In the second stage of the route known as the Spiritual Variant, which goes from Armenteira to Ponte Arnelas, the Ruta da Pedra e da Auga, a magical path bordering the small river Armenteira, framed by dense vegetation with peaceful and attractive bends. The route runs through the municipalities of Ribadumia and Meis, in the heart of the Salnés region, a beautiful tourist area near the Arousa estuary, with magnificent beaches along the coast and picturesque vineyards.
It is a route with low difficulty, ideal for walking with children and even suitable for people of a certain age. The path coincides with a path that the ancient settlers used to go up to the Monastery of Armenteira every Easter Monday.
First stretch
The first part is a dirt road, always bordering the Armenteira River and under the fresh foliage, it is an easy path to follow and enjoy.
The path is in perfect condition and there are numerous spaces with benches and wooden tables to rest for a while or have a well-deserved refreshment.
The mills
Although the most characteristic part of the route are the mills (Muiños), which used to use the river water to grind corn, it is the “stone” and the “water” of the river that give the route its name. Most of the mills have been carefully restored and what is most striking is their abundance: there are dozens of them, even more than 40.
Shortly after starting the route, you come to the molino do Con. Next to him, on the ground, is a petroglyph. It is a rock with curious inscriptions, which seem to be carved in the shape of a cross.
Then follow the Muiños de Meis, four aligned mills that offer a very picturesque image, within a recreational area located on the slope of a small hill called Cabeza from Boi. A charming and pleasant place to relax under the shade of alder, willow, birch, oak and elder trees.
In this sector there is a deviation that leads to the “Aldea Labrega“, a set of sculptures that represents the daily life of a typical Galician town of the 20th century. There you can see a church, a granary, a stone cross, an oven and human figures and domestic animals.
Second Tranche
The second section of the Stone and Water Route is a more inclined path, with areas of tall vegetation of great beauty.
Always walking along the riverside, accompanied by the murmur of small waterfalls and rapids, and with the ever-present windmills as company, you can experience an incredible sense of peace in this wonderful stretch of trail.
The route ends at the Monastery of Armenteira of the Cistercian Order. The royal monastery is in Renaissance and Baroque style (the cloister, for example, is from the 16th century); Outside the monastery premises, there is a bar where you can recover your strength with a typical empanada de scallops and, perhaps, a small glass of Albariño…