Levada da Faja

Madrei

Rib. Soccoridos N 32°40650 W 16°57.500 ca. 190 m a.s.l., 50 metres below the Madre of the Levada dos Piornais there is an odd-looking little house, where the water for the Levada da Faja is diverted and led in a pipe to the other side of the valley. Further upstream from the point where the pipe meets the Levada da Faja, remains of a continuation of the levada can still be seen, so the water used to be taken in higher up, on the right bank of the river.

Course

The Levada das Fajas can be divided into 3 sections:

Section 1: The life-threatening section: feed pipe from the Levada dos Piornais. Where the pipe meets the rock face, traces of the old course of the Levada da Faja can be made out upstream. Partly cut into the rock, partly stuck on artfully with mortar. Out of use in any case, but fascinating!

On along the wall with rope protection, very narrow, slippery and exposed, even if not very high. At the first right-hand bend the ground becomes a little flatter; here the first access path comes up from the stream bed. On, at first on flatter ground, then soon very exposed, with rope protection; an airy bridge about 20 metres above the stream bed; then the ground becomes a little flatter, and here the second access path comes up from the stream bed. After the next bend it becomes very narrow, slippery, wet and exposed, but with rope protection fixed at calf height! A damp, mossy and exposed passage in a long cutting, then very exposed with rope protection as far as the crux:

The waterfall that follows carries a lot of water at times, and then the passage here is not possible. The levada is covered with sloping concrete slabs (protection from the waterfall). If the waterfall is dry and it is not otherwise too wet, a passage is possible. Very dangerous, exposed and without protection; a bypass just below the slabs may be possible. The passage really is on the limit!

After that relatively comfortable as far as a rock overhang; this spot has to be bypassed by the so-called bramble bypass. There is also a small shelter there. Very unpleasant to walk (slippery, thorny); after that briefly a little wider, and here the third rough path comes up. After that always exposed, but continuing on a good little levada wall. Soon the first fields come, and then you can breathe a little!

When the levada makes a large bend to the right into the side valley, it gets adventurous again: the levada runs on a wall built of concrete and brick on an almost vertical face, without protection and in places a little slippery. Care is needed here too.

Section 2: From the head of the valley, with a railing; steep, but no problem, under the pressure pipe of the Socorridos power station, always along the terraces of the banana plantations. In time you approach the Caminho Joao Ernesto Pereira. Below this road the levada runs along for quite a while. From the road, by the way, there is a fine view of the levada (and also of the gallery tunnels of the Levada dos Piornais).

Crossing with the Caminho Joao Ernesto Pereira; at the start of the Caminho Joao Ernesto Pereira the levada disappears briefly under the road. Further down it comes out again. A short crossing and a passage under the VR-1.

Section 3: After the passage under the VR-1 the levada splits several times into various tail branches, and the situation becomes a little confusing. The end, in any case, is at the lower end of the Caminho Velho da Palmeira.

End

Caminho Velho da Palmeira ca. 70 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Irrigation of the area east of the Pico da Torre and of the terraces in the lower western Soccoridos valley

Access

Section 1:

• End of the pipe spanning the river

• 3 ascent paths

• Descent from the small hamlet on the Socorridos terrace

Section 2:

• Ascent on the path from the Caminho da Ribeira dos Socorridos

• Access from the Caminho Joao Ernesto Pereira is possible, also at the crossing and at the start of the road

Condition

Section 1: Very exposed, dangerous spots, only for experienced walkers and for fanatics; no real pleasure

Section 2: Course on the terraces, in part on the little boundary walls; watch out! A fine view of the lower Socorridos valley and the Levada dos Piornais

Remarks

The Levada dos Piornais always runs at about the same height, on the opposite side of the valley.

There is an excellent view of the Levada da Faja from the lowest part of the Levada do Curral e Castelejo.