Stage II GR53: A Garrida (reservoir) - Puxeiros
- ACCESS: Road PO 331 (O Porriño-Gondomar) or PO-2603 at Alto de Puxeiros (Mos)
- LENGTH: Main stage 14km approx. and 10km alternative GR-53.2
- DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM-LOW for the main stage; MEDIUM-HIGH for the alternative route GR-53.2
- AVERAGE DURATION: 5hrs. main stage. 3.15hrs. for the alternative route
Starting at the reservoir at A Garrida, cross the road PO-331 and turn left. Go up a narrow path with thick vegetation until you reach A Fraga in the parish of Gondomar.
Here the route crosses with GR53.2. Continue along the main route, along the right bank of the river Zamáns, to the mill known as Muíño das Maquías and the Zamáns reservoir is a little further on. From here continue along the route and cross the PO-331 again. The path up is windy and goes through pine forest towards Vigo University Campus. The Beade Forest Park is quite near and there is a wonderful view of the bay from there. There is a bar here and picnic area with public toilets.
Continue up to Pedra de A Cruz where the route links up with the alternative route GR53.2 to the right. If we follow the main route on the left, it goes down towards the Círculo Mercantil where we can see a dolmen. Keep along this route, along paths that go between the council limits of Mos and Vigo, until we reach a road that crosses over the AP-9. Then we turn left and go up towards Cabral Forest Park. Here too there are toilets, a bar, picnic tables and a place to enjoy the views. Finally we pass by O Rebullón and along a road to the right which leads to Puxeiros where this stage ends.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE GR 53.2
This route starts at A Fraga. Take the path to the right which leads along dirt tracks with a steep slope up to O Galiñeiro Mountain, the highest point on the whole route (550m). This area is suitable for rock-climbing as it has very steep slopes. At the crossroads at Coto Mediodía in the hills of O Galiñeiro, go past several forest track crossroads until you reach Casal de Abalde. From there continue to Zamáns Forest Park, Cidáns area and go up once more to Pedra da Cruz. Here the path ends and joins up with the main route.