A little more than a kilometre of road is the distance between Pousada dos Vinháticos and the Hydroelectric Central of Serra de Água. From this location until the Eira do Mourão, through Levada do Norte, one thing is certain: great emotions! There are around ten tunnels which, all together, have an extension of 3325 meters. A few kilometres, following paths with no protection on the edge of a precipice are equally quite certain on this track. Therefore this pathway has all the attributes for a good adventure, however be careful, a misstep can be dangerous.

Shall we start with the walk? The starting point is Pousada dos Vinháticos. The levada begins in the Hydroelectric Central of Serra de Água and until the first tunnel, situated less than a kilometre from the Central, the path does not present any problems. The second tunnel has twice the length of the first one and there it is advisable the use of a lantern. Several ferns, Sweet Chestnuts, Walnut trees and Willows are waiting for us when we leave this tunnel. After half a kilometre, attention has to be paid to the water flow coming into the levada. A few meters after we see Ribeira do Poço and the levada stands over a bridge. After this bridge, get ready for 1000 meters of a low and swampy tunnel. It is recommended the use a head protection. Passing this tunnel, another one will be found until you reach the Ribeira do Pico valley when, another tunnel of 3000 meters starts and goes far as Terra Chã, in Curral das Freiras, however this tunnel is not open to the walkers, therefore the track must continue through Levada do Norte. There are paths where the width of the levada is larger and it is possible to have a glance at the landscape and, with some luck, to look at the flight of a Trocaz Piegon or of a Columbídeo. Then, there comes the fifth tunnel, completely swampy and full of mud along its 200 meters of length. The landscape of Serra de Água compensates the effort made with crossing the fifth tunnel. Until the eighth tunnel there are no great difficulties, but when leaving this one, get yourself ready for a water fall over the levada and for a slippery and unprotected path over the abyss right aside. Then comes the ninth tunnel which is large and swampy, it is called the Espigão Tunnel and from here to Eira do Mourão there is only an easy and small tunnel, however the path parallel to the levada has again no protection.

Eira do Mourão was known when, in 1952, the water from Levada do Norte started to run towards its direction. Arriving to this humble population hamlet, there are two options: follow through Levada do Norte until Boa Morte in a path that adds to the previous one about three and a half kilometres or go down to Fajã da Ribeira, on the left side of Ribeira Brava, having in this case another two kilometres to descend.

 

 

Bibliography

Quintal, Raimundo (2004). Levadas e Veredas da Madeira. Funchal: Francisco Ribeiro & Filhos, Lda.