Serra da Capelada

The Serra da Capelada runs along the northern Galician coast between Cedeira and Cariño, and at Vixia Herbeira the land falls about 613 metres to the sea in a slope so steep it is counted among the highest sea cliffs in continental Europe, though whether it qualifies as a cliff or a very steep hillside is argued by geographers. Wild horses graze the moorland on top, rounded up in summer curros for mane cutting, a Galician tradition. At the northern end, Cabo Ortegal is a headland of exceptionally old rock, including some of the few exposures of Earth's mantle in Europe, with a lighthouse and a set of stacks called Os Tres Aguillons. The Garita da Herbeira, an eighteenth-century lookout, stands on the ridge.

Highlights

• Vixia Herbeira - a drop of over six hundred metres to the sea.
• Cabo Ortegal - a headland of ancient mantle rock with sea stacks.
• The wild horses - free-ranging herds grazing the clifftop moor.
• The Garita - an eighteenth-century lookout post on the ridge.

When to go

May, June, September and October; the ridge is very frequently in cloud and the view is a matter of luck. Summer brings the horse curros. Wind on the tops is severe and can make standing difficult.

Good to know

Cloud and mist sit on the ridge much of the year, hiding the drop entirely. There is no fencing and the ground falls away steeply. Roads are narrow and the area is remote with few services.

Nearby

San Andres de Teixido, a pilgrimage hamlet on the cliffs, is on the same road; Cedeira lies south.

Key facts