Highlight • Cave
Gruta das Banjas
Cycling
5.0
(2)
Gravel riding
5.0
(1)
Running
5.0
(1)
This Highlight is in a protected area
Please check local regulations for:
Tips
liamlonsdale
July 23, 2025
Running
The Gruta das Banjas seemingly appears out of nowhere. A giant hole in the ground.
The cave lies near the peak of Serra das Banjas, at roughly 325 m elevation, carved into schist bedrock with clear ties to abandoned mine workings.
Features include tight passageways and vertical shafts—the result of manual extraction dating back to Roman and later periods, within the broader Dúrico-Beirão mining district.
I’d recommend accessing from the western side, and climbing up and out of the main shaft, rather than the opposite way which demands a more challenging climb down into the chasm.
The cave lies near the peak of Serra das Banjas, at roughly 325 m elevation, carved into schist bedrock with clear ties to abandoned mine workings.
Features include tight passageways and vertical shafts—the result of manual extraction dating back to Roman and later periods, within the broader Dúrico-Beirão mining district.
I’d recommend accessing from the western side, and climbing up and out of the main shaft, rather than the opposite way which demands a more challenging climb down into the chasm.
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Nearby routes
Best routes near Gruta das Banjas
26
runners
22.7km
02:59
720m
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Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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runners
10.8km
01:26
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Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Hard
Details
Informations
Elevation 330 m