20 July 2014 Canical, Pico Castanho, Pico do Facho, Canical

Course

From the car park by the beach up the road to the first houses, up the vertical levada, cross the ER-214, up across the fields to the lower branch of the Levada do Canical. Follow this against the direction of flow to the junction with the main branch of the Levada do Canical, as far as the Canical tunnel, then in the direction of flow to the gravel track to the Pico Rocadas, up and searching for the climb, back to the levada, climb on the gravel track towards Loiral, back to the Levada do Canical, climb via the MIUT path to the saddle beside Pico Rocadas, on the ridge towards Boca do Risco, on the ridge to the Castanho, descent and climb to the Pico de N. Senhora, descent towards Pico do Facho, via Corrego do Ilheu and Corrego do Pejal on the old coastal path back to the beach

Start 09.35 Praia do Ribeira do Natal

End

18.30 Praia do Ribeira do Natal

Distance: 18 Km 1270 Hm

Condition

An easy but fairly long tour

Notes

A walk that was not planned in this form; I actually wanted to go up to the Castanho via the Pico das Rocadas. We missed the turn, though; now I would know where the climb is.

On the coastal path part of the path has collapsed. If you are not very careful you miss the diversion to the west (up the slope) and end up at the point where the path has broken away. Do not continue there on any account; either go back about 10 metres and up the slope on a poorly visible trace, or go back on the path and look for the turn. Once you know there is a turn, you find it.

Fascinating, all along the tour, are the changing angles of view onto the Sao Lourenco peninsula and the north coast, and the different perspectives.