3 August 2015 Levada do Norte and Plaino Velho, ascent to Paul da Serra

Course

On the Levada do Norte upstream through 6 tunnels to the eastern branch of the Ribeira do Inferno, ascent on a narrow path to the Levada do Plaino Velho, on the Levada do Plaino Velho, through 2 short tunnels to the Madre, ascent on a narrow path to Paul da Serra, Pico Ruivo da Serra, descent to the Levada do Plaino Velho, on down to the Levada do Norte at the crossing in the area of the Ribeira do Passo, back through 5 tunnels to the levada house

Distance: 11 Km, 690 Hm ascent, 690 Hm descent

Start: 09.55 levada house on the gravel track from Ginjas to Estanquinhos

End

18.55 levada house on the gravel track from Ginjas to Estanquinhos

Condition

Very demanding walk on narrow paths that are at the limit. Navigation skill and sure footing absolutely necessary.

The ascent from the Levada do Norte to the Levada do Plaino Velho is distinctly more dangerous and more demanding than the ascent from the Madre of the Levada do Plaino Velho to Paul da Serra.

Cut marks on the trees are often the only clues to the line of the path; sometimes they are missing over long stretches too. Danger of rockfall and landslides! I would not attempt the tour alone!

Remarks

An exciting walk, primarily about putting an idea into practice: where do the traces at the tunnel entrances lead, and is there a way through upwards and downwards? At the tunnel entrances of the Norte there are the trodden paths already mentioned in the description of the Levada do Norte, which lead primarily to the small feeder levadas, but usually continue further up and also down to the next larger levadas.