Santa Clara Headtrail
Santa Clara Headtrail
This Headtrail takes place exclusively in the interior, with the local reservoir as a highlight of the routes, along with the leisure and bath area found next to the village. You will travel mainly through rural and forested paths, with no single-tracks worth noting, through a preserved and mostly wild natural landscape, including vast areas with minimal human presence. You will also visit small hidden villages such as Castro da Cola, Corte Brique, Corte Malhão, Cortes Pereiras, Monte da Ribeira, Torquines and more, addition to several ghost villages, like Totenique with its school ruin taken over by vegetation. This place once served a population of 120 people.
The full loop around the Santa Clara Reservoir is an enticing challenge for any cyclist, but is only suited for experienced cyclists with high stamina. Two GPS tracks offer both a short and a long version.
This Headtrail also forms a link between the MTB trails and the train stations of Santa Clara / Saboia, Amoreiras-Gare, Luzianes-Gare and Pereiras-Gare, however currently only the first two stations have passenger services.
You will also visit the villages Nave Redonda, Saboia, São Martinho das Amoreiras, Viradouro and Santana da Serra, the latter village already lying within the Municipality of Ourique.