The Spectacular Muíños do Tripes Hiking Route Near Tui Spain

The Muiños do Tripes hiking trail follows alongside a small river at the foothills of the Natural Park of Monte Aloia near Tui, Spain. It features one of Galicia’s most idyllic features, old stone mills. Not only can hikers appreciate the mills, but they’ll be blessed with shady forests, grapevines, small rapids, and waterfalls.

The stone mills in this area are said to date back to Queen Urraca in 1112. Today, there are around 49 mills along the Tripes River that stretch from the mouth of the river to the village of Frinxo in Monte Aloia.

The main hiking route works like a loop, but with so many trail options, it’s possible to spend the whole day hiking in the area of Monte Aloia. This hiking guide focuses on the short loop trail that can be reached on foot from Tui.

This quick hiking guide explains how to reach the Muinos do Tripes trailhead, my hiking map, some photo inspiration, and an overview of more things to see in Tui.

Here’s a brief hiking guide for the scenic trail of the stone mills of Tripes.

Table of Contents

Disclosure: This is part of my Hikes & Adventures series, which means these treks can be strenuous and challenging. These are my experiences and I am not an expert. Please have all the proper equipment, verify the weather conditions, use professional resources, do your own research, be mindful of constantly changing trail conditions, and take into consideration your own physical abilities and/or limitations. These guides are for entertainment purposes only. Please see my full disclosure for more information here.

• Where is the Muíños do Tripes Hiking Trail?
• Muíños do Tripes Map & Overview
• Trailhead for Muíños do Tripes Route Near Tui
• My Muíños do Tripes Route
• Points of Interest Near the Trail
• More Things to Do in Tui
• Conclusion | Overview of the Beautiful Muíños do Tripes Route

Where is the Muíños do Tripes Hiking Trail?

The Muiños do Tripes route is located near the medieval village of Tui in Galicia, Spain. It’s a little outside of the historical borders of Tui. I picked up the trailhead near the pueblo of O Eirado.

I walked to the trailhead from the Praza da Inmaculada in Tui, and it took me around 20 minutes (1 mile / .6 KM)

Muíños do Tripes Map & Overview

This is a basic overview of my loop hiking trail of the Tripes Mills hike. I started closer to Tui and made the official loop.

I loved this trail and it was a delightful surprise. I can’t wait to get back to see more of this special area in Galicia.

• Loop Trail
  • This map follows the route from O Eirado and makes a loop around the mills and back to O Eirado.
• Official Trail Markers: There are some wooden signboards along the route and some places with information boards. You may also see some white and yellow markers for the Ruta Monte Aloia. As this is a stone mill route, there are some signboards made from etched stones
• Difficulty: Easy- Moderate, some sections are a little steep, and the trail isn’t always super marked. During the rainy season, some of the stone walkways may be slippery.
  • The trail combines dirt paths, roadways, wooden bridges, and stones
• Round-Trip Distance: 3 miles (4.8 KM)
• Excursion Duration: +/ – 1.5 hours, but there are more trails to connect to explore deeper into Monte Aloia

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Official Tripes Mill Hike Route

While I picked up the trailhead from the above location, the official website places the loop trail start point at the Área Recreativa Circos (Pazos de Reis). I passed by it while walking the trail.

If you follow the official hiking route and start deeper into the park, the hiking stats are as follows:

🥾 Muiños do Tripes | Distance: 1.5 miles (2.5 KM) | Duration: +/-1.5 hours | Official Route Map

Trailhead for Muíños do Tripes Route Near Tui

I picked up the first signboard for the trail here. At this location, there is a small turn-off where a few cars can park. There are also garbage bins. A little farther up the road to the right is a fountain to refill waterbottles.

The trail signboard is right before the power station. Here is where you can find the signboard with the names of all the mills. Make sure to follow the trail to the right where you’ll see the first stone mill.

The trail is marked, but not great. At the beginning of the trail is where the wooden markers come in handy. I made sure to check in on an offline map as signage is lacking at certain trail sections.

My Muíños do Tripes Route

The trail greets hikers with their first stone mill. The first section follows along the trickle of the river and is a little more exposed.

There are a few random stone mills and the scery includes some local vineyards.

There is one really beautiful section where you cross the river over stones that create a walkway.

Shortly after that, there’s an approach to a road. This is where the official trail starts, and there is a signboard.

