Torre / Serra da Estrela from Seia via Valezim

I started just before Valezim, near the cemetery. From here, it’s about 23 kilometers. Don’t be fooled by the average gradient—to me, it feels a bit misleading to call this an easy climb. The first few kilometers from Valezim to the intersection with the N338 are fairly manageable and fairly consistent. It’s quite open, though, so if it’s hot, you’ll really start to feel the heat here. After the intersection with the N338, you’ll face quite a few steep sections (11/12/14%). These are clearly marked with signs, but the fact that the gradient is listed as 2 km long each time indicates that it’s not just a single little hill. The roads in Portugal are quite winding, so steeper sections alternate with flatter ones. Still, it gets harder and harder to recover on those flatter stretches in that oven-like heat, so the climb is fairly challenging until you reach the sign indicating an elevation of 1,700/1,750 m. After that, the route winds up and down a bit, offering beautiful views of the surroundings—including massive boulders, purple flowers, reservoirs, and more—to enjoy along the way. The summit (Torre) comes into view about 5 km away. After a descent, the final 2.8 kilometers are a fairly steady, not-too-strenuous uphill climb. The highest point is the side road leading to Torre and the ski resort. This is actually the least scenic part of the climb, so it’s a relief to have made it through, but head down quickly to enjoy the more scenic sections.