3 July 2022 Alternative walk on the Levada Nova between Calheta and Prazeres

Course

The plan for the day had been a demanding walk with our guides from Madeira Wonder Hikes in the Sao Vicente–Boaventura area,

but because it was pouring at the 2 backup start points as well, we called the plan off. On the way back, after it had also kept raining on the Serra,

we settled, out of frustration, for this fallback of a walk.

So we started above our usual place, Calheta Green, at the junction of the ER211 with the Levada Nova, in the direction of flow.

Shortly afterwards comes the large storage reservoir at Achada do Seixo on the Lombo do Salao, where the pressure pipe for the Calheta II winter power station also branches off.

On along the broad path beside the Levada Nova, over the 2 streams of the Ribeira do Raposo and finally over the Ribeira da Achada.

After the end of the long gorge crossing, a descent to the Lombo do Castanheiros.

From here on a narrow path over the Ribeira da Achada to the Lombo da Estrela.

On to the Lombo do Salao, where we looked in vain for a way on to the Lombo do Brasil. There is an old end branch of the Levada da Azenha

here, with a fine levada bridge to find, but after the locals had sent us to various places where the path, after a few metres,

disappeared into the undergrowth, we went up the Lombo do Salao to the starting point.

Distance: 13.6 Km, 280 Hm ascent, 280 Hm descent

Start: 10.35 Levada Nova/ER211

End

14.45 Levada Nova/ER211

Condition

The walk is straightforward.

Crossing the Ribeira da Achada, and climbing back onto the Lombo da Estrela, takes a bit of a sense of direction.

Remarks

As I said, a stand-in round, which still got us some exercise.