05.05.2019 Ribeira Funda - Vereda dos Castanheiros - Fanal - Levada dos Cedros - Tranquada - Ribeira Funda

Course

Climb on the old royal road, the CR 23, to the end of the Vereda da Tranquada. Climb via the Vereda dos Castanheiros (with a short test of a path to the west) to Fanal, and descend to the Levada dos Cedros.

On that levada to Curral Falso and on along the PR 13, partly on the ER 209, on a branching gravel track and partly on newly built trail paths, to the Vereda da Tranquada, which is also part of the old CR 23.

Back along that path, and descend to Ribeira Funda.

Distance: 21.6 km, 1100 m of ascent, 1100 m of descent

Start: 10.45 Ribeira Funda

End

19.30 Ribeira Funda

Condition

The climb from Ribeira Funda to the Tranquada is nicely tidied at the start, then increasingly overgrown, and a bit rough in the stream beds, especially on the descent.

The Vereda dos Castanheiros is in good condition, very steep in places, but often with old stone steps.

The Levada dos Cedros was very full, and the path was therefore muddy in places and very wet. All the critical spots are intact and well protected.

The PR 13 is not quite so relaxed on the descent, with many steps and rock passages, some of them slippery, but not dangerous.

The shortcut on the gravel track and the trail paths is in good repair, and slippery downhill.

The Vereda da Tranquada is in good condition. A new bridge has been built where the old bridge was torn away.

Remarks

A walk that is demanding on fitness, without particular technical difficulties or dangerous passages. As always, take the descents carefully.

Thanks: warm thanks to Issi and Piet for the pleasant company. See also Issi's walk report.