Levada do Moinho da Ponta do Sol

Madrei

Ribeira Ponta do Sol N 32°43.000 W 17°05.100 ca. 375 m a.s.l.

Course

Shortly after the Madre of the Levada Nova, part of the water is branched off over a waterfall into the Madre of the Levada do Moinho. A concrete structure catches it and forms the Madre of the Levada do Moinho. The concrete wall can be climbed, but after a few metres it takes a good deal of skill to get round a projecting boulder. It becomes easier a little later, from the stream bed. After a good 100 metres a narrow trodden path leads from the levada up to the Levada Nova, which flows higher up. The Levada do Moinho is clearly wilder and less built up than the Levada Nova. The path is left natural, unlike the concrete paths. In bends, somewhat exposed but well protected, above the bed of the Ribeira da Ponta do Sol. A fine view of the Levada do Coronel, running at about the same height, with its gallery tunnel.

Like the Levada Nova, the Levada do Moinho makes a marked 90-degree bend and swings onto terraced slopes. Good views as far as the end of the walkable path at Lombada da Ponta do Sol. Here you come out on the road that leads from the ER-222 through Lombada da Ponta do Sol to Jangao. On this road, and on further smaller roads, you reach the start of the Levada Nova (the classic Nova–Moinho circuit)

After the exit the levada continues to the Moinho da Lombada da Ponta do Sol and from here over fields, and splits into the terminal branches and the fine-distribution levadas.

End

Lomba da Ponta do Sol ca. 300 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Irrigation of the area below Lombada

Access

• To the Madre from

  • the Madre of the Levada Nova

  • the Madre of the Levada do Coronel along the stream bed, about 500 m downstream (it can be reached by a short climb through the reeds)

• By the trodden path from the Levada Nova

• The classic start at Lombada do Ponta do Sol

Condition

Moderate, relatively narrow, a natural path, some exposed places, good protection,

Remarks

• Usually walked as a circuit with the Levada Nova as the way there or back.

• When there is surplus water on the Levada Nova on the other side of the valley, the water is led through the newly built section into the valley of the Ribeira da Ponta do Sol and, over a waterfall above the Madre of the Levada Nova and of the Levada do Moinho, into the Ribeira da Ponta do Sol.