1 August 2021 Levada da Rouca and climb to Chao dos Terreiros, back via the Boca da Corrida

Course

Start in Jardim da Serra, along the Ramal do Pico da Cruz ou da Rouca of the Levada da Rouca, with side trips to all the intakes and Madres as far as the current end of the open levada, then the climb on the gravel track towards Terreiros and over the Pico do Trevo and the Lombo do Covao ou Estrebataria to the ruined Casas do Dr. Alberto.

After a short spell of uncertainty and searching for the way, then westwards and northwards, partly through dense broom and pathless, to the gravel track at the Casa do Pestana, where a welcome fountain of drinking water surprised us.

On along a dusty gravel track to the Crista do Espigao, with a first overwhelming view of the cloud-hung Encumeada pass.

On through a peaceful herd of cows to the Fonte dos Burros, then along a trodden path to another fine viewpoint towards the Encumeada. Climb to the Pico do Cruz; here the view all round, and of course the cloud fall too, is at its most impressive.

Back to the track and on eastwards. I was determined to continue on the ridge path, which was open at the start. Further on, though, it turned into a first battle through the broom. We spared ourselves the rest after point 1383 and dropped down a little to the track, which then ended in the broom shortly before Chao dos Terreiros. So on through the dense scrub to the trig point, and from here improvising to the Trompica, with another fantastic all-round view from the Encumeada to the Pico Grande.

The way on was completely overgrown, and we also had to climb over fences several times, because the path was clearer there. Looking back, it would have been wiser to leave the ridge path after the Trompica and take the tracks towards the Boca da Corrida.

From the Boca da Corrida a short side trip to the miradouro, then on the road to Jardim da Serra. Beside the road you can find the old ruined remains of the feeder levada of the Levada da Rouca.

On the way back we made another side trip to the Boca dos Namorados, a bleak spot with a fantastic view of Curral das Freiras.

Distance: 19.4 km, 1100 m of ascent, 1100 m of descent

Start: 09.30 Jardim da Serra

End

17.15 Jardim da Serra

Condition

Levada in good condition

The climb to the houses, on the track and through the grass, is quite good as far as the Casas do Dr. Alberto; after that it is partly overgrown and you have to improvise until the track at the Casa do Pestana, then gravel tracks as far as the ridge

Pico da Cruz pathless, but easy to walk; the ridge track heavily overgrown, likewise shortly before Chao dos Terreiros as far as the Boca da Corrida

Remarks

Alternatively, from the Trompica you could drop down to the track and stay on it as far as the Boca da Corrida