Cavaca Trail

The nickname is Stairmaster 9000: a very steep climb, mostly stairs of rock, wood and earth, all the way up to Fanal, the upland pasture known for its old laurels.

Those stairs had a job. Locals led livestock up here to pastures on the peaks and carried crops and firewood on foot, and the steps helped them manage the loads.

Waterfalls break up the climb, though the scenery around them stays much the same. The reason to keep going is the view from the high point.

The trail runs between Caminho Idelfonso de Castro and the PR 13, and the climb heads towards Fanal.

On the way up, the path is mostly stairs: rock in places, wood or earth in others. It stays very steep, and waterfalls appear along the route.

At the top of the climb, the high point gives the view. The trail does not loop, so unless transport waits at the far end, you return down the same stairs.

• Fitness: the climb suits experienced mountain hikers and runners. Take a trekking pole and go with someone.
• Status: not a classified trail, so IFCN neither recommends it nor takes responsibility for it.
• Facilities: no toilets or information point at the trail, and none nearby. Carry all you need to eat and drink.

The trail lies near Seixal on Madeira, and you can arrive by car or public transport. The car parks are about 730 m and 1,070 m away, the public transport stops about 1,000 m and 1,170 m away. Those are straight lines, and on Madeira's terrain the distance on foot runs longer.

The trail is a line with no loop back, so settle the return before you set off.

Best: a dry, clear day, with time to take the stairs slowly.

Avoid: rain and the hours after it, and days when cloud sits on the high ground.

Wet rock and wood turn slippery on a climb this steep, and the view from the high point, the reward for all those steps, disappears into cloud.