Funchal Lido to Camara de Lobos and Return
Madeira
Distance 11km
Wednesday 7 September 2016
I had not previously intended to include this walk on my blog, however as it is shown in the Madeira Walking Guide I changed my mind. The guide shows it as an easy coastal walk.
Our hotel was a couple of km west of the city of Funchal just up the bank from where this walk starts. We walked down the steep bank to the Lido and turned west along the stone paved promenade. From the Lido the route follows the path in front of hotels, bathing areas and a basketball court. Before climbing behind another complex area. The path descends a little to another lido before climbing again.
At the top is a small narrow path down to the left which takes you to an area called the Magic Rocks. We continued on the main path to a small shopping and cafe area where we passed a statue of Joao Goncalves Zarco, who is the man who discovered Madeira. The path continues down a very steep path to a fish bar and another swimming area. At the bottom a path has been cut through the cliff.
Following the path through the cliff it opens out onto a stony beach. To help walking on the stones a number of wooden slats had been placed together. This leads up to a stone cobbled path which we could see has been hit by storms due to a few missing cobbles, but it does not stop you walking in the area. A few more wooden planks lead to a concrete path below a hotel complex. At the end we took the path down a steep few steps returning to the stony beach again. Walking the stones was ok due to the numbers of people who must walk this way. After approx 500m we stepped up onto another concrete promenade and continued walking west. Passing a couple of beach bars and toilet block on our way. Parts of the beach had had the stones cleared away so you could lie on the black sands if you wished.
A few twists and turn and the promenade changes from a concrete path to a path built up on pillars lifting it up as it follows the bottom of the cliffs. Back on a concrete path we passed a cement works, before returning to a path built on pillars which climbs over an estuary up to the road. After following the road a short distance the walk drops down slightly to our left and we caught our first sight of Camara de Lobos.
Passing an old lime kiln, we turned back up to the road towards Churchill's Hotel and turning left we followed the road around the top to the village centre. The information is that Churchill liked it here and did a lot of painting in the area.
For most of our walk we could see Cabo Girao to our front, information shows this is the second highest cliff in the world. A viewing platform has been built up there, although we could not see the viewpoint, it appears due to the mist there may not be much of a view from the top today.
Walking back down passed the Church we stopped and had a couple of coffees, before making our way down to the harbour.
Moving eastwards we climbed the steps up from the harbour and followed the path back to the lime kiln.
Our route took us back the same way we had come. Follow the path up to the road.
Follow the road for a short distance before joining the promenade on concrete pillars back down to the path next to the cement works.
Then the concrete path passed the couple of beach bars, dropping down onto the stones at the far end.
Leave the stones and along the cobbled path.
Over the wooden planks and to the wooden slats to enter the cool of the path cut into the cliff. This was a welcome break from the heat.
Up the steep path by the fish bar to join Joao Gonclaves Zarco, Anne held onto his coat tails as he looked along the coast back to the Cabo Girao cliff.
It did not take us long to drop down to the small lido before the short climb out and drop again to walk the path in front of the hotel to the main Lido. Then the short climb back up to the hotel.
The Madeira Walking Guide shows the walk one way, we turned around and walked it back. It was very hot. We had covered approx 11km with no real climb to record although there are a number of short steep places.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
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