“Hitting the spot on trails less trodden”
The Trips - Most recent first, Click on images to enlarge
Ardnamurchan - Coll - Tiree - Muck - Canna - Rum - Eigg
Clare - Wicklow - Mourne Mts. - North Donegal - Antrim Coast - Rathlin Island
Snaefellsnes - Hornstrandir - Fimmvorduhals - Skaftafell - Seydisfjordur
Gjogv - Famjin - Tjornuvik - Vidareidi - Saksun - Sandoy - Trollanes
Jotunheimen - Innerdalen - Kystriksveien - Lofoten - Vesteralen
Muncaster Fell - Blind Tarn - Eel Tarn - Stony Tarn - Lingcove - Scar Lathing - Green Crag - Hardknott - Devoke Water - Boat How
Summer Isles - Lochinver - Drumbeg - Scourie - Sandwood Bay - Reef - Uig - Rhenigidale - Luskentyre - Hushinish - Trotternish - Glendale
Hope Bowdler Hill - Caer Caradoc - The Long Mynd - The Stiperstones
Kerlingarfjoll - Myvatn - Borgarfjorthur eystri - Lonsaraefi - Jokulsarlon - Skaftafell - Landmannalaugar - Vik
Crag Fell - Floutern - Angler's Crag - Bowness Knott
Gower Peninsula - Purbeck Coast - Upper Teesdale - Brecon Beacons - Vale of Ewyas - Rhinns of Galloway - Lee Valley Walk - Gun Hill, Norfolk - Isle of Portland - Audley End - My Most Heavenly Hikes - Book Reviews
Holy Vale - Bryher - Bant's Carn - Tresco - St.Agnes - St.Martin's - Toll's Hill - Peninnis Head
Bec de Roces - Monte Averau - Lago di Misurina - Valparola - Marmolada - Alpe di Siusi - Alta Badia - Viel del Pan
Parc Nacional d'Aiguestortes - Gerber - Les-Bausen - Morrano - Ratera - Monestero - Montanheta - Colomers - Baciver
Ponta de Sao Lourenco - Boca do Risco - Pico Ruivo - Boca da Corrida - Balcoes
Valtournenche - Valnontey - Valsavarenche - Valsesia
Suldental - Trafoiertal - Valfurva - Valle dei Forni
Around Aldeburgh - Around Snape Maltings - Around Orford - Orford Village
Low Fell - Down by Crummock Water - High Nook - Mosedale - Around Mellbreak - Low Ling Crag
Parata - Spelunca - Calanches - Girolata - Tavignano - Cap Corse
Belvedere Glacier - Pecetto - Lago delle Fate - Staffa - Campagneda and Prabello - Lago di Gera - Fellaria - Campo Moro - Musella - Forbici - Marinelli
Around Rifugio Savoia - Lakes Rossett and Leita - Gran Collet - Basei - Ferauda - Alpe Comba
Pian del Re - Lakes Superiore, Lausetto and Fiorenza - Via del Sale - Lake Chiaretto - Lake Grande di Viso - Lake Alpetto - Costa del Vallone - Crissolo
Glen Affric - Glen Strathfarrar - Glen Cannich
Imada - Garajonay - Chipude - Vallehermoso - Epina - Alojera - Agulo - Hermigua - Caldera de Taburiente - Barranco de las Angustias - Ruta de los Volcanes
Llanddwyn - Rhosneigr - Trearddur - Holyhead Mountain - Carmel Head - Cemaes - Amlwch - Moelfre
Slap Savica - Ukanc - Mostnice - Vogel - Jezero Jasna - Zelenci - Slap Martuljek - Vrsic - Zadnja Trenta - Sleme - Kriski Podi - Izvir Glijun and Slap Virje
Cirque de Gavarnie - Saugué - Vallée de Pouey Aspé - Bayssellance - Petit Vignemale - Espuguettes - Col du Pimené
Tonbridge - Penshurst - Ashurst - Forest Row - Turners Hill - source
Barley - Pendle Hill - Black Moss - Wycoller - Pendle Way
Kermorvan - Porz Doun - Pern - Corn Here - Veilgoz - Baie des Trepasses - Raz - Van - Pen Hir
Zelene plese - Mala Studena dolina - Velka Studena dolina - Popradske pleso - Velke Hincovo pleso - Strbske pleso
Madeira
I knew nothing about Madeira prior to this trip apart from three facts: it is part of Portugal; it is in the Atlantic Ocean somewhere to the north of the Canaries; and it produces a sweet wine which used to be popular in Britain: “Have some Madeira, m’dear”. Now I know it’s the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo (they’ve even renamed the airport after him); it is quite small (about 60k from east to west and 24k from north to south); it is all hills and valleys with no coastal plain and some quite big mountains in the middle (the highest is 1862m, almost twice as high as Scafell Pike); and it is irrigated by a system of ‘levadas’, relatively level concrete channels descending from the hills, where most of the springs and rains are, to the cultivated areas lower down the slopes. Many of the guidebook-recommended walks are along these levadas which wind into, round and out of valleys along a very winding trajectory.
I chose to avoid these levada trails, predicting that they would be boring for two reasons: they wind in and out of the same terrain over long distances and they are often enclosed by dense forest which restricts the views. Since two of my main reasons for walking are varied terrain and spectacular views, I went for two coastal trails, two mountain trails and one, short, levada trail to a spectacular view.
Here’s a map showing the location of my trails – I hope you enjoy (or can forgive) the images of what the Madeirans consider most attractive about their island:
Click on the map to enlarge.