Walking the Levadas of Madeira

The enchanting Portuguese archipelago of Madeira is a tiny verdant gem suspended in a sea of brilliant blue. Walking holidays in Madeira can take you from lush walks through sub-tropical vegetation to open ridges approaching 2000m with views seemingly to the ends of the earth. The island lies only about 350 miles off the coast of Africa but has a distinctly European feel, with a laid-back tone and an appealingly mild climate. There are miles of rugged coastline and mountain trails to explore while walking in Madeira, and a warm and welcoming community of locals will greet you like an old friend.

The Levadas

Madeira is famed for its wonderful fortified wine and Madeira cake. But the island is also known for its unique 'levadas'; an intriguing network of narrow man-made canals that weave their way from the highlands and the wetter north coast, down a web of pathways to the low lying regions of the island. Named after the Portuguese word 'levar' - to carry - they were built around the sixteenth century by the first settlers, who realised that in order to sustain their crops, they needed to devise a method of bringing the abundant water supply of the high mountains down to their farms below. Walking in Madeira alongside the path of these ancient canals is an incredible insight into how difficult a task it must have been.

The levadas wend their way through solid basalt cliffs, along sheer rock walls and through lush, dense forests. Many workers lost their lives in their creation and in some of the more inaccessible areas it is easy to see why. In some sections which were literally hewn by hand out of the mountain, workers had to be lowered down in wicker baskets. Originally used for maintenance, today the walking paths that run parallel to more than 1,000kms of the waterways are popular trails for walking. In Madeira there are over 200 separate levadas, and whether for both experienced or novice walkers, there is a level for everyone to enjoy.

As you make your way along the levadas you follow a magical journey through the interior of Madeira. The banks of the canals are studded with a profusion of wild flowers and mosses and you can see an astounding array of vegetation - thanks in the main part to the canals themselves. The island is home to Europe's oldest and largest Laurel forest and some of the rare species of plant life are found in this region almost exclusively.

The levadas will lead you through dark, damp tunnels which emerge into charming fairy glens of forest; past towering waterfalls which spill into crystal clear ponds; and out onto rugged mountain paths overlooking spectacular ocean vistas. Walking in Madeira along the pathway of levadas will reveal the raw, unspoilt natural beauty of this island wonderland and unlock the secrets of its past.

The Mountain Paths

Away from the coast and the lush world of the levadas, walking in Madeira will take you high into the mountains. The island is volcanic in origin, and the worn and weathered remains of huge calderas are everywhere. The walk between the two highest peaks of Pico Ruivo and Pico Arieiro is one of the greatest walks on earth, and not particularly challenging. Try to do it on a day when the peaks are above the clouds and you will think you are not walking in Madeira, but walking in heaven.