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My chief executive doesn’t mind a gentle walk, but she has no interest in hill walking at all.
So we compromised on a holiday in Madeira this year.
Madeira has a reputation for being a haven for the over 65s...
(which is true to some extent), but it has some really excellent walking, and the purpose of this very short report (I'll let the pictures speak for themselves) is to showcase that fact in the hope that it might prove useful for any others who are looking for a compromise hol with their more relaxed partner.
There are countless walking routes on Madeira, some pretty well dead flat, others – like the one pictured below – quite challenging.
The one pictured starts at Pico Riviera (1818m), and takes in the highest peak on the island, Pico Ruivo (1861m).
IMG_0594. View from Pico do Arieiro looking North West, at approximately 07.15am.
IMG_0595. View from Pico do Ariero looking roughly South at about 07.15. Yes, cloud inversion here too...
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IMG_0597. ...and looking North. Amazing volcanic mountain shapes.
IMG_0598. And WHs are everywhere - this candidate for Best Wild Camping Spot on the only bit of flat land on the top of Pico Arieiro.
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IMG_0601. Early stages of path to Pico Ruivo. The path is good, though quite exposed in places. You can just about see the path in the middle of the pic.
IMG_0603.
IMG_0605.
IMG_0607. These classic volcanic dykes were everywhere - in some ways, not dissimilar to the Black Cuillin in places.
IMG_0608. In one place there was a notice saying it was unsafe to proceed, and directing one to another path. In the middle of this pic, taken from the other side of the diversion, is the rockfall that took away the path...
(about half way down the vertical cliff in the centre of the pic)
IMG_0610. Terrific cloud inversion from the top of Pico Ruivo.
IMG_0612. Remnants of the trees destroyed by a big fire a few years ago form the foreground to this view of Pico dos Torres.[/url]
]IMG_0613. And just like at home, there's clag here too....
But absolutely NO beasties...
IMG_0614. Amazing lush vegetation and flowers in many places - this is a real characteristic of Madeira.
IMG_0616. The path wandered from side to side of the ridge. The cloud was just on the one side, and on this side the vegetation was dripping wet.
IMG_0617. Amazing views everywhere on the uncloudy side...
IMG_0618. On the way back (the route passed through several short tunnels). Cloud is building up a bit.
]IMG_0619. And of course the day has to be rounded off by a visit to a place of cultural, historical and architectural interest.....