GUARDA DISTRICT (PORTUGAL): MONDEGO WALKWAYS ( PASSADIÇOS DO MONDEGO )

MONDEGO WALKWAYS

40.511083º N, 7.383556º W

The route

The 12 km long Mondego Walkways along the Mondego River (about 7 km on walkways and 5 km on existing paths), allow for a new pedestrian connection between the Caldeirão dam and the village of Videmonte, close to the city of Guard. At a relaxed pace and with a few stops, count on at least 5 hours to complete the entire journey.

To go through the walkways it will be necessary to make a prior reservation through the official website. At the various entrances to the walkways, there are information points where entry control is carried out and, according to the information available, the cost will be €1 per person.

The walkways have numerous points of natural, historical and cultural interest: the imposing Caldeirão River Gorge, the Caldeirão Waterfall, mountain villages, semi-wild river beaches, the meanders of the Mondego, the ruins of the old factories and mills of the wool industry, the riparian galleries of ash and alder trees, chestnut groves and age-old chestnut trees or the historic Pateiro hydroelectric power station, which came into operation on January 1, 1899.

The route is linear and can be done in both directions, and the cumulative difference in level to be overcome will be smaller in the Videmonte – Caldeirão dam direction. As it is a linear route, it also means finding a transfer solution or walking there and back. There are car parks at both entry points and, as the project matures, there may be good transfer solutions in the future (bus, taxi).

Between Videmonte and the Caldeirão dam, sections of footbridge and existing path follow each other, allowing you to cover only part of the route. The section between the Mizarela bridge and the Caldeirão dam will probably be the most visited, due to the majesty of the Caldeirão cliffs, because it is relatively short (despite the high difference in level to overcome) and because it is the closest to Guarda. But the most interesting section will be the one that connects the Pateiro hydroelectric plant and the tunnel that diverts the waters of the Mondego to the Caldeirão, due to the proximity with which we follow the waters of the Mondego in this section (once quite inaccessible) and due to the three suspension bridges over the river .

Unlike most existing walkways in Portugal, the Mondego Walkways are relatively physically demanding, due to the 12km distance and the high accumulated difference in level. In the direction of Videmonte – Caldeirão dam, the accumulated difference is a little lower, but the final ascent to the dam wall is quite steep. If physical availability is not adequate, it is better to choose to do only part of the route.

Useful information

How to make a reservation:

Bookings are made in advance online through the official website of Passadiços do Mondego and costs €1 per person. All you have to do is choose the desired day from the agenda, the number of people in the group, whether you want to go in the morning or in the afternoon and make the payment online. For each day there is a maximum number of people of 3000 for each period (morning or afternoon).

How to get:

The Mondego Walkways are located close to the city of Guarda, in a rural area and without great public transport options, so a private car will be, for the time being, the easiest option. There are 3 entry points on the walkways: Caldeirão dam, Vila Soeiro (intermediate) and Videmonte, with parking available at each of these points.

How to plan the transfer:

For those coming by car, it is recommended to try to leave the car at the end of the route and take the transfer before starting to walk and avoid the risk of, for some reason, being dismounted far from the car. The official website of the walkways lists several telephone contacts for taxis in Guarda (271 105 005 – Central Digital Táxis; 271 221 863 – Guarda Taxis; 271 239 163 – Guarda-gare Taxis; 271 221 209 – Centro Coord. de Transport Taxis).

Difficulty level:

Traveling the Mondego Walkways in their entirety implies good physical availability, either because of the 12 km of distance, or because of the high accumulated difference in level to be overcome by taking long stairs. In the Videmonte – Caldeirão dam direction, the accumulated difference is relatively smaller (about 240 m) and in the opposite direction it is about 410 m, but the final ascent to the Caldeirão dam has a relatively steep slope. However, in terms of technical difficulty or risks associated with the medium, the degree of difficulty is low to moderate.

To visit the walkways with children or people with less physical availability, it may be recommended to do only part of the route, starting or ending at the entrance to Vila Soeiro.

Recommended season:

The walkways can be visited throughout the year, but it might be a good idea to avoid the hot summer days or the coldest winter days. Much of the route is quite exposed to the elements and there are not many escape routes, shade or shelter options on some of the longer walkway sections.

Existing support services along the way:

Along the walkways, the offer of support services is reduced, summing up to the existence of WCs next to the entry points and an intermediate WC (next to the Ribas bridge). Next to Ponte da Mizarela there is a bar where you can find drinks and (usually) something to eat. A support contact is available on the official website of the walkways (967 466 964 – Guards of the Walkways), but in case of a real emergency, contact should always be 112.

What to visit nearby:

In the Mondego Valley it is impossible not to mention river beaches. From the beaches of Porto da Carne and Aldeia Viçosa to the more remote and idyllic beach of Quinta da Taberna, there is no shortage of options for a dip in the clear waters of the Mondego whenever the heat sets in.

Along the route of the Mondego Walkways are dozens of old factories and mills of the wool industry. Many of them are identified by the signs on the walkways and it is worth taking a few minutes of your time to read the descriptions and imagine what that valley would have been like in other times, a kind of industrial center embedded in the nature on the banks of the Mondego.

Most of the villages around the walkways remain quite genuine, both in the architecture of the houses and in the way of life of its people. However, if you only have time to visit a few, take the opportunity to discover the villages of Videmonte, Faia and Vila Soeiro, authentic windows on the Beira of other times.

