14 August 2017 Levada do Pico do Curral and da Serra de Santo António

Course

From Barreira on the good access path to the old piped Levada do Pico do Cardo, and from here following the levada remains to the stream-control works, where the two levadas Levada do Pico do Cardo and Levada do Pico do Curral flow together. After 100 metres on the Levada do Pico do Cardo we had to turn back (see below), and we climbed along the somewhat less overgrown Levada do Pico do Curral.

At first less steep as far as the bridge, then up the very steep steps, then traversing a little exposed, and a crossing with the gravel track. Further on, increasingly overgrown, we followed the traces of the levada to the upper Madre, which was surprisingly clear and easier to find than we had thought.

Back onto the gravel track and then pathless, traversing to the Madre of the Levada da Serra de Santo António, the piped side branch of the Levada da Negra. Higher up it too is extremely overgrown, and in places it is not possible to follow the levada. You have to keep finding a way through the bushes. Further down it is more open, and you come to the 3 feeder tunnels that bring a little water into the levada. Here we had a brief look at the end of the linking path to the Levada do Pico do Cardo; here too, in the meantime, everything has grown shut!

On along the covered levada, first through overhanging gorse and then a little more comfortably in the wood, down to the junction with the main branch of the Levada da Negra. The levadas then run parallel for a stretch and join shortly before the road.

Distance: 9 km, 870 m of ascent, 870 m of descent

Start: 09.50 Barreira

End

15.55 Barreira

Condition

Heavily overgrown and therefore trickier in certain places than it would be on open ground. Extremely time-consuming, beating back the vines and trampling the branches down. The ascent is quite steep and strenuous, with no shade. Around the Madre it is pathless and slippery.

Notes

We had actually planned to climb the Levada do Pico do Cardo together with the Caminheiros Anonimos. A local had already warned us in Barreira that the levada was heavily overgrown. So it was; on top of that we stirred up a swarm of wasps that had built a nest on the levada cover. 20 stings were reason enough to change the plan. It definitely needs another Amigos outing to cut the vegetation back.