The best running trails around Covilhã

The Serra da Estrela Natural Park is something truly special. This 1,000-square-kilometer park, spread across six municipalities, was the first and currently the largest protected natural park in Portugal. It is home to the highest point on the Portuguese mainland, the country's only ski slope, the source of two important rivers, and a fascinating, alpine-like landscape formed by glaciers.

At exactly 1993 meters above sea level, Torre is the highest point in mainland Portugal, where the only ski resort is located. The landscape on the upper plateau of the Serra da Estrela is like a sprinkling of granite rocks over low scrub and patches of snow and ice, which the sun threatens to melt soon in the summer and which always returns the following winter. In winter, it sometimes becomes inaccessible.

Caminho dos Poios with views of the Vale Glaciar do Zêzere The Caminho dos Poios, or the "Poios" (agricultural terraces) Trail, offers spectacular views of the vast and imposing Vale Glaciar do Zêzere, a masterpiece of nature sculpted by ancient glaciers. This trail winds along the sides of the mountain, offering panoramic views that embrace the entire "U" valley, highlighting its grandeur and the singularity of the landscape. The route allows you to appreciate not only the glacial morphology with its steep walls and moraine deposits, but also the human ingenuity in adapting the territory, as evidenced by the terraces that characterize the landscape in some areas. It is an immersion in the wild beauty of the Serra da Estrela, with the opportunity to contemplate one of its most significant geological treasures.

This trail is short in distance but huge in challenge. Known as the vertical kilometre of Alvoco, it takes you to conquer a thousand metres of elevation in less than four kilometres, a real climb towards the top of Serra da Estrela. However, it is not at all technically difficult. Each step is demanding, but from the first metres, the reward is the breathtaking views.

As the name suggests, this is a large hollow, an amphitheater sculpted by nature, where a lagoon lies that, on hot summer days, can disappear completely. Even so, the landscape remains stunning, imposing and filled with the overwhelming silence of the mountain.

At the Covão do Meio Reservoir, the waters give the illusion of floating on the horizon: a serene mirror suspended between the sky and the mountains. But the most surprising thing is the tunnel, over two kilometres long, that drains the excess water to Lagoa Comprida, in a piece of engineering that is invisible to the eye.

The Lagoa do Peixão, sculpted by ice from ancient times, has an almost mystical aura. In spring, the spectacle becomes even more mesmerizing, with thousands of dragonflies dancing on the water, while tree frogs croak on the edge of the lake, composing a perfect natural symphony. The view from here is breathtaking. The imposing rocky peaks of Fragão do Poio dos Cães and Cântaro Gordo emerge on the horizon, reminding you of the ancient glaciers that once shaped this stunning landscape.

Magnificent scenery. Be careful, the trails are very poorly marked and not at all maintained. The part of the trail between Luguna do Peixão and the valley leading to Mantega must be done almost exclusively using GPS.