Madeira Unlocked

Daniel’s Levada Directory

4 August 2013 Levadas dos Piornais and da Faja

Also known as Tour 2013-08-04 Levadas dos Piornais und da Faja

Archival documentation — not a current hiking recommendation. Source file on danishome.ch last modified: 30 July 2024

Course

From the levada access along the Levada dos Piornais to the Socorridos power station, as far as the locked green gate; here a change of plan, because my wife was having a dizzy day; descent to the power station and in the stream bed to the Madre of the Levada dos Piornais; back separately, my wife in the stream bed and I back and forth over 3 climbs on the Levada dos Piornais between the green gate and the Madre, and over 3 climbs on the Levada da Faja between the Madre and the penstock to the Socorridos power station; from here back into the valley and climb to the Levada dos Piornais, back to the starting point

Start 10.30 Quebradas

End

17.30 Quebradas

Condition

Levada dos Piornais as far as the green gate very exposed in places, but well protected; the galleries can however be bypassed on the valley side; after the gate very exposed without protection; the last 200 metres quite slippery and exposed, though "only" about 4 metres above the stream bed

Levada da Faja very exposed in places from the start and quite unpleasant to walk; the crux with the covered levada at times with a waterfall, then impassable, otherwise very dangerous! Last stretch before the power station very exposed without protection,

A head for heights essential on the whole route, only for stress-resistant fanatics

Notes

Climbs to the Levada dos Piornais

  1. From the bridge before the power station on a slab path towards the north-east

  2. Where a gravel path leaves the stream bed towards the east and the stream bed makes a bend towards the east, there is a small path.

  3. At the levada bridge a somewhat scrambly climb is possible.

  4. About 200 metres before the levada a kind of track leads south-east to the levada

Climbs to the Levada da Faja:

  1. About 100 metres after the Madre through the bushes

  2. Opposite the 2nd climb to the Levada dos Piornais on a trodden path

  3. About 100 metres below the section shifted onto slabs, on a trodden path

  4. From the power station via a path and a stairway of slabs

Map

Photos

From the start to the gallery tunnels

To the locked green gate

In the stream bed to the Madre

On the levada to the open green gate and to the second access path

On the Levada da Faja between the Madre and the waterfall spot, and up and down on the 1st and 2nd access path

Up and down on the Levada dos Piornais from the 2nd ascent path to the locked green gate

On the Levada da Faja between the hamlet fields and the waterfall spot, up and down on the 3rd access path

From the power station up and down to the Levada da Faja and along wall passages to the hamlet and back

Back on the Levada dos Piornais