22.07.2014 Levada do Meio, do Baixo, do Norte and Espigao

Course

From the car park southwards along the main road, Faja, stepped ascent to Eira do Mourao, on the path to the Levada do Baixo, Madre, upstream to the first houses, ascent to Til, along the Levada do Meio until the path is impassable, pathless ascent to the Levada do Norte, upstream, descent on a trodden path to the Levada do Meio, to the current end, Madre of the Levada do Meio, ascent to the Levada do Norte, upstream until after the Espigao tunnel, ascent to the gallery and traverse of the steep slope southwards, ascent to the stepped path from Espigao, descent to Meia Legua, back to the car park

Distance: ca. 21 Km ca 800 Hm

Start 09.00 car park at the Continente

End

17.45 car park at the Continente

Condition

• Stepped ascent relatively strenuous

• Traverse from Eira do Mourao to the Levada do Baixo somewhat overgrown

• Levada do Baixo in fairly good condition, in places somewhat exposed

• Levada do Baixo from Til onwards increasingly ruined; from the Madre to the new end above the Levada do Baixo well cleared, then impassable

• Levada do Norte, from Eira do Mourao onwards increasingly somewhat exposed, but the path in good condition; after the tunnel increasingly narrower as far as the first gorge

• The gallery to the south is recommended only for walkers with a completely sure head for heights

• Descent to Meia Legua (stepped path) in good condition

Remarks

The main aim of this walk was to explore the condition of the relatively little-known Levada do Baixo and Levada do Baixo. We also wanted to plan the whole thing as a circular walk, which was only possible by walking the gallery after the Espigao tunnel (alternative: before the Espigao tunnel, traverse left above the fields. The fields are in part no longer farmed, the path is critical in places, and there is a danger of rockfall).

Further alternative: from the Levada do Norte there is an ascent before the tunnel up to the road (report by the Caminheiros do Barrete de Orelhas)