30.07.2014 Estanquinhos, Casa do Caramujo, Levada do Plaino Velho, Estanquinhos

Course

Estanquinhos - Casa do Caramujo - junction with PR-17 - Levada do Plaino Velho - Madre - ascent to Pico Ruivo do Paul - Estanquinhos

Distance: ca. 15 km ca 450 Hm

Start 10.50 Estanquinhos

End

17.45 Estanquinhos

Condition

Descent to Casa do Caramujo on a gravel track; PR-17 in good condition; the Levada do Plaino Velho had recently been cleared, as had the ascent onto the plateau; shortly before the Madre, in the area of the last tunnel, exposed and slippery; on the path from the gravel track to the Madre, 12 tunnels, mostly short, in places a little muddy

Remarks

The aim of this walk was to explore the Levada do Plaino Velho in full, after we had already walked the stretch from the gravel track to the end 2 times. We also wanted to locate, and perhaps explore, any descents, possibly to the Levada do Norte or towards Espigao de Sao Vicente. And the reason this levada was built, and when, is still a puzzle.

We found 2 descents that showed clear cut marks on the trees. For lack of time we put off exploring them.