Adventures around Lagoa Comprida, Serra da Estrela | Hiking and Adventures

It is the largest of the lagoons in the upper Serra da Estrela massif, and is also the main water reservoir in Serra da Estrela. Its construction began in 1912 from a natural lagoon, taking advantage of the existing natural pit. It has undergone several modifications, the last one ended in 1965 when it gained its current height of 28 meters and 1200m in length. The reservoir holds more than 100,000 m³ of water, and it flows into two tunnels, the Covão do Meio tunnel, which diverts water from the slopes of the Planalto da Torre and is more than 2,300 meters long, and the Covão dos Conchos tunnel, which diverts water from the Ribeira das Ships and is more than 1500 meters. On the north side of the lagoon it is possible to observe a field of erratic blocks, one of the most beautiful and interesting in Serra da Estrela. These blocks were transported and deposited in place by the glacier that existed there, when the ice melted and retreated. There are several hiking trails that start at this location.

WHEN TO VISIT

All year! However, Serra da Estrela has more charm when it is covered in snow. It may be necessary to walk through snow to reach some of the locations, so appropriate equipment and experience in the field are recommended. In spring and summer this entire region has low vegetation and it is possible to observe different species, but also to photograph the landscape.

DETAILS

Starting Point: Lagoa Comprida Parking Lot

Distance to Cover: Between 2 to 4 km

Time of year: Spring and autumn

Best time of day: Sunrise

Recommended Material: Camera + wide-angle and normal lenses (between 10mm and 200mm)

Extras: Check the weather for snow storms

HOW TO GET

The most recommended access is via Sabugueiro or Loriga, however, you must take into account the warnings imposed and the fact that the roads may be closed due to snowfall, to get there you can enter the following coordinates in your GPS: 40°21' 47.0" N 7°38'49.1" W or 40.363044, -7.646974, or follow the link to the google maps.

RECOMMENDED ROUTE

The best route is to follow the dirt road that starts behind the sales houses in the parking lot. You can initially climb up to the dam wall and check out the view. Then I recommend following the road until you get tired, there are several places where you can simply jump between the rocks until you are closer to the water. But don't forget that if you go off the trail, you should remember the path so you don't get lost. One of the best techniques is to visit during quieter periods, such as late spring. This way we get to know the terrain in case we visit the mountain with snow.

MY EXPERIENCE

Serra da Estrela is a magical place, not only in the sense of the wonderful landscapes and photographs we were able to take, but also due to the unpredictability of the weather! It may be sunny at the bottom and dense fog at the top, so you should be prepared to photograph in any weather, be it sun, snow or fog. I've seen all the seasons and on the last visit I got a lot of rain and fog, right after it had snowed. If I could, I would spend a year or two in the mountains taking photographs, maybe one day.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY?

When we're photographing, it's easy to lose track of what we should or shouldn't focus on, whether it's the most common species or the rarest, whether we're trying to photograph during the day or at night. I created some articles to show you what you can look for in certain places to photograph.

Find out which species to photograph during your visit to Tapada de Mafra: 3 Species to Photograph in Tapada de Mafra

Find out when to photograph different species of birds on the coast of Oeiras: 4 Species to Photograph on the Oeiras Promenade

SEE MY VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

I created several videos about wildlife photography where I explain how to photograph different species and also some of the best photographic techniques. From photographing coastal birds to photographing the beautiful kingfisher, it's a little playlist that I hope you enjoy and leave a like on the videos.

Did you know you can learn more about photography with me in the field?

Check out the ONWILD page to stay up to date with all destinations, events and workshops! They can also learn more about photography and get to know other countries.