On this hike, we'll be travelling through a small part of the Serra de Aires e Candeeiros Natural Park, specifically in the Porto de Mõs area. There we'll hike along the Ecotrailway of the old Bezerra coal mines and along some beautiful trails with sweeping views that allow us to reach the sea. We'll also get to know the picturesque "cabana do sítio do Elias" and paths along the Serro Ventoso Valley. Come along with us on another great walk!

Bezerra Coal Mines

In this area there was significant coal mining, taking advantage of lignite levels (i.e. layers with lignite - one of the types of coal) from the upper Jurassic. This coal was used in industry and fuelled the Porto de Mós thermoelectric power station and the Maceira cement companies. They are currently inactive.

Ecotrail

Bezerra railway - after coal mining began, this railway line was installed (1928), with an irregular route to overcome the Pevide mountain range. It was dismantled in 1953, leaving only the tracks that give access to this vast landscape. Along the line, which itself looks like a balcony overlooking the mountains, there are four beautiful and well-tended viewpoints / resting points. The landscape along this route is marked by the diapiric valley of Porto de Mós / Rio Maior, made up of detrital/evaporite sediments from the Hetangian. This valley is interrupted by the elevations of Pena Alagada and Cerro dos Casais.

The steep slopes of the Serra da Pevide are covered in shrubs, dominated by the carrasco (Quercus coccifera), sometimes accompanied by some holm oaks (Quercus rotundifolia), sargassum and specimens of great rose (Cistus albidus) with its pretty, fragile pink leaves.

- Serra d'Aires e Candeeiros Natural Park - Old Bezerra mines - Ecotrail - Cabana do Elias site - Pevide mountain range - Corredoura picnic area - Viewpoints and mills - Natural landscapes -