Something Different - The Serra de Estrela

The region with Portugal's highest mountain peaks is off the beaten track for most tourists visiting this country. This makes an active holiday break here attractive, given the areas outstanding beauty and perfect setting for great mountain biking and hiking. It is Portugal's largest National Park and the only two rivers that start and end within Portugal's boundaries cross the park - Rio Mondego and Rio Zezere (a classic boulder strewn glacial river).

The Serra de Estrela was given National Park status back in 1976 to protect the rural character of the Serra de Estrela villages and the countryside. This was an important step which has helped conserve the wildlife which includes birds such as Black Storks, Eagle owls, Black Kites and Peregrine Falcons, many types of Bat, Iberian Rock Lizards and Iberian Frogs.

There is a lot of great mountain biking trails for all skill levels including a bike park with 3 downhill routes that has a 1000 metre cable car with bike hooks. More info at the regions main tourist website turistrela

Near the town of Manteigas (pictured) is Skiparque which has a dry slope ski run for skiing and snowboarding. There are also boats for hire, bicycles, horse riding, climbing, orienteering, paintball, paragliding, 4x4 tours, and target shooting - http://www.skiparque.pt/

More Serra de Estrela Tourist Informatio here http://www.rt-serradaestrela.pt/ENG/index.html