17 August 2017 3 levadas in the lower Tabua valley

Course

Start on the expressway at the Caminho da Praia. Up steps and steep ramps to the ER-222. Along this a short way towards Tabua and here up the steps, until you meet the end of the Levada das Voltas. Follow it past turn-offs, water caves, storage ponds and with a beautiful view to near the road to Tabua. Towards the Madre it becomes in places a little narrow and slippery, in places a little exposed. You meet a first reservoir, then you stand directly beside the road, 5 metres up. Here you again have the option of going down steps to the road, but we followed the levada on a narrow, somewhat exposed path, which was also overgrown with bushes, as far as the Madre. You stand in the bed of the Ribeira da Tabua, whose entire flow is taken here. At the same time, from the east side, water is led into the stream bed before the Madre. It comes from a levada taken a little higher in the Ribeira de Tabua and was originally carried across the road on the well-preserved aqueduct of the Moinho da Terca. Today, though, the water is piped beside the aqueduct, under the road.

Also at the height of the Madre of the Levada das Voltas, on the eastern side of the stream, the Levada da Corujeira is taken. You can follow it for a few metres and then climb out of the stream bed on a ladder. The water is led beside the road and above the stream bed until it reaches the height of the descending road. Here it is taken under the road and comes back to the surface as a levada on the other side. After another piped section it first flows through a few fields. The next section cannot be walked. The path runs below the levada. First the water flows along the rock with strong overhangs, then there is a concrete ledge, which can be reached by a ladder. After that a piped section and another narrow section, which you meet again on the path from below.

From here the levada is partly narrow and somewhat exposed, but always with a good side path. Here too, fantastic views across to the other side of the valley and the Levada das Voltas. You reach a few houses, where the levada runs in pipes. After a reed thicket you come to a levada bridge and, a little later, an interesting section with the levada partly covered and a railing at a fairly exposed spot. After an overgrown section you reach Corujeira; the levada is led along a wall and disappears under the road. Later it reappears and the water is led into a reservoir. Quite a lot of water also arrives here from the Levada Nova above and is led into a separate pond for later fine distribution.

Ascent on small paths and roads to the Levada Nova, which would still continue at this point but is presumably only rarely in use. Against the direction of flow, with fine views, through the small tunnel and over the slab section to the stream works in Tabua. On along the levada, now looking across to the Levada da Corujeira, as far as the Zimbreiros ridge, and a short detour to the crossing of the Levada Nova with the Ribeira da Caixa. On our first levada walk in 2012 we had to squeeze under a sheet of metal here in a fairly adventurous way; the spot is also somewhat exposed. Today there is a bridge.

On this section you can also look across to the Levada da Candelaria, which is presumably no longer in use as far as just before Candelaria and takes piped water from the Levada Nova.

Descent on the Caminho Lugar da Serra and the Caminho dos Zimbreiros to the ER-222 and back via the Caminho da Praia to the start.

Distance: 18.2 Km, 650 m of ascent, 650 m of descent

Start: 09.35 Tabua roundabout

End

16.10 Tabua roundabout

Condition

The Levada das Voltas is partly narrow and crumbling. Towards the Madre area it is somewhat exposed and overgrown.

The bypass of the Levada da Corujeira is partly slippery and not without danger; later it is exposed, but in good condition here. Partly overgrown, but good to walk.

The Levada Nova is, as usual, wide and well protected. A little sure footing is still an advantage!

Notes

A very varied walk with beautiful views