do send us a message and we will tell you how to proceed, you can do it here directly, by
Whatsapp at +351910430259 or by email at [email protected]. As our capabilities are not limitless, (quite the opposite), the first ones to do it will have ensured their presence.