Cape Corrubedo is a flat rocky formation closing the inlet of the same name. Although it is near the peaceful Rías Baixas, it is exposed to the open sea, with the vast ocean on one side and the rocky Serra do Barbanza on the other.

At just a few metres above sea level, The Corrubedo lighthouse withstands the assaults of the wind from the sea with no protection. It is a cylindrical brickwork tower whose white dome can, from a distance, appear like the white crest of a great breaking wave. Surrounded by crags and tiny islands, the lower reaches of this coast are dangerous, making the lighthouse indispensable. Occasionally on foggy nights it has been taken for the lighthouse on the island of Sálvora.

A long straight road, a rarity in Galicia, runs to and from the lighthouse. To the north the Balieiros or Furna dos Portiños beach is a popular wind-surfing site. The beaches often form grottoes, “large natural cavities in the rocks, produced by the action of the sea”, evidence of the violent impact of the waves on this shore.

Corrubedo is a peaceful location with pleasant temperatures in summer, although it is windy in winter. The inlet is not as large as a ría but it provides sufficient protection for boats in the busy harbour. The small houses almost touch the sand, or the sand touches the houses, according to how you see it. It is a pleasure to wander through the maze of streets in the village. From the harbour, a large white expanse can be seen in the middle distance: the great dune of Corrubedo.

The route passes the Complexo dunar de Corrubedo and lagoas de Carregal e Vixán Natural Park, which deserves a leisurely, respectful visit because of its sensitive environmental conditions.

A side turn heads towards Santa Clara de Novás, with a detour to Monte Tahume, one of the finest panoramic lookout points on the Galician coast.

Returning to our route we come to the Lagoas de San Pedro e Xuño Interpretation Centre, where visitors can learn about phenomena in the intertidal zone. At this point the coast becomes a continuous beach which changes its name as one proceeds: Areas Longas, Xuño, Furnas, etc.

Joining the new road at Xuño, we enter a more densely populated area with smallholdings between Caamaño and Tarela. Looking towards the sea, we can see Monte Louro in the distance; we shall be seeing it again later.

Baroña is a compulsory stop. The castro here is a coastal settlement dating from between the first century BC and the first century AD, located on a small isthmus overlooking the Arealonga beach.

At the A Arnela beach the road appears to merge with the sea. Monte Louro can be seen on the horizon, an impressive sight that will reappear with every turn in the road.

Before we reach the town of Porto do Son, a side turn takes us towards Monte Enxa (539 metres), the end of our route. From this extraordinary natural lookout point there are sweeping views over the Ría de Muros e Noia, closed off to the north by Monte Louro, with its unmistakeable outline.

Monte Enxa is a great place from which to observe the different uses for the land: crags and scrubland in the immediate vicinity, livestock and forestry in the middle distance, and urban development on the edges of the ría. Above all, however, it allows us to contemplate a fascinating section of the Galician coast, between the Arousa and Muros e Noia rías.