Levada do Moinho, Madeira

Levada do Moinho  Moinho means mill and is pronounced moin-hoo.

Madeira has a network of  water channels called levadas. They carry water from the mountains to where it is needed. They make good walking trails some of them are fairly easy like this one but others are for experienced walkers and best done in a guided group.

We parked by the church at Lombardo which is perched above Ponta do Sol on the coast. The path starts behing the church. We walked for about an hour then came back the same way.

  I enjoyed this walk as there are open views of sea, valley and mountains. The video below covers a 180 degree vista.

Precious water sparkles and flows to where it is needed.

We saw bananas, sugar cane and guavas growing along the path and sweet potatoes on the plots below.

                                           

Steep steps go down to  thin plots of land cutivated for fruit and vegetables and irrigated by water from the levada above.

 

This ginger plant was growing by the side of the path as well as nasturtiums and sorrel.

I learnt about this walk from Caroline from the Youtube channel Adventure Knox Thankyou Caroline. I was there in January, the weather was beautiful but not too hot for walking.