Levada do Paul

The coast is the reason to walk here. Levada do Paul follows a water channel along the southern side of the Paul da Serra plateau, with the south coast of Madeira below. In cloud there is nothing to see. On a clear day the view carries along the coastline.

The walking itself is easy. Cattle graze right at the start, manure and all, and the path is narrow enough in places to bother anyone uneasy with heights. It is also a route in poor repair: the levada leaks near the start, stretches beside the channel have collapsed, and invasive gorse has taken over the trail about a kilometre in.

• Gorse blocks the path About 1 km from the start the trail disappears under thorny gorse. Pushing through costs you your clothes.
• Start higher up Beginning from the next junction up the road avoids the worst of the thorn bushes.
• Damaged sections There is a landslide at the start, where the levada leaks water, and some stretches beside the channel have collapsed.
• No facilities No toilets, drinking water or information point near the trailhead. Carry water.
• Cattle at the start Cows graze beside the path and there is manure underfoot at the beginning.

Getting here means driving. Two car parks sit close to the levada: the nearest about 170 m from the path, the second about 330 m, on compacted ground. From either, a walk of a couple of hundred metres puts you on the channel. Public transport does not reach the trailhead, and the closest bus stops leave you several kilometres short.

Better: a clear day, when the south coast is visible from the path.

Avoid: low cloud on the plateau.

The coastal views are the whole point of this walk, and cloud takes them away completely. The route does not draw the crowds of Madeira's headline levadas, so there is no need to plan around other walkers.