Walking In Madeira Part 1- The Floating Garden Of The Atlantic
Walking in Madeira is to experience mountain and levada hiking at it’s best. I have visited Madeira on 16 occasions, the latest with our walking group of 4. We usually spend a week or two every year walking the National Trails or long distance footpaths of the UK. However, with the appalling weather we have had to endure the last couple of years, together with increasing accommodation costs, we decided it would be as cheap to venture abroad and experience the walking in Madeira. Plus the added bonus of virtually guaranteed sun.
Day 1. We caught the 06:35 flight from Manchester Airport on Monday the 13th of May. On arrival in Madeira, we had a taxi booked which dropped us at our apartment. We then taxied to Eira Do Serrado, in the mountains. This spot has magnificent views down the Nun’s Valley to Curral Das Freirras. We walked the cobble path downhill for an hour and had a beer in Curral before our taxi took us back to Camara de Lobos.
Camara de Lobos, was once just a fishing village but is now the second largest city in Madeira. Here we enjoyed the local drink of Poncha. Winston Churchill was a regular visitor to Camara de Lobos where he used to spend many hours painting the surroundings. On the walk back to Funchal we stocked up at the supermarket for snacks and drinks.
Day 2. After the early start yesterday we had a lie in and decided to catch the bus to Baia da Abra and walk the peninsular of Ponta De Sao Lourenco. When walking in Madeira, this is a must do hike. It’s a rugged headland with sea cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. This was the third time for me but virgin territory for the others. They were all impressed by the dramatic scenery.
The first two day’s walking in Madeira only covered 6.3 miles but gave fantastic views of this beautiful island. Part 2 to follow.
Related Content:
Walking In Madeira Part 2
Walking In Madeira Part 3
Madeira Walks