Touring Serra da Estrela E-mail

We invite you to come and discover the nature trails and to wander through Portugal’s largest protected area.

The starting point for this walk is a legendary spot: Torre, the highest point of Mainland Portugal. Head off towards the ruins of the chairlift and descend through the juniper grove and shielings to Covão do Ferro where the Padre Alfredo Dam is located. Imagine an 80m high glacier with a constant off-flow over its peripheral valleys.

Then descend down the road to Covão da Ametade where you can rest in a fantastic camping services zone in the middle of the Bio-Genetic Reserve and where you can find the source of the River Zêzere. After passing Covão de Algergaria as you journey along the sinuous valley you can see the great "dorsal spine" that seems to divide the valley into two. This is Espinhaço do Cão which was formed by the glacier coming from the Candieira valley.

A little further on, the water course offers marvellous scenery over Covões. Continuing on between the meadows along the banks of the River Zêzere, head off towards Manteigas, where the trail ends, though your walk has still not ended.

The mountain bike trail commences in the square of the main parish church in Vila do Carvalho. Climbing up to the mountain, passing by the farms of the people of Vila do Carvalho.This dirt road leads to paths that were once used by wool-workers who led-their flocks that way up to the grazing areas (The Wool Route). Further up, you find a recreational area completely lost in the mountain, the Viewing Point and Fonte da Serra.
 
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