Today’s walk started at the village of Ilha which was the reverse of the original advertised route. This meant that very quickly we were walking steeply up hill with steps cut into rocks and with a mix of mud and stones. Rather unrelenting sections meant we just kept going up! The use of one of my poles proved very helpful.
We started our walk with amazing views and as the area was a UNESCO protected Laurel forest there were interesting plants to see.
And then the steps started! This was really hard work as we climbed from 500 metres above sea level to 950! There were some flat bits and some amazing scenery.
After continuing for quite a while we arrived at our coffee spot. Our guide Benny provided an amazing Madeira ginger type cake and hot water to make coffee or teas – on the first day he had given us all a beaker !
Our destination before lunch was the waterfall of Caldeirao Verde. This green cauldron is a natural amphitheatre with water pouring down into it.
But before reaching there more beautiful forest, our first Levada built about 300 years ago and some tunnels!
Not too many people but occasionally there were those that needed to pass, luckily some more agile ones straddled the Levada preventing us from having to lean against the flexible fence between us and a very long drop!
Two very brave and younger members of our group went for a swim – about 9 degrees! Next stop was lunch !
We back tracked through the tunnels and along the Levada before our final tunnel and then a quite gentle descent to Quimadas.
This walk was about 13 .5 km with a considerable amount of ascent and descent. My Fitbit went mad possibly because of my pole and gave a completely inaccurate reading so this route map is borrowed!
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 