EVENT: Walking in the Beijames Valley and the Beech Route (Autumn in Serra da Estrela)

DATE OF REALISATION: 29th and 30th October 2022

EVENT DESCRIPTION: “Walking in the Beijames Valley and the Beech Route (Autumn in Serra da Estrela)”

In this activity proposal we will walk and visit some of the most fabulous places in Serra da Estrela, such as the Beijames River Valley and Springs, Covão da Ponte and the fantastic Beech Route, among other places. This will be a weekend full of strong emotions and landscapes to remember for a long time. Come and join us!

These will be some of the most important places we'll visit along the various hikes: 

• Beijames Valley
• Springs of the Beijames River
• O Aguilhão“ stone”
• Verdelhos River Beach
• Covão da Ponte
• Typical schist house and walls
• Terraces and viewpoints
• Quintas do Vale
• Chapel of St Lawrence
• S. Lourenço Lookout Post
• Pandil Stream
• Natural landscapes

TIME: Departure from Lisbon at 6.30am
RETURN: Arrival in Lisbon at 7.30pm

Saturday 29th October

Walk: "In the Beijames Valley”

Level of difficulty of the route: 4 (Scale of 1 to 5)

Route length: 19 kilometres

Expected duration: 6 hours

Beijames river valley

The Beijames River Valley is one of the most unknown valleys in the entire Serra da Estrela Natural Park, which is why we'll be walking along its paths, between forests of holm oaks, ferns, pine trees, and surrounded by large cliffs, sometimes made of schist, sometimes of granite, but almost always we'll be able to hear the sound of the crystal-clear waters of the Beijames River and perhaps even be surprised by some local fauna....

The Beijames Valley takes its name from the river that runs through it: the Beijames, and is a tributary of the Zêzere River. It rises in the Poios Brancos area at 1431m and flows into the Zêzere at 525m over a length of approximately 16 kilometres. This is a magnificent valley, one of the most interesting in the Serra da Estrela. Its upper part is characterised by an area of plateau, accompanied by gentle slopes that stretch between the geodesic landmarks of Poios Brancos and Curral do Vento. In this valley, at a higher altitude, mountain agriculture is still practised, based on rye cultivation and transhumance pastoralism. There is little scrubland, cereal fields and small woods. In the steepest area, on the slope exposed to the north, there is one of the largest reserves of holm oaks (Quercus rotundifolia) in the Serra da Estrela. It is also here that corneous rocks can be seen in the Beijames riverbed. The nature of the corneous rock depends, in particular, on the nature of the underlying rock (which contact metamorphism caused 300 million years ago).

Sunday 30th October

Walk: "Beech Route and Covão da Ponte”

Level of difficulty of the route: 3+ (Scale from 1 to 5)

Route length: 14 kilometres

Estimated time: 5 hours

Beech Route and Covão da Ponte

Its name comes from the fact that this trail plunges into a dense beech forest, planted by the Manteigas Forestry Services at the beginning of the 20th century. In addition to this species, there are also chestnut trees, broom, Oregon pine and the imposing monumental oaks that surround the Chapel of S. Lourenço, a place of worship with pagan reminiscences related to the worship of trees and the sun - on the summer solstice, those in Manteigas see the sun rise over S. Lourenço.

Covão da Ponte is located in the municipality of Manteigas, at an altitude of 960 metres, through which the River Mondego flows at the beginning of its course. By taking advantage of the natural features of the site and renovating the existing buildings, kindly provided by the Forestry Services, the Serra da Estrela Natural Park has transformed this place into a small recreational centre with camping facilities and a shelter house with the minimum conditions to support all those who enjoy outdoor activities. It is also the ideal place to visit and get in touch with Estrela at altitude in its natural aspects and also to get in touch with the people of Estrela, their activities, uses and customs.

Autumn is the season of choice for walking through this deciduous forest. This is when the warm colours of the trees reach their maximum saturation. It's a place where you can wander through the woods full of trees and paths flooded with the brown or dry green of the deciduous leaves and contemplate this masterpiece that Mother Nature offers us.

4pm - End of activity and return to Lisbon

Equipment: Footwear and clothing suitable for hiking

Registration fee:

Price includes:

- Transport by bus, minibus or coach from Lisbon to each of the places described above
- Transport to the locations of each walk and accommodation
- Accommodation with breakfast included
- The proposed accommodation option includes various room types
- Guided Walks
- Compulsory insurance

190€ (Price per person in double room)
220€ (Price per person in single room)
Entry fee for seat reservation: 50€

Prices valid until the end of August 2022. Thereafter the prices are 210€ and 240€ respectively

Notes: 

a) Registrations are limited and accommodation options are limited to availability at the time of booking.

b) If you have a group interested in this trip, contact us, we have personalised solutions.