21 June 2022 Beautiful loop via the Levada do Brasileiro and dos Moinhos

Course

Before we set off on the Levada do Brasileiro, a band of rain still had to be waited out. So we paid a short visit to the Fonte da Pedra. This is an adit about 30 m long, driven to open up the water. A direct intake from the adit and a controlled outflow can no longer be made out, but the adit is already quite impressive.

When the weather then cleared, we started at the Lagoa do Bardo and walked against the direction of flow on the Levada do Brasileiro, on all three levels, to the Madre. On the clearly visible trodden path we went on up to the ER105. After a short stretch of road we continued west on the labyrinth of gravel tracks. Here we were glad of the GPS for orientation; on the many paths and tracks you can lose your way quickly.

After the passage of the Ribeira da Cruz we looked out for the descent to the Madre of the Levada dos Moinhos. This poorly visible start, too, was only found after consulting the GPS, quite overgrown in the upper part!

On the fairly steep and somewhat slippery path we came to the Madre of the Levada dos Moinhos.

Our last visit, in 2014, on this levada was marked by continuous rain; today we could enjoy the fine sections in the upper part in sunshine.

The section below the mill we had already walked a second time in 2017.

So today from the Madre on the Levada dos Moinhos to Portas da Vila.

Here we left the Levada dos Moinhos at the junction with the ER105 and marched a short way along the road to the junction with the lower course of the Levada do Brasileiro, after we had already walked a good stretch along this levada.

Then on the fine section of the Levada do Brasileiro back again to the Lagoa do Bardo, a visit to the legendary frog pond, and an exploration of the inflows to the Lagoa do Bardo.

Distance: 19.2 Km, 450 m of ascent, 450 m of descent

Start: 11.00 Lagoa do Bardo

End

17.15 Lagoa do Bardo

Condition

The access to the Fonte da Pedra is very slippery and not clear.

The Levada do Brasileiro is actually straightforward to walk, but it is narrow in places and also exposed. And mostly a bit muddy and wet.

The traverse to the Levada dos Moinhos and the descent to the Madre are confusing in places; it is worth walking here with GPS support.

The Levada dos Moinhos is unproblematic throughout, sometimes a little damp.

The ascent beside the lower branch of the Levada do Brasileiro is very varied and mostly unproblematic.

Remarks

A relatively long walk, but a very varied one. The problem here is that it often rains, and you can only judge the weather once you are on the spot.