25 Fontes & Levada do Risco (PR 6)

At the far end, water that came down from Paul da Serra breaks out through 25 springs and cascades into the Lagoa das 25 Fontes. Anyone fresh from Iceland's waterfalls will find these tame, and the reason to come is as much the walk in: a levada path through Laurissilva forest, with the Ribeira da Janela valley opening green below.

Stairs carry most of the way down, and the return climbs every one of them. Stay late if you can. The path thins out, and at sunset clouds lie in the valley, with the car park holding the best of the view.

At the trail map in Rabaçal, on the ER 105, PR 6 and the Levada do Risco (PR 6.1) share a start. They run almost parallel but lead to different scenery, so follow PR 6 for 25 Fontes.

On the way down, the path is steep from the beginning and mainly stairs, broken by straight stretches along the levada. These narrow in places, and low branches make you duck. The views over the Ribeira da Janela valley come before the end.

At the Lagoa das 25 Fontes the trail stops. Rest here, because the return follows the same path and every stair now goes uphill.

Back at Rabaçal, the car park is still above you, at the top of a steep paved road.

• The climb comes last: the path drops to the lagoon, so the stairs go uphill on the return, and the road to the car park climbs after that.
• Footwear: the steep start and the stairs call for good hiking shoes.
• Crowds: this is a very popular route with plenty of hiking groups, and the path is narrow in places, so expect to wait to pass.
• Facilities: toilets and a water point stand at Rabaçal, beside the trail map; one of the two toilets is for customers only.

The drive ends at the Rabaçal car park, about 750 m away in a straight line, and finding a space at a busy time takes patience. Near the top of the road, be ready to stop for cows.

From there a steep paved road runs down to Rabaçal House, where the trail map stands. Walk it, or take the Rabaçal Van, which runs between the ER 110 and Rabaçal House. The van takes seven people at a time and needs 20 minutes to go up and come back, so a queue at the end of the walk means a wait. On foot, the same road is one more steep climb on tired legs.

The Túnel do Cavalo, an 800 m pedestrian tunnel near Rabaçal, links the Caldeira rest area with Rabaçal and is a way to avoid the steep climb. It is dark inside, so carry a torch.

Best: a late-afternoon start on a long summer day. Parking is easier, most walkers are already leaving, the climb back is shaded and cooler, and by sunset clouds lie in the valley below the car park.

Avoid: the busy middle of the day, when spaces are hard to find and the narrow path is packed. A late start in winter runs out of daylight on a walk that has to be retraced, and after rain the stairs turn slick.

PR 6 is a classified trail managed by IFCN, and entry runs on timed slots booked only on the SIMplifica Portal. IFCN premises take no bookings or payments. Everyone registers, including those who walk free. Same-day and next-day bookings work while places remain, and a slot blocks automatically once full. The tolerance around your slot is about 15 minutes, a little more if you are doing trails in sequence.

Exempt from the fee, though still required to book: children aged 12 or under; Madeira residents with a resident card and citizen card; people with a disability of 60% or more, with documentary proof, and one accompanying legal guardian.

Rescheduling or a refund applies only when the trail is officially closed or restricted on the booking date. Stay away for any other reason, rain included, and the amount paid is lost. IFCN's trail page shows the status of each PR, so check it before you book.

Walking several trails, the portal applies any cheaper combined rate at the end of the booking, but each trail still needs its own reservation.