20 June 2016 Levada da Serra da Ponte do Pargo-Levada Nova circuit

Course

From the levada house on the Levada Nova, ascent along the Levada da Serra on the forest track as far as the turn-off after the levada bridge, through wood and gorse to the stream crossing, bypass on the footpath, back on the levada to the fork, on the upper branch to the new Madre, back to the waterfall and through gorse on the old path to the lower branch, to the old Madre, back to the stream spot, on the track above it across the stream to the lower track, to the end of the stream crossing, on the track northwards, descent westwards as far as the crossing with the Levada Nova. On this one against the direction of flow to the starting point. A short visit to the large water tank and the water treatment plant of Ponta do Pargo

Distance: 16.7 Km, 600 m ascent, 600 m descent

Start: 10.25 levada house of the Levada Nova

End

16.40 levada house of the Levada Nova

Condition

Easy walk along the levada as far as the stream crossing. The footpath is a little steep and narrow, but no problem

Upper branch and new Madre somewhat overgrown, but a good path is there

The link from the waterfall to the lower branch is heavily overgrown, but only briefly

Lower branch more overgrown, one very exposed, narrow spot; the Madre is also somewhat exposed and the levada ledge is narrow

Descent on the tracks to the Levada Nova easy and with views; the course is a little maze-like, so it is better to fix a route beforehand and perhaps load it onto a GPS device

Levada Nova as usual easy and relaxing, to the point of being soporific

Remarks

A circuit that can be lengthened or shortened as you like.