Levada dos Pombais inf.

Madrei

South of Pombais N 32°51.071 W 16°11.853 ca. 556 m a.s.l.

Course

The original Madre is no longer accessible (overgrown). No water flows there any more either. The levada's real source is the tiniest waterfalls and seepage streams, which feed water into the levada along the first metres and further on as well. In 2017 the start had been freshly cleared and was easy to walk. Then comes a stretch where you have to scramble a little, but it is perfectly walkable. After that the path continues fairly wide, always with a fairly steep gradient.

The levada is then led over a waterfall. The path here is poorly protected, somewhat exposed and extremely slippery. Then you are back beside the levada below the waterfall. Beautiful sections follow along small rock walls, another mossy stretch with water flowing in, and then it flattens out and you are in open ground with fine views. Just above runs the Levada dos Pombais sup., though you would not recognise it as such. A short linking path reaches this parallel levada.

The path stays good and easy on to the Miradouro dos Pombais. Here the levada branches off towards the Vereda da Ladeira and runs alongside it to a small road that leads to the Miradouro Ponta da Ladeira. Side branches also carry the water to the fields along the Vereda da Ladeira below Pombais

End

Road to the Miradouro Ponta da Ladeira ca. 419 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Water supply for the fields north-west of Pombais and along the Vereda da Ladeira

Access

Miradouro dos Pombais, Levada dos Pombais sup. and the Vereda da Ladeira

Condition

The Madre is overgrown, and around the Madre the going is rough in places. In 2017 the path had been freshly cleared and was easy to walk. One spot at the waterfall has to be taken with care, especially on the way down!

Remarks

A beautiful little levada with fine views and interesting sections