Levada da Silveira

Madrei

• Madre 1 Ribeira dos Arcos N 32°47.200 W 16°55.150 at ca. 700 m a.s.l.

• Madre 2 Ribeira dos Cedros N 32°47.550 W 16°54.700 at ca. 680 m a.s.l.

• Madre 3, a side branch of the Ribeira do Lombo das Queimadas, 32°47.200 W 16°53.900 at ca. 665 m a.s.l.

• Madre 4 Ribeira do Seixal 32°47.450 W 16°53.550 at ca. 655 m a.s.l.

Course

After Madre 1 comes a well-kept channel that drops fairly steeply and later hugs the eastern slope of the Ribeira dos Arcos. Along this, a little exposed, to the tunnel; after the tunnel, in the valley of the Ribeira dos Cedros, stream-training works with a small feeder levada (Madre 2). Then along the eastern slope of the Ribeira dos Cedros past what is clearly a chronic landslide (usually cleared, with a visible path, a little exposed). Then the spot with the fine view of the village of Achada do Marques, right below the levada. Next comes a first place where water is taken off the levada (offtake 1). Here a gravel track from Queimadas (and from the Levada do Caldeirao Verde inf.) also meets the levada. This track also leads north to the Estrada da Silveira, which links Santana with Achada do Marques and Ilha (with a bus route!).

The rest of the course is a snaking line: loops to the south with stream crossings, loops to the north with access paths:

South loop, crossing a side branch of the Ribeira do Lombo das Queimadas

North loop; access to the gravel track to the Estrada da Silveira

South loop, crossing a side branch of the Ribeira do Lombo das Queimadas; here a small feeder levada, partly piped (Madre 3). Immediately afterwards, offtake 2

North loop, crossing a path that leads to Queimadas (and the Levada do Caldeirao Verde inf.) and to the Estrada da Silveira

South loop, crossing a side branch of the Ribeira do Lombo das Queimadas

North loop, crossing the Caminho das Queimadas; a little later water is taken off again (offtake 3)

South loop, crossing the Ribeira do Seixal; here first offtake 4, then Madre 4

North loop, crossing a track that comes down from the ER-218

South loop, and the passage of a dream house surrounded by hydrangeas. Shortly afterwards, the crossing with the ER-218

After a short stretch along a gravel track comes offtake 5. After that the levada is mostly dry, but easy to walk!

On in irregular loops to the end, at a road that branches off the ER-218 or the ER-213 (several options)

End

Feiteiras de Cima ca. 620 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Irrigation of the area around Feitera do Nuno and Feitera de Cima, with various offtakes along the course

Access

• 2 gravel tracks from Queimadas

• 2 gravel tracks from the Estrada da Silveira

• Crossing with the Caminho das Queimadas

• Gravel track from the ER-218

• Crossing with the ER-218

• Various gravel tracks to the end, from the ER-218 or the ER-213

Condition

Easy; from offtake 1 it can get a little tricky depending on the landslide, and in general the passage from here to the two Madres is a little exposed, but on a wide path it is really no problem.

Remarks

A shady, relaxed, little-used walk with a beautiful Madre 1

There are reports of trips from Madre 1 to the Pico Alto and on to PR1.1 (Amigos da Natureza). A trip by the Amigos da Natureza along the Ribeira dos Arcos to Achada do Marques has also been described.

The Caminheiros do Barrete de Orelhas have been active here too (Achada do Marques and Pico Alto)