23 July 2014 Pedregal waterfall and Levada do Moinho

Course

From Pedregal to Lomba da Velha (you could also drive this stretch; there is a car park below), then on a beaten path to the rim of the gorge of the Ribeira dos Moinhos (Garganta Funda), back to Pedregal, by car to Porta da Vila, on the Levada do Moinho upstream to the Madre, back to the car (in persistent rain)

Distance: about 14 km, about 280 m of ascent

Start 1 08.30 Pedregal

End 1 09.30 Pedregal

Start 2 10.00 Porta da Vila

End 2 14.00 Porta da Vila

Condition

• Pedregal is straightforward if you do not go too close to the drop,

• Levada do Moinho well secured, not dangerous; the various crossings are sometimes a little slippery when wet

Remarks

The original plan was a circular walk on the Levada do Moinho, from its Madre to the Madre of the Levada do Brasileiro. The path from the Madre of the Levada do Moinho to the gravel track is easy to find, somewhat overgrown and quite slippery when wet; given the weather, we decided instead to return along the Levada do Moinho