Doniños

Our route begins at the Curuxeiras dock. Take the road from the port to La Graña until you reach the crossroads at A Cabana, and here take the CP-3607 road which goes to Doniños beach.

Doniños is linear beach which measures 1,700 metres in length and has a width of 41 metres. It is a windy beach with white sand and strong swell which makes it ideal for surfing. There are two different places to access the beach.

Punta Penencia is in the south. It is the least crowded area of the beach and is ideal for surfing or bodyboarding. An O´Neill circuit surf competition is held here in September. In this area, the beach is studded with rocks which are shaped like sculptures and there are some spectacular cliffs. At low tide, a small natural cove called Lumebó appears. It is a magical place which is difficult to reach due to the steep landscape, but its great beauty is accentuated by these rocks with capricious shapes that resemble sculptures. This cove is frequented by nudists. This area of the beach has a car park and a beach bar.

In the northern part of the beach is the area known as Outeiro which is where the beach facilities can be found. There is a large car park, a beach bar and a large pine forest provides shade. There is also a promenade with a small park and playground for children, all of which makes this an ideal family beach.

The coast at Doniños is home to a dune system with species which are native to Galicia. Where the land meets the sea, the Doniños lagoon emerges. This lagoon has been declared a wetland of national interest due to its mantle of plant species. The lagoon has a depth which ascends to 9 metres and opens once a year forming marshes which is a highly recommended sight.

Due to its uniqueness and the numerous migratory and settled birds which inhabit the area, it has been declared a wildlife refuge and is included in the Nature 2000 network as an area of regional importance. This is a natural environment which has been protected due to its varied ecosystem. Local legend has it that beneath the lagoon´s waters there is a submerged city which was swallowed up by a giant wave as punishment. This legend maintains that only two children survived and the place was named after them (“dos niños” means two children).

To the north of Doniños beach, past the pine forest, we can take a signposted turning which leads to Lobadiz. Here, the archaeological remains of a pre-Roman coastal settlement (Lobadiz settlement) are located. The remains of walls and parapets can be made out. It is dated to between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD. During the excavation work, pottery, tiles and the remains of limpet, mussel and cockle shells were found which demonstrate the inhabitants´ diet consisted of taking advantage of the natural resources of the area. There is also a small wild rocky cove which is windy with strong swell. It is ideal for diving fanatics due to the clear waters and the remains of a shipwreck. There are magnificent views of the Gabeiras isles which were separated from the coast by the erosive action of the sea. Although from the coast, it looks like a single isle, in fact there are two, which were formed in two different geological periods. The archaeological remains found there prove that they were inhabited by the peoples of the neighbouring Lobadiz settlement.