Sunshine And Walking
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
by Mark Bartley
Europe is scattered with numerous high mountain ranges that provide plenty of opportunities during
Swiss and Austrian walking areas that in summer are sun baked, flower-filled meadows of gentle slopes, mountain cafes and spectacular valley scenery, quickly succumb to snow (and skiers) once November arrives. So where can the winter go to enjoy warmer, more reliable weather?
Madeira, the Portuguese island known as the floating island of flowers that lies out in the Atlantic just like the Canary Islands, provides an unusual sliver of Portuguese tradition but with a flavour of independence. The island hardly relies on its mainland parent for anything and unless you knew its history you could easily leave without having any clue about its mainland links. Since 1976, following a revolution that started in 1974, Madeira has had its own government. Madeira, like many islands that find themselves situated in ocean locations, has been subjected to more than its fair share of attempted takeovers, invasions and battles, sitting as it does in a prime naval position out in the Atlantic. Records indicate it was discovered in the early fifteenth century by two Portuguese sailors, when Portugal was one of the world's foremost seafaring nations at the time, who were blown off course and landed there after being shipwrecked. Over the centuries Madeira has been ruled continuously by the Portuguese, but also provided a base for a British Garrison in the early 1800's and became a target for Napoleon's forces.
As far as walking is concerned Madeira is a relative place of great potential. The inland areas of wooded valleys and hillside forests are stunning at any time of year and the network of footpaths and Levadas make for a wide choice of routes. The Levadas are a unique Madeiran construction. They are a network of small canals that were built to move water from wetter, northern parts of the islands to the drier areas in the south that needed water to support their agriculture. These narrow channels form a network amounting to 2500 kilometres and the maintenance paths that run alongside many of them provide the perfect opportunity for interesting walking routes. Lakes, waterfalls, even tunnels add to adventure that the Levadas offer. For anyone tempted to try out a walking break on Madeira a visit to the stunningly beautiful Serra De Agua area is also recommended.
The landmark that towers high in the centre of the island of Tenerife is Mount Teide, a volcanic mountain that has remained inactive, not extinct, for exactly 100 years. The volcano is now said to be unstable, so perhaps the eruption from a side vent 100 years ago may be due to be repeated. Unusually the peak often receives a slight covering of snow during the early part of the year, despite the location of Tenerife off the North African coast. It is however the highest peak in Spain, including all the mainland mountain ranges, at over 3700 meters.
Around the peak is a National Park that welcomes 3.5 million visitors each year and provides a large area of protected land available to walkers wishing to experience the rich flora and fauna of the area. If walkers wish to visit the peak they can either travel on foot for the whole journey or make use of a cable car to shorten the journey. The final few hundred meters must be undertaken on foot however and does require a special pass to be purchased before you travel to the Mount. This is slightly inconvenient but does ensure that the number of people reaching the summit is kept down.
For a perfect walking location during winter, one of the cheap flight to Tenerife will take you to the amazing Mount Teide. Or take a flight to Madeira to walk the Levadas suggests Mark Bartley.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)You have described some beautiful places that maybe someday some of us will be able to see... right now the mountain meadow looks good to me because I am already here! Marijo
Hi Mark. Truly breathtaking. Imagine hiking in these places. Great article, well-done. Thanks for sharing. ~Nenita~
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