25 July 2013 Levadas dos Tornos and do Bom Sucesso

Course

From the car park at the botanical garden, ascent on the fall line on the Caminho do Meio to the Levada dos Tornos, on it upstream to the entrance of the Monte tunnel, descent on the path between Monte and Romeiros, eastwards to the turning towards the Levada do Bom Sucesso, descent on round-log steps to the Levada do Bom Sucesso, detour to the Madre, back to the levada bridge, on the Levada do Bom Sucesso to Bom Sucesso, descent via lanes to the Rua Dr. Pestana Junior and on to downtown Funchal

Distance: 11,3 Km 350 m of ascent 600 m of descent

Start 10.30 Jardim Botanico

End

16.30 Funchal harbour

Condition

From Romeiros to the tunnel, very exposed in places with no protection, fairly wet; the descent to the Levada do Bom Sucesso is no problem if the path is well maintained; the Levada do Bom Sucesso is exposed, with protection

Remarks

In the area of the Madre of the Levada do Bom Sucesso the stream bed has been completely rebuilt with massive concrete pillars. The levada has also been newly laid out; the last part to the Madre, though, is in very poor condition and for the most part unusable. Unclear how the water is supposed to flow one day!