Trails
Vereda da Eira do Mourão
A short climb from Fajã da Ribeira to the Eira do Mourão lookout
The place
The Vereda da Eira do Mourão climbs from Fajã da Ribeira, close to the VE4 road that links Ribeira Brava with São Vicente, to the high point of Eira do Mourão at about 500 metres. That is a climb of roughly 350 metres in just under 1.4 km. At the top, the loop meets the Levada do Norte.
Once on the Levada do Norte, the walk stays beside it through green vegetation for around 2.5 km before a sharp hairpin turns the route north. After the levada, the loop comes back through the Levada de Baixo to Eira do Mourão before the descent to Fajã da Ribeira. The Ribeira Funda stream is met three times along the way, crossed on the climb and again after the Levada de Baixo. The whole circuit is about 9.6 km and takes around six hours.
Highlights
- The Levada do Norte, one of the island's major water channels, is followed for about 2.5 km through green vegetation.
- The route crosses the Ribeira Funda stream on the way up and again after the Levada de Baixo.
- A sharp hairpin turns the route north, with the Levada de Baixo on one side and the Levada do Norte on the other.
When to come
Start early on a dry day, since the full circuit takes around six hours and the route crosses the Ribeira Funda stream three times.
Getting there
Head for Fajã da Ribeira, which lies east of the VE4 road linking Ribeira Brava with São Vicente, close to the sports centre.
Worth knowing
- The climb from Fajã da Ribeira to Eira do Mourão is just under 1.4 km, and the walk back down is downhill.
- The start is at about 153 metres and Eira do Mourão is at about 500 metres.
- The full circuit is 9.6 km, takes about six hours on foot, and is a difficult walk.
- Turning back at Eira do Mourão makes a much shorter out-and-back walk on the same climb.
- Check the path condition locally before you set out, because the far side of Eira do Mourão can be overgrown.