6 August 2013 Levadas do Alecrim and Velha do Lajeado, Pico do Rabacal, Levada do Alecrim Velha, Lagoa do Vento and Furado Velho

Course

From the Rabacal car park to the Levada do Alecrim, along it against the direction of flow to the Madre, along the Ribeira do Lajeado, stream crossing and climb to the Levada Velha do Lajeado, along it against the direction of flow to the Madre, climb to the gravel track, eastwards to the bridge over the Ribeira do Lajeado, on a path to the Pico do Rabacal, back the same way to the Levada Velha do Lajeado, along it to the end (aqueduct over the Ribeira do Alecrim), descent to the Levada do Alecrim, further descent to the Levada Velha do Alecrim, eastwards to the intermediate intake and the small tunnel of the Levada da Senhora, back to the descent path, Lagoa do Vento, Rabacal houses, descent by the toilets to the old continuation of the Levada do Risco, along it (Levada do Furado Velho) to the Furado Velho, climb to the ER 105, back on the road with a small detour to the start of the pressure pipes to the Calheta power station, Camara da Carga and via the confluence of the Levada do Alecrim and the Levada do Paul 2 back to the Rabacal car park

Distance: ca.19.6 Km ca. 600 Hm

Start 09.35 Rabacal car park

End

18.30 Rabacal car park

Condition

Levada do Alecrim and Levada Velha do Lajeado easy; some sense of direction is needed around the Pico do Rabacal; descent to the Lagoa do Vento a bit rough and slippery; Levada Velha do Alecrim only for fanatics (crawling, climbing, balancing, but not dangerous!); 'Levada do Furado Velho' easy as far as the Furado Velho, a little overgrown; climb on a clear path (start on the left in the walking direction, a little before the big tunnel ("covered-wagon tunnel" = Furado Velho))

Notes

A rather long tour away from the tourist crowds in the beautiful Rabacal area