Açôr
Ádela
Aldeia Velha
Carrimá
Carvalhal
Coiços
Foz da Cova
Loural
Malhada
Quinta das Águias
Quinta de Belide
Ribeira de Ádela
Ribeiro de Além
Roçaio
Saião
Salgado
Sobral
Soito
Vale de Asna

Vale de Asna is situated in a small sub-valley of the Ribeira do Saião. In the 1950’s the government built a forestry road to Vale de Asna, and a forestry house, now abandoned. Vale de Asna was originally a quinta - there was only one dwelling house, built around 1890, and the other buildings were used for housing sheep and goats. At some time during the 1970’s all the villages in this region were linked to the electricity supply, but this did not happen with Vale de Asna because the only inhabitant was used to living without it, and did not want to spend the money!
The farm is now owned by a Dutch couple, Jan and Io, who keep 125 goats and run a successful business selling goats’ cheese, for which they are well-known in the region.* The business is run using electricity generators and solar panels.
On the steep land there are about 200 olive trees, and sheep graze the fields below the house. The sheep are considered by their owners to be the ‘private fire brigade’, because they keep the grass down, without damaging the olive trees, and thus reduce the fire risk. Wild flowers also grow in profusion where the grass is kept short by the sheep.

The area further up the hill is known as ‘Mimosa’, where in the 1950’s several huts were built to accommodate the forestry workers, but all that is left now is the font. The top of the valley has been extensively terraced.
Up on the hillside you can see a cross, known as the ‘Cruz de Vieiro’, formed by vegetation on the rock - it is said that this cross has always been there.
In the past, the World Rally Championship came by this place and was always a huge event for the local people, as hundreds gathered to watch the cars go past.

N.B. Vale de Asna is  privately owned land – please respect the owners’ privacy.