Madeira 2012
Day : 27th September
Weather: Sunshine, warm rain, and cloud - just like home really
Route: Monte, some cheese sleds, gardens and a little tour around the island
Map: Madeira Tour & Trail Map - Paper Version by David Brawn 1:40000
It’s been a while since I made a blog post, mostly because
I’ve been really busy, and partly because the Skye Walk was
so brilliant.
In the meantime I’ve been back to work, I think I’ve sold
the house, and had a week in Madeira - June 2012. I did have grand plans
for several walks, but I never got around to any real
planning despite perusing Paddy Dillons book on Walking
Madeira.
I was a little frazzled by the time I got there and really
just tried to relax and forget about conquering any big
peaks. We had a decent hotel and there are plenty of
restaurants out and about Funchal. Euro 2012 was running so
I had plenty of evening entertainment and the beer was
passable. The weather was mixed but I did manage to get
three walks in, with the most enjoyable being up on the high
peak of Pico Do Areeiro.
If you really want a good story, and the inspiration for my
trip here, then visit
Because they’re there , a very fine walking blog written
by Alen McFadzean (from his blog – Journalist on The
Northern Echo, former shipyard electrician, former quarryman
and tunneller. Climbs mountains and runs long distances to
make life harder. Gravitates to the left in politics just to
make life harder still. )
It took me three attempts to get a clear view up high on the fabulous Pico Do Arieiro, walk over to Pico Riuvo and back. We also managed a walk to the easternmost point of the island at Sao Lourenco, another to the Rabacal and the 25 Fontes – where all the tourists go I’m shamed to admit. The remainder of the time was spent on a ‘Grand Tour’ of the island in a hire car – a Smart Car – which persuaded me to never consider buying one of these ever. But it did the job required and was easy to get about in.
Highlight of the holiday was the magnificent views up above the clouds, and the funniest was the lads at Manchester Airport donned in ‘Zante Tour 2012′ T-shirts – on spying our queue at the gate were heard the words – ‘Thank God were not going were that lot are going’. I must admit to feeling quite sprightly amongst the crowds at our hotel, and I’m no spring chicken.
aaagh lovely water in the sunshine. Don't you just love holidays
Snakeskin palm trees in the hotel grounds. They go well with a pint or two
While up at the top of the island on Pico do Arieero the clouds rolled by, another frustrating sight but almost had the views. You get the atmosphere up here
early morning dew keeps these plants going for the day, months, year
two walkers appearing eerily out of the mist on Pico do Arieero
no views today so it was back to the car for a tour of Monte near Funchal
the church at Monte
and outside it has a grand panorama over Funchal
down the steps and looking down on the 'Cheese' pushers, there's serious business going on
and down below there is a waiting queue of pushers, for the willing tourists
These are the baskets that squeeze two in, while two of the pushers set off at a gallop pushing downhill
they give them a tug first to get up some speed and then hop on the back steering the basket around the corners
looking back up to the church
when it starts to get busy , the pushers appear from everywhere
and off they jolly well go
hows this for a bit of nifty parking. You could always lift it out if you get stuck
some great African carving in the Monte museum
The tropical gardens at Monte - the Japanese bit
was not typical Japanese planting, more architectural really
plenty of the ever present Agapanthus
and a Peacock who patrolled his balcony around the main house
almost a cracking picture, but he refused to pose
On a drive around now up tothe high plateau. This is from Serra de Aqua looking up at the high peak of Pico Grande
some cool terraced gardens below the steep wooded slopes
that's a great walk at the top from Pico do Arieero to Pico Ruivo - very airy, but safe
on the way up to the high plateau of Paul da Serra and the clouds roll around the peaks
a great drive up through the misty forest of Laurisilva
and there's pretty much a cloud inversion everyday
cracking views over to Pico Grande the high central mountains - I've been up there I have - it's brilliant.