Tucked into the parish of Santa Mariña das Brañas, in the municipality of Toques (A Coruña), Fervenza de Brañas is one of those waterfalls that keeps coming up whenever people talk about the most beautiful cascades in inland Galicia. The Furelos river drops over a rocky ledge right next to an old stone mill, and in wetter months the water has been known to spill clean over the mill’s roof. It’s a compact, dramatic scene, and it sits inside a municipality that has more protected Natura 2000 land than any other in Galicia.
How to get there
The usual starting point is the Área recreativa do río Furelos, a small picnic area on the riverbank in Paradela, part of the Toques municipality. There’s space for only a handful of cars, so arriving early helps, especially at weekends.
One thing worth flagging clearly: there is also an “Área recreativa de Furelos” near Melide, and it is not the same place. Search for “Área recreativa do río Furelos, Paradela, Toques” to avoid ending up at the wrong car park.
If you’re driving from Melide, head toward Toques and follow signs for the parish of Ínsua, then continue on to Paradela. The trailhead sits just before a small bridge over the river, where the first waymarkers for the PR-G 166 route begin.
The route
The waterfall is reached via the PR-G 166, a signposted circular trail. Depending on which loop you follow, it runs either about 6.5 km with an easy profile, or extends to roughly 12 km if you take in both loops of the route, still without serious elevation gain.
From the picnic area, the path follows the Furelos river through woodland, alternating between forest track and a short stretch of paved road. After passing through the villages of Eirexe and Paradela again on the longer loop, the trail joins a gravel track that leads to the highlight of the walk: the Fervenza de Brañas itself, framed by the old mill beside it.
Past the waterfall, the trail continues on a gentle uphill gravel track, crossing paths with the PR-G 168, a nearby megalithic route, before looping back through open valley pasture with views over Toques’ rounded green hills.
Trail signage is generally good but some of the older markers have faded, so it’s worth downloading a GPS track (Wikiloc has several well-reviewed ones for this route) as a backup.
Practical tips
- Difficulty: Easy, suitable for most fitness levels and families with older children.
- Surface: Mixed forest path, gravel track, and a short paved section.
- What to bring: Proper walking shoes, water, and a snack, there are no services along the route.
- Parking: Limited at the Paradela picnic area, so arrive early on weekends.
- Best time to visit: After periods of rain, when the waterfall is at its fullest. Spring brings blooming gorse across the hillsides, and several visitors mention autumn as an especially atmospheric time to see it.
Nearby
The Furelos river also forms a pleasant recreational area in Melide, worth a stop if you’re passing through. In Toques itself, the Iglesia de San Antolín is a small but worthwhile detour for anyone interested in Galician church architecture.
