6 August 2021 Exploring the Rabacal area: Tunel Vieira de Castro and Levada da Senhora

Course

Today too a walk in the north was planned, but because it was pouring on the north side of the Encumeada tunnel we turned back. First we were rewarded with a huge cloud fall from the relevant viewpoint below Pedras. Later, at the big junction on the Paul da Serra, a gigantic rainbow enchanted us. So the annoyance had already blown over and we could turn to our new goal for the day.

We parked one car at the Rabacal car park and then drove to the western Ponto. Descent to the Furado Velho; this path has been improved and is wonderful to walk. A short visit to the Furado Velho and then on the 'Levada do Furado Velho' eastwards until after the first tunnel.

Descent on the path, now cleared quite well, always downwards. First we crossed the remains of the walls of a lodging, presumably used by the tunnel workers. On down, until we stood before the gigantic abandoned entrance of the Tunel Vieira de Castro. I had the impression that the entrance is even higher and wider than that of the Furado Velho. We still looked here for traces or waymarks for the further descent to the Ribeira da Janela, but the ground is so slippery here, and further down rock faces threaten, that we gave up the plan.

Climb back up to the 'Levada do Furado Velho' and on through the second tunnel until shortly before the bridge over the Ribeira do Alecrim. Here we climbed, on the path that is also new and for our taste built up almost a bit too much, to the eastern Ponto Novo, always looking out for the crossing with the Levada da Senhora. After we had reached the Ponto and still had not found it, a short descent once more. And then we found the entrance disguised as the path to the toilets.....

The Levada da Senhora has been cleared, but for a long time you simply walk in the tree heath on a relatively steep slope, with a view of the Rabacal houses. After a while earth banks appear first, which belonged to the levada, and in places also retaining walls and concreted sections. And usually, when the levada remains of the Levada da Senhora could be seen, a few metres further up you could also make out remains of the Levada dos Moinhos. That one has not been cleared, though, and so can only be reached at a few points.

Before a rock face the Levada dos Moinhos then sheers off upwards and later could not be seen either. The Levada da Senhora then goes through rocky sections, with 2 beautiful stretches that have views but are also exposed, with a splendid view of the valley of the Ribeira do Alecrim, the Rabacal track, the onward course of the Levada da Senhora and the Levada do Paul 1.

On you go, over or under tree-heath branches, until you suddenly stand on the Rabacal track. No way on can be seen here; you would presumably have to climb over the Ribeira do Alecrim to reach the crossing of the Levada da Senhora with the Ribeira. We saved that for later.

Climb to the Rabacal car park and back to the Ponto Velho. Here we had a closer look at the remains of the Levada da Senhora and of the Levada dos Moinhos shortly before the crossing with the ER110.

Distance: 13.8 km, 450 m of ascent, 400 m of descent

Start: 09.25 Ponto Velho

End

16.00 Rabacal car park

Condition

The descent and the path on the 'Levada do Furado Velho' are no problem, nor is the path to the Ponto Novo.

The descent to the Tunel Vieira de Castro has been cleared, but it has a few scrambling spots in it, because the path has slipped away.

Along the Levada da Senhora it is simply paradise for explorers: there is just as much room as you need, you have to step over branches lying across, duck under the branches, and squeeze through a narrow rock passage ('fat man's desaster...'). The two balconies are exposed, but the ground is stable and wide enough.

Remarks

A dream for experienced levada explorers