Relheiras de São Brás

Relheiras de São Brás crosses woodland where grooves left by generations of ox carts remain carved into the rock. From the recreation area, the circuit passes the Forest Nursery of Native Species, which is devoted to propagating Azorean plants. A corridor of endemic vegetation introduces older woodland of eucalyptus and cedar, where changing light and humidity alter the atmosphere of the walk.

A monument to the ox cart marks the importance of these ruts in rural transport. Farther on, Fonte do Cão and a basalt sculpture evoking the island precede views towards Pico Alto and Serra do Cume. Beside Ribeira dos Pães, Pulho do Salto forms a small waterfall before the return. The itinerary brings together working heritage, botanical conservation and watercourses in an approachable circuit, showing how old routes passed through the forest and left lasting marks in stone.

The nursery and endemic plant corridor give the forest a present-day conservation context. In contrast, the cart ruts document an older use of the same ground, when movement depended on animal power and routes worn into stone. Pulho do Salto adds the continuing action of water to this dialogue between managed woodland and rural memory.

Begin at the São Brás recreation area and follow the route past the Forest Nursery of Native Species. Enter the endemic vegetation corridor and cross eucalyptus and cedar woodland to the ox-cart monument and ruts. Continue by Fonte do Cão and the basalt sculpture, with views towards Pico Alto and Serra do Cume. Reach Pulho do Salto beside Ribeira dos Pães, then follow the waymarks back to the start. After Pulho do Salto, keep to the circuit waymarks to return through the woodland without repeating spurs.