Golegã

Distance: 9.9 km; Duration: 3h;

Degree of Difficulty: Easy 

Trail departure point: R. João Veiga – near the train station

Coordinates: 39.367587, -8.553670 

Recommended season: In winter there is a possibility of interdiction due to flooded areas We advise against visiting on days when hunting is permitted- Thu, Sundays and holidays between 15 Aug e 28 Feb.

What is unique about the Paul do Boquilobo Biosphere Reserve trail is that its starting point can be reached by train. All regional trains stop at the Mato de Miranda station. For safety reasons, do not cross the tracks because the fast trains do not stop here. There is a level crossing near the station. There is easy parking and restaurant service onsite.

In order to safeguard the tranquillity of the species that seek refuge within the protected area, walk quietly and do not announce your presence, so that you have a better chance of observing the animal life.

This itinerary covers well-preserved areas of the cork oak groves, farmland and the parts of the Nature Reserve located in the municipality of Golegã, returning to the starting point along a section parallel to the railway line.

The start is less than 100 metres from the station square. Here, keep going for some 200 metres along the national road in the direction of the manned level crossing; next, turn right on the dirt road that runs parallel to the railway line; about 200 metres ahead, turn on to the first path you see on your left and keep going for some 500 metres. After passing a cork oak grove, turn right and keep going straight ahead, always with the grove and the eucalyptus trees on your left and a vast agricultural field on your right. After about 400 metres, the road forks; take the left-hand fork and then you will begin to have an open field on your right, with eucalyptus trees on the opposite side. Keep going straight ahead and about 500 metres farther on the patch of eucalyptus trees will end.

This is the highest point of the trail, which on days of good visibility allows for a panoramic view of the Tagus plains and towns located on the opposite side of the river. From here the trail starts to descend, going across some 200 metres of Ribatejo heath, wide open, rocky terrain, with scrub and rich in biodiversity, containing various types of bushes, such as curled-leaved rock rose (Cistus crispus), plants, bulbs and weeds that support various forms of life. Two hundred metres after starting the descent keep left at the fork in the road and for some 300 metres you will be immersed in a dense and perfectly balanced cork oak grove. There are many species of animals that live here and it is like an oasis in the middle of fields where intensive farming is predominant.

Keep on going for about another 150 metres and when the road forks, take the right-hand fork. You will have farmland on your left and after walking for some 500 metres and entering a small patch of towering cork oaks, turn left and keep going for another 1,500 metres parallel to the railway line. You will find an underpass that takes you underneath the railway line and into the Nature Reserve. On the left of the gate, which is always closed, there is a narrow passage that can only be used by pedestrians. Inside this protected area, the trail is circular and brings you back to the same entry point.

The itinerary goes along the interpretation path exclusively; no other routes are permitted. This space requires extra care in order to try to minimise any impact and be able to observe as many animals as possible.

Unaccompanied groups of more than nine people are not permitted. We advise against visiting the Paul do Boquilobo Nature Reserve on days when hunting is permitted to safeguard the tranquility of the species that seek refuge there. Paul do Boquilobo is the largest aquatic eco-system representative of interior wetlands, which used to be common throughout Portugal, but which have seen significant decline, particularly due to drainage for farming. Although there is significant biodiversity in terms of fauna in general, birds are its main asset and the reason for it being classified a Nature Reserve.

The trail follows a section of the Almonda River which rises in the Aire Mountain Range and flows into the right bank of the Tagus River, creating a flooded area that is known as the "paul” and is flooded on a seasonal basis. The first 1,400 metres take you alongside a dense patch of gallery forest, made up mostly of willows, ash and poplars, while the ground is carpeted in Ranunculus, small yellow or white flowers. You will easily spot yellow irises (Iris pseudacorus) here. There are 16 recorded species of fish in the paul, 11 reptile species, 13 amphibian, 27 mammal, including the fox (Vulpes vulpes) and over 200 species of birds, including the nuthatch. At the end of this section, between the paul and the open terrain on your left, you will find a fence along the way. Keep left and after a slight climb you will begin along section in a dispersed cork oak grove that, after about 1,000 metres, returns to the road on which you entered. Turn right and, after the underpass beneath the railway line, turn left along the same path you used when you arrived. The distance to the beginning of the trail is about 2,800 metres, always straight ahead alongside the railway line on a road that takes you back to the starting point.