Levada Velha dos Cedros

Madrei

Small springs and watercourses on the Lombo do Cedro N 32° 47.800 W 17°08.650 ca. 1010 m a.s.l.

Course

The Levada Velha dos Cedros can be divided into 3 sections

Section 1: From the Madre a narrow, poorly walkable levada as far as a first water offtake, which further down feeds the waterfall at the Madre of the Levada Nova dos Cedros. On over a small stream crossing to a second stream, where the remaining water is diverted to the Madre of the Levada Nova dos Cedros. The levada from here is dry, though the path is more or less kept up for maintenance of the Madre and the first metres. In a dry stream bed an old levada bridge and old levada crossings can be made out.

Section 2: From the descent path from Fanal to the Madre of the Levada Nova dos Cedros, partly well preserved, but often blocked by landslides and fallen trees, as far as the alternative ascent and descent from the Levada Nova dos Cedros to Fanal. Shortly afterwards a well-preserved walled passage with steps, then often narrow and exposed, but also easy again, as far as the buried dead-end tunnel

Shortly afterwards a lombo is bypassed, with a possible descent path to the Levada Nova dos Cedros.

After that partly rough going over stream crossings, and also very exposed.

Later you follow a fence on the mountain side; the path here is sometimes a bit awkward, because you can often trip over bits of wire and remains of fencing.

The levada then branches off towards the north-east and cannot be followed further.

You are sure to meet the Levada Velha again at a picnic place by the ER209, and also the remains of the Levada do Lombo Gordo, which continued from here as twin levadas.

They went round the small hill to the east and ran towards Curral Falso.

Section 3: From here both levadas followed the present course of the Levada Nova dos Cedros, probably in part in the same levada ditches.

The Levada Velha and the Levada do Lombo Gordo had the same destinations as today's Levada Nova dos Cedros.

End

Exactly where the levada ended is hard to reconstruct, because the old levada bed of the Velha and of the Levada do Lombo Gordo is used today by the Levada Nova dos Cedros.

Eastern side branch: Eira da Achada ca. 390 m a.s.l.

Western side branch: Ribeira da Janela ca. 260 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Irrigation of the area around Casais de Cima, Ribeira da Janela, Igreja and Eira da Achada

Access

• Start of the PR-14 walking route

• Ascent from the Madre of the Levada Nova dos Cedros to Fanal

• Alternative ascent and descent from the Levada Nova dos Cedros to Fanal at the miradouro

Condition

The descent from Fanal over the mostly slippery wooden planks is a bit awkward

The Levada Velha dos Cedros as far as the Madre is unambiguous, if not always entirely straightforward (paths partly slipped away and overgrown). The section from the second stream crossing to the Madre has to be walked with great care (wet, unstable little levada wall).

The section from the descent path in the former direction of flow is partly overgrown and blocked by tree trunks. Some places are extremely narrow and exposed, with rock overhangs.

The last walkable section, with the metal fence, is a bit awkward (trip hazard).