Access coming from:

- Manteigas (± 19 km) – N338 and N339 by Nave de Sto. António.

- Covilhã (± 21 km) – N339.

On N339, km 30-31. GPS: 40.295556, -7.584167

Covering the eastern slope, in the sector upstream of the Alforfa stream valley, Alto da Pedrice gravel bed is the most spectacular example of frost shattering (i.e. breaking of rocks by the action of ice) in Estrela mountain. It is a deposit of pieces of granite of two micas, of fine grain, with various sizes. These characteristics point to a periglacial origin (near the glacier that have covered the Estrela mountain), resulting, in a simplistic way, from the repeated action of freezing and melting cycles of the water in the interstices of the rocks, which led to their fragmentation. The repetition of these cycles caused the rock to break, giving rise to very angular blocks. To form a deposit like this it was necessary that the slopes were in contact with the atmosphere and therefore not covered by the glaciers, to undergo the daily or seasonal temperature changes.

Frost shattering – splitting or breakup of a rock caused by the pressure exerted by freezing water in cracks or pores.

Glacier - mass of ice formed by the recrystallization of snow that flows forward, or has flowed at some time in the past.

Gravel bed – pebbles deposit.

Periglacial – area not covered by a glacier, but subject to freezing temperatures.