Alto Mirador de Veixia

# Alto Mirador de Veixia

Nestled in the rugged hills of A Coruña, Galicia, this mountain pass sits at a cool 600m elevation and serves up some seriously dramatic views of northwestern Spain. The fully paved route—known locally as the A-1702—might look deceptively short on paper at 11.2km with a 4.8% average gradient, but don't let that fool you.

Here's the real deal: the road splits into two distinctly brutal sections. The first 6.7km climbs at a punishing 6%, which will definitely get your heart pumping. Just when you think you've got it beat, there's a brief breather before the final 4km kicks in at a mean 7% average. Yeah, it's narrow and steep—the kind of road that demands respect from anyone behind the wheel.

But trust us, the effort is worth every meter. At the summit sits the absolutely stunning Mirador Vixía da Herbeira, a natural lookout perched dramatically on the cliffs of Costa Artabra. The views? Spectacular. Just pack a windbreaker—the summit can get seriously blustery, and you'll want to actually enjoy that panorama without getting knocked over.

This gem has even caught the attention of the Spanish Vuelta race organizers, which should tell you something about its credentials. If you're hunting for an authentic, challenging, and visually rewarding mountain drive in Galicia, this is it.