Next to the Caldeirão dam entry point, go up to the Mocho Real viewpoint for a privileged view over the Caldeirão River Gorge, the Mondego Valley and the walkways that depart from there. The Mocho Real Viewpoint is one of the geosites classified by Estrela Geopark. And take the opportunity to search the Estrela Geopark website for the many other classified geosites that exist in the vicinity and you will discover the fantastic geological heritage of Serra da Estrela.

In the village of Meios, be sure to visit the Museum of Weaving, where rags and porridge blankets are still made today. The museum still keeps several of the old looms in operation and during the visit you will be able to see them working. It is really worth the visit!

Halfway through the walkways, a little upstream from the entry point to Vila Soeiro, is the historic Hidroeléctrica do Pateiro or “Fábrica da Luz”, as it was known at the time. This hydroelectric plant was one of the first in the country and, from the 1st of January 1899, made Guarda one of the first Portuguese cities to have electric public lighting. More than 100 years later, the hydroelectric plant is still in operation and therefore the visit to the building is conditioned. Electricity was (and still is) produced by the force of water diverted from its natural course in a dam upstream and conducted by a levada to the loading chamber, where it enters the ducts above the power station. The walkways run alongside the dam and follow the old levada throughout its course.

Overlooking the Mondego Valley is Castro do Tintinolho, an ancient Iron Age fortification. Little remains of the old fortification, but the panoramic view over the Mondego Valley is superb and well worth the visit. Access is via a narrow asphalt road from the city of Guarda (next to the Polytechnic Institute) or from the village of Cubo. Next to the Castro do Tintinolho there is also the Roman road that allowed access to the Mondego Valley and which is still quite well preserved.

And for those who like swings, make the most of your trip to the Mondego Walkways to take an instagram photo at the Rapa Swings. These swings are located practically in front of Castro do Tintinolho, but on the opposite side of the Mondego Valley, and can be accessed from Videmonte by way of the wind farm. One of the swings overlooks the city of Guarda and the Mondego Valley and the other overlooks Celorico da Beira.

Recommended equipment and planning:

Although the Mondego Walkways are not a technically demanding mountain route or a high-risk environment, there are always some basic precautions when choosing our equipment, both for our comfort and to prevent unnecessary risk situations.

The environment where these walkways are located, despite the relatively modest altitude, is already mountainous and here the weather conditions are often more extreme than most people are used to. In summer, exposure to the sun is more intense than at low altitudes and, in winter, low temperatures are sometimes very low, in addition to being often aggravated by wind or rain. But beware, this is by no means meant to scare you, just to make you really prepared.

First of all, when planning to visit the Mondego Walkways, follow the evolution of the weather forecast during the previous days. Forecasts for more than 3 days are often unrealistic and things can change at the last minute, so don't forget to confirm the weather forecast the day before you come.

Nowadays (almost) everyone always carries their cell phone, but don't forget to bring it with a properly charged battery. There is a network for most of the route and, in case of emergency, contact should always be made to 112. For other less urgent situations, a support contact number is available on the official website of the walkways (967 466 964 – Walkway Guards).

Depending on the time of year (and the weather forecast) come prepared with practical and comfortable footwear. Sports shoes or hiking boots are welcome and avoid shoes with low grip soles or shoes that could hurt your feet after so many kilometers of walking.

In winter, avoid bringing overly heavy or bulky coats, as during the walk it is almost certain that they will be hot and then have no place to store them. It is best to wear clothing in several layers, to put on or take off as needed. And, even when the forecast is not for rain, it never hurts to bring (at least in your backpack) a waterproof jacket or windbreaker. Gloves and a hat are practically essential during the winter.

In summer bring light and fresh clothes, but don't forget to always bring an extra shirt in your backpack, because even in summer the mornings or late afternoons can be too cool. A hat and sunscreen are mandatory to face the high sun exposure on some very long sections of the walkways.

At a relaxed pace and with a few stops, count on at least 5 hours to complete the entire journey. Take this average duration into account when planning your hike's start time, with particular attention to the winter period when it gets dark quite early.

Whether summer or winter, always bring enough water. Between Videmonte and Vila Soeiro there are many kilometers to go and there are no support structures. In Winter (depending on each one) 0.5L may be enough, but in Summer aim for more than 1 liter per person.

Taking into account the estimated duration of 5 hours to complete the route, it is recommended to take a snack or at least something to eat during the walk. Along the route there is only the bar next to the Mizarela bridge, but that may be closed or on that day not have anything to eat. And, obviously, don't forget to take a bag to bring all your rubbish (humanity thanks you).

And to bring everything you need for the hike, between water, a snack and being able to store your coat when it starts to warm up, bring a comfortable backpack that is not too small. Depending on whether it is summer or winter, a backpack with a capacity of 15 to 25 liters is ideal.

The path of the footbridges is not much to deceive, but for those who always like to know exactly where they are going, just download the GPS track (in .gpx or .kmz format) and load it on your mobile phone. If you are not using any GPS navigation app yet, I recommend GPX Viewer, which is the best and most intuitive app of its kind. In addition to the track, I marked in the file all the points of interest and support that I considered relevant.

Other information:

There is a mobile phone network on most of the Mondego Walkways route, but at some points there is no coverage. In the event of an emergency, a short trip in either direction should suffice until connection to the network is restored.

Apart from the city of Guarda, close to the Mondego Walkways, there are only fuel stations in the village of Trinta and Porto da Carne.

(FROM: https://www.portugaloutdoor.pt/passadicos-do-mondego-3/