Rota da Água-Pedras Brancas

The Pedras Brancas section of the Water Route is temporarily closed. Its 5.2 kilometres between Ribeira Chã and Água de Pau must therefore not be treated as an available walking link. The route was designed to interpret how communities in Lagoa municipality occupied a water-rich slope, bringing together farm lanes, woodland and geological features.

Ribeira Chã introduces the crossing through its rural landscape and cultural places connected with local traditions. From the village, the line climbs on agricultural accesses, passes cultivated parcels and enters forest. In the uplands it meets other sections of the Water Route and approaches Pedras Brancas, a pale rock face that provides this stage with its principal natural landmark. Changes in vegetation and ground reveal the variety of the slope between coast and plateau.

After a road section, the route descends towards Água de Pau, completing a medium, linear walk of about two hours when open. Its landscape combines farming, community heritage and geology rather than presenting them as separate attractions. Any future visit depends on an explicit reopening and will require transport between the two villages; until that confirmation, neither endpoint should be used to enter the trail.

Do not enter PR41SMI while it is closed. Its line leaves Ribeira Chã, crosses the village and climbs farm tracks into woodland. In the uplands it meets junctions with other Water Route sections and passes the Pedras Brancas rock face before reaching a road segment and descending to Água de Pau. If reopened, check the waymarks at every junction and arrange transport between the villages. This route sequence does not authorise access during closure. The full 5.2-kilometre route remains closed; choose another open trail and reconsider this itinerary only after reopening has been expressly confirmed.