
Tags: walking, Walking Holidays, hiking, Hiking holidays

Tucked away in the south of Galicia, Spain's most north-westerly province, is the wine country of Ribeira Sacra – “holy riverside”, a name that stems from the vineyards in the area established by monks in the Dark Ages. Here a new walking route from On Foot Holidays winds through the vineyards, meadows and woodlands, stopping at small villages, wineries and some stunning accommodations along the way.
This region is incised with deep valleys whose extensive south-facing slopes are perfectly designed for the ripening of the grape, though with practical challenges imposed by the steepness of the terrain. For many years this was a forgotten area, and it is only recently that the wines produced here are getting the recognition they deserve.
For the walker the attraction of the area is in the dramatic gorge scenery, and this route makes the most of the riverine landscapes, starting in the citadel of Castro de Caldelas, exploring two gorges (the Sil and the Minho) and their associated hinterlands, and finishing in the capital of the region, Ourense. The old town is crammed with cobbled streets and historic buildings, and a particularly fine collection of tapas bars.
A special feature of the holiday is the interesting range of accommodation - mostly small, family-run hotels in historic village houses. Walkers will stay in an 18th century manor house filled with antique furniture, a lovely rural hotel with dinner and wine tasting included, and a spectacular converted monastery perched above the valley.
Price: from £1190 (based on two sharing), including 9 nights accommodation, 6 picnic lunches, 3 evening meals, luggage transfers, full Walker's Pack with route directions, maps and background information, GPS tracks, and local telephone support. (Travel to the start point and from the finish point is excluded.) Shorter versions of the route are also available. See www.onfootholidays.co.uk for more details.