Rabacal, Risco Waterfall, 25 Fontes
Madeira
Distance 11km
Tuesday 13 September 2016
This was the first of the two guided walks we took. George was our guide today, after picking us and other walkers up he drove to the Rabacal car park. You can see from the photo the weather was different to our previous walks on Madeira. George checked we all had the correct gear such as waterproofs and torches before setting off.
We started descending down from the plateau of Paul da Serra. Visibility was very poor due to the mist. George pointed out local flora and that the heather forest would collect the mist droplets which supplied the water for Madeira's levadas.
The paths were well marked and this was one of the walks recorded as a must do walk on Madeira, as it was to the west of the island. We could see a number of people had considered this walk due to the number of walking groups in the area. The path levelled off as we turned passed a sign.
The mist was a cool change from the heat we had been experiencing over the last few days. George stopped us a few times and pointed out a lot of local flora on our way to the Risco Waterfall. The waterfall was stunning falling down out of the mist. The mist lifted a little and we could see the cliff walls on the far side of the valley.
After a short break to take photos we retuned back along the track to the junction we had passed earlier. Turning right we had a steep descent to another level.
Once at the bottom George collected us all together again and provided more information on Madeira and the work of the levadas and how they supply water to generate the islands electricity. We were now walking along the Levada das 25 Fontes. George pointed out small trout swimming in the levada.
The path was level and flat here although starting out quite wide it soon narrowed.
We crossed a bridge and took the steep steps up the other side to a water house and rejoined the levada.
At the top George told us the rules of levada walking. As the path narrowed and in places a rail had been set up to help with safety. to our left there were a number of places where the ground fell steeply away. I think walking the stones also helped protect the path with all the walkers in the area.
Reaching the rock basin of the 25 Fontes many other walkers were also stopping for lunch. I did not count the springs to see if there were 25 of them, what with all the water running down the sides.
After a break for our packed lunch George collected us together and led us back along the levada.
We climbed down to the gorge and up the other side and continued back to the steep steps we had walked down earlier from the Risco Waterfall. We did not climb back up but continued along the lower level beside the levada.
The path came out to an area that had been seriously damaged due to the recent fires. You could see the wires where the telegraph poles had gone and the rubber around the wire had melted. Apparently the fires are set deliberately. Due to the fires there is a risk of the ground being destabilised and possible landslides.
It was sad seeing the devastation but we could see new life coming through the ashes.
Out of the tunnel we continued to follow the levada around the side of the hill.
It did not take us long to reach the transport that had been moved to our finishing point. A very good walk, loads of information from George, too much to remember.
We had walked 11km with a couple of steep sections up and down but mainly a flat walk with a stretch of down hill from the start. Looking forward to our next guided walk.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Madeira or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
Follow link to our next walk in Madira Marocos to the Canical Tunnel.
Follow link to our previous walk in Madeira Levada dos Piornais.
I was in this levda this month. I had luck with the weather: it was sunny.
ReplyDeleteThis walktrough is very beautiful and we also visited Levada do Risco.
The tunnel of the last part of your post was closed, but I believe that the impact of fires is outdated :)
https://oultimofechaaporta.blogs.sapo.pt/levada-das-25-fontes-e-levada-do-risco-258040
That is good I am glad you had better weather than we did and more importantly the land has come back to life after the damaging fires in 2016. I am aware that things chance and have been putting a note to say the details are correct at the time of walking. I have now added this to this post. Thank you
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