Enjoy the great outdoors of Madeira on foot

Located in the Atlantic Ocean, 550 miles from the European continent, the Portuguese island of Madeira is a glorious place to visit on a walking holiday.

With a variety of microclimates, you can be walking alongside a misty woodland path level with the clouds one minute, and basking in sunshine the next.

Madeira is famous for three things - wine, honey cake and levadas, and the combination go very well together. The dense cake and sweet wine will leave you needing to work off some pounds, which you can enjoy doing alongside the island's unique system of irrigation channels, known as levadas.

For anyone looking for an outdoor active holiday, a walking trip to Madeira is ideal – the island offers something for walkers of all levels, from challenging mountain hikes to family-friendly routes.

The year-round clement weather means the temperature is always pleasant, although walkers are advised to bring clothes for most eventualities – some paths may be slippery, so walking boots are a good idea, while on a misty day at cloud level you may want a light waterproof coat to protect you from the drizzle-like atmosphere.

Madeira's levadas are widely described as the island’s most valuable cultural asset. Designed to carry water to the drier southern parts of the island, the long channels of aqueducts run for 2,000 kilometres in a variety of environments, from dense, high altitude wooded areas to low-level villages. Each levada has a path running alongside it, and most are extremely well maintained, allowing walking holiday adventurers to tailor a trip to their own requirements.

One walk to be particularly recommended is the five mile Valley of Rabaçal route on the north-western side of the island, which takes you to the wonderful Laurisilva Forest, listed as a World Heritage site.

The route takes you past the enchanting 25 Fountains waterfall, where 25 natural springs cascade into a small lake, supplying the Calheta hydroelectric power station.

Popular with hikers, the temperature along this route is around six degrees lower than on the southern coast, as you are around 1,000 metres above sea level.

Outdoor writer Terry Marsh is launching the Madeira Islands Walking Festival in January 2008, an annual event that aims to draw walking holiday enthusiasts to the island.

The festival consists of 20 pre-designated walks, designed by the Region Forest Bureau, all recently surveyed, verified and led by experienced leaders. See www.madeiraislandswalkingfestival.com for further information.

A range of airlines fly to Madeira, including XL Airways, Thomson Fly and British Airways.

For more general information about visiting Madeira see the official tourism website at www.madeiratourism.org

Kathy Carter

Recommended reading:
Madeira (Globetrotter Island Guide)
Levadas and Footpaths of Madeira: English Edition