Serra do Xistral, Mountain chain and nature reserve in Lugo Province, Spain.
Serra do Xistral is a mountain chain and nature reserve in Lugo Province, in the northwest of Spain, made up of rounded peaks, wet moorlands, and open heathlands. The highest points rise above 3,300 feet (1,000 m), and from the tops you can look out over the rolling hills of inland Galicia.
The Serra do Xistral has been used by people since prehistoric times, as shown by the megalithic monuments and old droving routes that still cross the land. In the 20th century, tree planting programs with pine and eucalyptus changed parts of the landscape before protections were put in place.
The serra is part of a living pastoral tradition, with cattle and horses still roaming the open uplands as they have for generations. The stone walls and worn paths crossing the hillsides are signs of this long relationship between the land and the people who work it.
The area is best explored on foot from the small villages around its edges, where marked trails lead up into the hills. Weather can shift quickly, especially near the tops, so waterproof layers are worth bringing whatever the season.
Serra do Xistral is one of the few places in Europe where Atlantic blanket bogs survive at this elevation, largely undisturbed. These wet, spongy expanses absorb and store huge amounts of water, which is why the rivers that begin here keep flowing even during dry summers.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
