16 August 2017 Search for the Furado Velho via the southern Levada do Furado Velho

Course

From the car park on the ER-110, over the fence and along Lombo do Lumiele, past the remains of the ruined Levada dos Moinhos and the Levada da Senhora (see also Historical development of the levadas around Rabacal and on the south side between Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Pargo)

Descent to the track at the site of the former Levada do Furado Velho. First against the former direction of flow, at the beginning on a path that has been well cleared, then through quite stubborn vegetation to the southern exit of the Furado Velho. We walked the tunnel until the mud was definitely too deep. Back, and a look at the old levada remains at the southern tunnel exit.

Back the same way to the descent and on along the gravel track. At the next lombo (Rocadas) through the tunnel, which the cows had taken over for the shade. On the far side, down to the hunters' hut (geocache Casa dos Caçadores) and back again to the gravel track and levada. On to the next lombo with the smaller tunnel and on to Lombo das Uveiras. On this, at first on a narrow trodden path as far as the wider path, and on that to the ER-110.

On the way back to the viewpoint, a detour onto Pico dos Bodes (geocache Beleza da Madeira), with a beautiful all-round view of the whole Rabacal area, Fanal, Ribeira da Janela and the south side.

From here along the road to the start. On the drive back we of course still had to visit the geocache Ponto.

Distance: 13.3 km, 500 m of ascent, 500 m of descent

Start: 10.20 car park on the ER-110

End

15.45 car park on the ER-110

Condition

Descent on the lombo easy, in places pathless. The path to the Furado Velho is wide at first, then ever narrower, and heavily overgrown on the last 300 metres. The further into the Furado Velho you go, the muddier it gets, and in ordinary shoes it is hardly walkable (plastic bags, boots)

The former levada is today a wide gravel track. The tunnels are relatively short, but muddy in places

The ascent to the ER-110 is probably used now and then as a mountain-bike downhill, and is accordingly eroded in places and slippery

The path (there are actually 2 paths) to Pico dos Bodes has to be searched for; then it is relatively easy to find, first in the tree heather and then in the gorse, but it is already quite overgrown!

Notes

A walk with views, but better suited to levada enthusiasts. The main goal was to visit the southern exit of the Furado Velho