19 June 2016 Levada de Marques Teixeira, das Rabacas and do Paul 2

Course

Along the road as far as the Reservatorio das Rabacas, on the covered Levada de Marques Teixeira as far as the descent track, on to the old Madre of the levada, over the stream structure to the footpath along the buried pipe to the Rabacas tunnel on the Cascalho track, to the end of the Levada das Rabacas, still present but ruined, and ascent to the place where the pipes coming out of the Cascalho end, back to the track and ascent on the track along the newly restored Levada das Rabacas as far as the crossing with the Levada do Paul 2, on this one against the direction of flow as far as the place where we turned back a year ago (walk 2015), back, a short side trip to the Levada do Paul sup.. In the direction of flow as far as the track to Covas, descent on it and back to the starting point.

Distance: 17 Km, 700 m ascent, 700 m descent

Start: 10.00 Covas

End

17.00 Covas

Condition

Easy walk as far as the descent track from the Cascalho track. Stream crossings a little slippery; the last stream crossing is somewhat exposed and you have to walk through the waterfall.

From the track onwards increasingly overgrown, but not dangerous. From the old Madre you have to climb a little (somewhat exposed), then catch the right ascent (steps!); from here somewhat exposed on the buried pipe as far as the Cascalho track.

On the east side of the gorge as far as the pipes, somewhat exposed, danger of rockfall!

Cascalho track steep! Levada do Paul no problem for walkers with sure footing

Descent on the track to Covas, against expectation, very pleasant: steep, yes, but shaded.

Remarks

A circuit that can be shortened (Levada do Paul side trip)