8 August 2012 Faja da Nogueira

Course

From the junction off the ER 103 to the power station, ascent to the Levada da Serra do Faial, upstream to the Ribeira Seca (south-eastern entrance to the Pico Ruivo tunnel, first 150 metres of the Levadinha Joao de Deus), back to the levada house and downstream along the Levada da Serra do Faial to the Ribeira Faja da Nogueira, Levada da Serra do Faial to the tunnel at Pico Nogueira, after the tunnel upstream along the Levada Nova do Juncal to the Madre with the standing stone, back to the tunnel at Pico da Nogueira, descent to the power station and on the gravel track back to the car

Distance: ca. 29 Km ca. 700 m of ascent

Start: 08.30 ER 103

End

17.30 ER 103

Condition

The ascent to the Levada da Serra do Faial and as far as the Ribeira Seca is easy; the Levadinha Joao de Deus is exposed in places; from the levada house on the Levada da Serra do Faial to the Ribeira da Faja da Nogueira and to the Pico Nogueira tunnel mostly protected, but very exposed; narrow tunnels, which can be bypassed in part; the Levada Nova do Juncal easy at first, towards the Madre a few exposed spots with no protection or with broken protection

Remarks

Hardly any walkers out; the section from the levada house to the Pico Nogueira tunnel is only recommended for walkers with a head for heights; this section was closed in the summer of 2013 because of a landslide; in 2014, with a newly built tunnel in that stretch, it was walkable again after the stream crossing!

The gravel road to the power station is only partly recommended for ordinary hire cars (potholes, cross-drains); walking time from the ER 103 to the power station about 1 hour; the Levada do Juncal is beautiful, lonely and from another world

A combination of Rother walks 21 and 22 plus a few extra loops

On the ascent from the power station to the levada level you pass the Montado do Sabugal with its 2 huge, ancient stink-laurel trees