18.06.2022 Bardo Velho

Course

Descent from the picnic place at the Fonte do Bispo on gravel tracks and downhill tracks to the large reservoir of the Levada dos Marinheiros, which we had already visited in 2018.

From the reservoir it is piped at first as far as the Ribeirinho da Roseira and the junction with the first gravel track, then first through flowering broom, then very peacefully through tree heather to the Madre of the Levada dos Marinheiros.

Here begins the path that the Caminheiros do Barrete de Orelhas cleared in 2020.

In essence it follows the stream the whole way, often beside a metal grid, and sometimes with a small detour around boggy stretches of bank.

Wonderful tree heathers along the way, grown over with lichens, and many orchids!

At some point you reach a small reservoir, which is apparently meant to feed the fountain at the picnic place above, but has evidently been waiting quite a while to be brought into service.

Then it climbs steeply along a fence, and you come out on a track that ends abruptly. The starting point can be reached by a ladder over the fence.

Distance: 9.8 Km, 400 m of ascent, 400 m of descent

Start: 12.00 Fonte do Bispo

End

16.40 Fonte do Bispo

Condition

The descent is no problem, eroded in places and slippery on the downhill sections. Caution: the bikers move very fast, so keep your eyes and ears open!!

The Levada dos Marinheiros is actually straightforward to walk as far as the Madre, but it is muddy in places.

The onward path (Bardo Velho) is narrow and not always entirely clear, but usually you find the right way at once.

Remarks

A walk that has its charm precisely when the sky is cloudy and there is mist. Even so, we enjoyed the sun and the flowering broom to the full.