11 May 2019 Finally to the water house at Lombo da Raiz

Course

This was something I had wanted to see for ages: the water house in Lombo da Raiz on the Levada da Serra do Faial, and the levadas round about, including whatever remains there might be of the Levada da Serra da Santa Cruz.

I drove up on the Caminho Levada da Serra. This is where the old levada used to flow; today a few water covers and levada remains can be seen in the road ditch, and I assume water is still flowing underground.

Then on foot, on gravel tracks, to the water house, which sits almost mysteriously in the middle of the wood beside a few gnarled old trees. The outflow systems and the levada dividers are in surprisingly good condition, and a small concrete box is roaring in a suspicious way, so water is still being branched off towards Santo da Serra.

First against the direction of flow, as far as the point I had already reached once from the water house at the junction of the Levada do Furado and the Levada da Portela. Then in the direction of flow to the Ribeira Primeira, where the water is released entirely into the stream bed. I could imagine that the water is taken off again later from the stream, which here works as a linking levada. At any rate, if you drive along the ER 110 past the Ribeira Primeira, the well-built stream bed is hard to miss!

Further on the levada bed is partly destroyed and certainly no longer in use. After a few 100 metres I turned back, and returned to the car on gravel tracks.

Distance: 4 Km, 100 Hm ascent, 100 Hm descent

Start: 12.00 Lombo da Raiz

End

13.00 Lombo da Raiz

Condition

Gravel tracks

Remarks

A pity about the venerable Levada da Serra do Faial, that it is not better maintained and used.