A Walk to the "Green Cauldron"

[charlie]

One of our favourite Levada walks but difficult to access by bus, however for this years visit we hired a car and Liz braved the roads so we were able to get to the north much more easily.

Walk starts at Queimadas which now has a very large car park (free on Sundays) Loos (which will cost you 50 cents!) and a cafe for the all important after walk beer :)

112 Queimadas by charliepridham, on Flickr

Walk starts broad and wide

068 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

Before becoming the normal single file path

099 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

The path is well maintained and with rails where required

069 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

Its just so wonderfully green

070 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

071 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

073 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

075 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

077 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

078 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

081 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

Lots of Geranium palmatum although few flowers

083 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

Its only when the trees have a gap that you can see the hills you are walking through

084 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

Some of the native mega herbs!

090 by charliepridham, on Flickr

095 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

Although the car park was heaving we saw hardly a soul until we reached the end!

096 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

[Paul S]

Looks like a fabulous walk, Charlie.

No way could I do it - the railings would have to be made of 4" girders for me to not freeze...

[charlie]

Indeed its not one for those scared of heights, we couldn't take our friends on it either! Although I will put up the other half in due course, starts in the same place but walks the other way, no drops on that side (although its the same Levada) and the best bit was where we found to have lunch!!

[Paul S]

Look forward to seeing that.

[charlie]

As promised the second half of the walk in the other direction, you can start either end as its a there and back type walk (no buses) and its quite short and easy.

108 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

109 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

110 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr

111 Levada do Caldeirao Verde by charliepridham, on Flickr


Liz found this place for lunch, having read to get there at 12 as the sometimes have coach parties and if its a nice day you get to sit out on the balcony, it was a lovely spot and the food was up there with the best I have had on the island. The name had us puzzled Quinta do Furao, with what looked a bit like an Otter logo on the menus, hadn't thought they had any mammals, it turns out it means Ferret! Quite a posh looking hotel there as well, think if I was a summer visitor staying on the north coast would be my first choice its very beautiful

100 Qunta do Furao by charliepridham, on Flickr

[Paul S]

Looks lovely, thanks Charlie.