Levada do Blandy

Madrei

Fonte de Joao Cala N 32°43.600 W 16°55.350 ca. 1630 m a.s.l.

Course

From the Madre to the ER-202, crossing with the ER-202, over the picnic spot (in the small wall), along the ER-202 (the levada wall can be seen from the car, also here, here, here, here, here and here), then a crossing with the ER-202, later another crossing with the ER-202, along the ER-202 to the next crossing. From here south-east to the water-collection point with the covered outlet (cf. the pictures), then cross-country to the next and last crossing with the ER-202, then the descent begins, a crossing with the ER-103, steeply on, first across the forest and later along the road that links the ER-103 with the ER-203. Then it meets the ER-203, a short piped section, and continues west of the Abrigo do Pastor until, shortly afterwards, it meets the ER-203 again. Along the ER-203, where it used to feed the Moinho Tia Jesuaina, which can be seen directly from the road, until it heads steeply down through the forest again. Crossing with the Levada da Serra do Faial and the Levada dos Tornos, on to Palheiro Ferreiro, where a large basin is filled. From here nothing more is seen of the levada; along the way stand several reservoirs fed by the Levada do Blandy. At the end, in Garajau, a water reservoir is filled once more.

End

Vale ca. 170 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Vertical levada for irrigating the area around Garajau

Access

• ER-202

• Footpaths in the upper part

• ER-103

• ER-203

• Levada da Serra do Faial

• Levada dos Tornos

• Garajau

Condition

Easy in the upper part; the steep sections are more likely to be a matter of fitness.

Remarks

From the small water house a path leads to Cabeco da Lenha, with a fantastic view of Pico Areeiro. From here to Ribeiro Frio, or a crossing to the Arieiro road (cf. the map and the Furado circuit 2014).

The Levada do Blandy runs along the northern end of the Parque Ecologico do Funchal.