13 August 2017 Levada discoveries around Santana and a detour to Ponta do Clerigo

Course

From Cortado to the crossing of the Levada do Cortado with the ER-213 and along the Levada do Cortado to its Madre, back to the road crossing and on along the levada to the junction of the eastern side branch through a small tunnel.

Along the side branch to where the piping begins, then down to Ponta do Clerigo on a path and a gravel track as far as Ponta do Clerigo; here we looked for the geocache. Up again on the track and on a good path to Pico do Cortado. A little back and down on a slippery path to the gravel track with the main branch of the Levada do Cortado. To Miradouro do Pico Caldeira and on along the track to the crossing with the Levada do Rochao. The end branch of this levada is destroyed and the water (for the moment) runs unchecked onto a meadow.

On the Levada do Rochao against the flow to the Madre, then on the road to the crossing with the Levada de Santo Antonio. A little against the flow, back to the road and on to the Estrada de Santo Antonio. On it, partly along the Levada de Santo Antonio, to the junction with the eastern Levada do Cantinho. At the crossing with the Levada de Santo Antonio inf. 2 to its Madre and the end, then on to Madre 1 of the Levada do Cantinho in the Ribeira do Santo Antonio. Along this, in the direction of flow, through the tunnel under the Lombo de Santo Antonio. Here the levada disappears into the ground and is carried in a pipe across the Ribeira dos Pregos, where it joins the western branch. From above, a waterfall comes off the Levada de Santo Antonio inf. 1 and feeds the Levada do Cantinho as well.

Up along the inflow to the waterfall and on the Levada de Santo Antonio inf. 1 against the flow to the descent to the Ribeira dos Pregos and to Madre 2 of the Levada do Cantinho. On the western branch as far as the pipe from the eastern branch. Back to the path and to the Levada de Santo Antonio inf. 1 and against the flow, until it disappears onto private property. On to the Estrada de Santo Antonio and this time along the Levada de Santo Antonio against the flow to Lamaceiros. On a road, then on a path to the Levada de Lamaceiros, briefly to the Madre, then at the levada bridge over a side branch of the Ribeira de Santo Antonio. After about 100 metres, the path goes up to the right to Lamaceiros and to the ER-213, and back to the car. By car and on foot also to the geocache Aguage (no GPS track)

Distance: 16.3 km, 750 m of ascent, 750 m of descent

Start: 10.10 Santana Cortado

End

17.45 Santana Cortado

Condition

Mostly easy; the descent and ascent to Ponta do Clerigo are on a gravel track. In the heat, with no shade, it is a little strenuous; the path to the tip of the cliff is somewhat exposed and overgrown.

The remaining paths and levadas are easy, but not very comfortable

Notes

A quiet walk, if in this form a little strenuous; the area around the Lombo de Santo Antonio is the interesting part