Sao Lourenco, Madeira

Sao Lourenco Peninsular

This was my fourth visit to the island and, as yet, I haven’t quite managed to get it together enough to write any form of a blog post about this beautiful island so here goes....

Famed for its levadas which are man made water courses comprising the island’s irrigation system there are a wide variety of trails ranging from the flat and coastal to those taking in the high rugged mountains in the centre of the island. Many of the trails are described as “levada walks” and are on the narrow footpaths which follow these water channels. Many companies offer guided hikes and “levada walks” which can cut down on transport headaches particularly for point to point walks but we have found that often the local buses and taxis (and the odd cable car) are sufficient.

The bus wasn't too crowded

The various areas of the island have their own distinct microclimates and while it is often warm and sunny on the south side of the island and in the main town of Funchal, the high mountains in the centre can, like any mountain environment, be wet and cold. Although a rare occurrence snow is not unknown and I have walked on icy paths on the high mountains.

This new year the wind was the main weather feature. Although dry and for the most part sunny it was often quite windy and the small catamarans and the replica of Christopher Columbus’s wooden carrack the “Santa Maria” were confined to the harbour rather than carrying out their usual daytime occupation of ferrying tourists along the coastline. Some of the yacht charters on Hogmanay still sailed allowing people to view the fireworks from the sea but given many of the cruise ships had struggled through the winds and the high seas to make it on time for the fireworks I wasn’t particularly envious of those watching them from a small boat – particularly after having consumed copious amounts of wine.

It is possible to do this walk along the Sao Lourenco Peninsular as one long walk but we opted to do it as two shorter days out, one on a previous visit to Madeira last new year and one this new year. The walk starts in Machico on the east side of the island which is easily reached by local bus from Funchal. Machico is the site of Madeira’s first settlement where the Portuguese explorers first came ashore in 1419.

Pico do Facho with the town of Machico and the old fort.

Machico town centre

Machico

Starting the climb

Starting off from the centre of the town we passed church – the oldest in Madeira past the small beach and the ruined forts who in their heyday protected the town from pirate invaders. From there the climb starts, firstly on a stretch of quiet road winding its way out of the village and then on to a rough trail on the mountainside. After a sharp pull over a grassy slope another small road is reached which winds its way up to a viewpoint of Pico do Facho (complete with ice cream van) giving a stunning view over the busy airport and its seemly constant arrivals and departures. Pico do Facho loosely translates into “beacon hill” and it was here that beacons were lit to warn those on the town below of the approach of pirate invaders. We explored at Pico do Facho for a while before heading back down the quiet road for a few hundred meters and before turning a sharp right on to a grassy trail and starting the gradual descent along the coastline to the former whaling port of Canical. Initially the path is a gradual descent and is obvious but as you near Cancial the gradient becomes steeper and the path less distinct until reaching an old arched bridge which has to be crossed to reach the main tarmac road leading into the village.

The view from Pico do Facho

Looking down on the town, the fort and the harbour

Pico do Facho gives a great view of the airport runway below

Ice cream, It would be rude not too

Looking towards the peninsular

The wide grassy track.

Narrow goat tracks.

The old bridge on the outskirts of the village

After a cheeky G&T and a wee wander around the village it was time to get the bus back to Funchal, this time passing under the runway of the airport which is supported on huge concrete pillars.

G&T!

The main road goes under the runway

To continue the walk to the Sao Lourenco peninsular there is quite a long stretch of road going past the impressive looking Quinta do Lourdes, a self-contained holiday complex complete with its own lighthouse (which is actually a restaurant) and its own Marina. It’s possible to bypass this road section by a short hop on the bus but the road itself isn’t particularly busy and the views are pleasant enough. Eventually the road ends up at a dead end and a car park (with another ice cream van) and an information board and from there the trail leads out over the peninsular. 

More ice cream!

The landscape of this peninsular is different to the rest of the island, this is a lunar landscape of volcanic rock. Huge cliffs and rock stacks rise from the crashing waves of the Atlantic ocean in a multitude of blacks, greys, browns and reds layered through the cliff face indicative of their volcanic birth. This part of the island is more reminiscent of the neighbouring and desert like Porto Santo rather than the wooded slopes of Madeira and it is a nature reserve with parts of it closed to the public and reserved for the scientists studying the flora, fauna and geology. The Ilheu do Farol lighthouse was built in 1870 and would only be accessible via a swim to the next section of rock and those rough seas did not make that an attractive proposition.

Rock stacks on the north side of the peninsular

Bands of coloured rock

A lunar landscape

Looking back towards the west.

 Although spectacular it isn’t a particularly challenging trail in itself and we saw other walkers clad in just shorts, t-shirts and sandals but given the vagaries of the weather and the exposure of the peninsular I would always recommend carry some waterproof clothing. Thats also due to an enbedded cautiousness developed from walking on the Scottish mountains! There were a group of runners out training and their “hardmoors” t-shirts did hint to them as being from the UK and I did feel mildly jealous of them, it would be a fantastic run. Next time...

The palm trees gave the whole landscape a pre-historic feel - watch out for pterodactyls!

It isnt possible to get right to the end of the peninsular.

The path doesn’t go right to the end of the peninsular but instead terminates at the viewpoint of Casa do Sardinha (no ice cream van) giving a stunning view of the long finger of rock pointing outwards into the azure ocean and the lighthouse standing guard over the rocks.