This forest house, from 1921, is now the Monte Aloia Visitors Reception Centre.

Monte Aloia Nature Reserve

A watchtower full of life

This extraordinary watchtower almost 630 metres high, also classified as a Special Protection Area of Natural Values, provided refuge and defence from the different invasions experienced by this region throughout history, especially during the Middle Ages. Furthermore, the remains of a wall at the top of the mountain and of a Roman settlement indicate a human presence in this area for many centuries.

Among the vegetation, characterised by shrubs such as common gorse, heather or white rockrose, there is an abundance of trees of great interest. Deciduous forests and scrubland share this area with extensive pine forests, the result of well-controlled reforestation.

All of these trees create the ideal habitat for an enormous variety of animals, especially mammals, such as foxes and rabbits, and birds, such as partridges or tawny owls.

Click here for more information about the Monte Aloia Nature Reserve


Data of Interest:
· Area: 746 ha
· Height: 80 - 629 m
· Municipalities: Tui
· Protection status: Parque Natural, LIC
· Special Protection Area of Natural Values

Flora of Interest:

· Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
· Erica sp.
·
Broomtops (Cytisus Scoparius)
·
White Rockrose (Cistus salvifolius)
·
Oak (Quercus robur)
·
Cork Oak (Quercus suber)
·
Willow (Salix sp.)
·
Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
·
English Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
·
Spanish Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
· Hyacinthoides paivae



Fauna of Interest:

· Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
· Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
· Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
· Red-legged patridge (Alectoris rufa)
· Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
· Kestrel (Falco Tinnunculus)
· Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)
· Roach (Rutilus arcasii)
· Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus)
· Southern Damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale)
· Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida)


Contact
viveonatural.pontevedra@xunta.es
Telephone: 986 805 483/84


Nature Interpretation Centre
Telephone: 986 68 50 95
Frinxo, 37. 36071 Pazos de Rei. Tui. Pontevedra
Activity requests:
viveonatural.pontevedra@xunta.es - Telephone 986 80 54 83/84
A watchtower full of life


White Rockrose(Cistus salvifolius)
Heather (Erica sp.)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
 

Routes:
These routes are aimed at making known the flora, fauna and importance of water in the nature reserve’s life, as well as its history, and ethnographic and archaeological characteristics. All of these are guided routes accompanied by a monitor and they begin with a slideshow about the reserve.

a) O Rego da Pedra Route
This 3-km route runs parallel to an old stone channel. It also features the Botanical Path, which is illustrated with information panels about the reserve’s vegetation. It takes approximately two to three hours to complete.

b) Cabaciñas – Poza de Cabanas Route
This 1.8-km route begins by ascending to the Cabaciñas viewpoint, thereafter returning along the Cabanas stream to the pool of the same name. It takes approximately one and a half to two hours to complete.

c) O Castro Alto dos Cubos Route
This is a 2.5-km linear route that starts out from Frinxo and goes as far as the O Castro Alto dos Cubos excavations. It takes approximately two to three hours to complete.

d) Os Muíños de Tripes Route
This 2.8-km route rises parallel to the River Tripes, passing by the restored waterwheels upriver, thereafter descending through the forest to the starting point.

e) Os Muíños de Paredes Route
This 9-km route begins at the Interpretation Centre and finishes at the place called Paredes, thereafter returning to the starting point.

f) Botanical Path
This 400-metre route runs through the nature reserve’s illustrated plantation, where the different species are identified by means of games.



Application form
· For the CENTÁUREA Programme This is a programme aimed at the general public that, acting on their own initiative and in organised groups, visit protected nature reserves.
· For the DRUÍDA Programme This is a programme for visiting Galicia’s protected nature reserves aimed at schoolchildren.