From the Official Trail Signboard

From here, the trail goes deeper into the forest, and you’ll begin to see more of the local trees of alder, willow, and ash. The stone mills are also stunning, and there are wooden bridges, waterfalls, and rapids.

One of the most scenic locations is “Puente y Molino,” or the Bridge and Mill. There are a few stone houses that sit on a terraced hillside. There is also a mill and a stone bridge.

Look for the signboard of the piece of music entitled Muiñeira do Tripes. There is a QR code that connects to the piece of music dedicated to the cultural aspect of the region. It was filmed right on location here! There is a small mirador to take a break and listen to the music.

After that, the trail is a mixture of dirt paths that twist through the moss-covered forest. There are more stone mills and a lovely section with multiple small waterfalls.

In this top section I made a few loops using the dog cainine rock carving as a point of reference. I didn’t see many trail markers up here, so I checked in on my offline map.

Returning to the Trailhead

I followed the trail back to the main Puente Y Molino.

From there, I returned to the official trailhead marker. Instead of following the same river path back, I opted to take a wider path that followed above the river. This trail was more direct to the road. It also gave me nice distant views of the Mino River Valley.

This route was easier than the other route, but wasn’t as scenic as it skips past the mills. If you wish, follow the same trail back to the trailhead near the power station.

I came out of the path near the Fonte do Piollo, which is a nice fountain to refill your water after the hike. The road continues to where you can see the start of the trailhead near the electrical plant.

I followed the road back into the historical center of Tui.

Remember that the distance between Tui and the trailhead is a mile each way. If walking to and from the trailhead, it will add at least 2 miles onto the hiking route.

Places of Interest Near the Trail

Again, this path is extremely close to the Natural Park of Monte Aloia. With a full day, it’s possible to hike deeper into the park.

➤ This is an excellent circular route to explore the stone mill route and combine it with other points of interest within Monte Aloia, like viewpoints, castro ruins, chapels, and even more waterfalls.

➤ Foodies will want to visit Restaurante Beldade (reservation required). This sleek restaurant has a nod from the Michelin guide and focuses on seasonal menus.

➤ Frinxo village has more stone mills, a chapel, a waterfall, access to trails deeper into the nature preserve, and Aloia Nature Hotel.

Psst… love these routes with stone mills? Here are a few of my favorites!

What to See in Tui Spain

Tui is a lovely medieval village that sits along the Miño River. Across the river, Valença’s fortress is the gateway to Portugal.

Tui has always been a significant religious site and border town. Today, it sits on the Portuguese Central Camino de Santiago route and is the third most popular place to start the Camino. Pilgrims can follow the final 120 Km to Santiago de Compostela and receive the completion certificate of the Compostela.

The Tui Cathedral looks like a fortress, but inside there are plenty of historical treasures and one of Galicia’s oldest cloisters. The exterior of the Cathedral is famous for the facade of the West Door.

The Cathedral sits in the heart of the historical Old Town. The streets of Tui are super charming, and surprises await around each corner, from tunnel pathways, old stairways, and a Jewish quarter. As a significant religious hub, there are numerous churches, convents, and stone crosses thoughout the village.

Those looking to appreciate the beauty of the village can walk along the riverside promenade (Paseo Fluvial de Tui) and see sections of the old city wall. Another excellent green space is the garden space behind the Santo Domingo Church and Convent.

Of course, make sure to stop in at one of the many lively tapas bars. The area around Plaza de la Inmaculada is quite lively.

While Tui is a great place to visit, across the river, Valença, Portugal, has a picturesque Old Town within the fortress walls. Another option is to soak in the local hot springs in Salvaterra de Miño. If planning to explore the area in depth, it’s best to rent a car and enjoy a road trip in the area.

Tui is a great place to sleep to experience the charm of southern Galicia.

Conclusion | Overview of the Beautiful Muíños do Tripes Route

This is a quick overview of the scenic hiking trail of Muiños do Tripes. This hidden gem trail is found between Tui city and the Natural Park of Monte Aloia. Along the route are the iconic stone mills of Galicia, waterfalls, leafy forests, and vineyards.

This fairly easy hiking trail can be appreciated in a few hours and offers the high reward of lovely views, local culture, and time in nature.

I found the hiking path of the stone mills along the Tripes River to be a wonderful surprise and a great way to spend a few hours away from the lively atmosphere of Tui.

Have you hiked the Senda dos Muíños do Tripes route near Tui? What did you think? Did you hike any of the other routes in Monte Aloia? Let me know in the comments below!

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