The Ribeira Grande valley Levada from Rabacal.

Our Levada walk today was from Rabacal to the waterfalls on the staircase route. The Ribeira Grande valley. Beautiful views and very sunny, but the walk itself was nicely shaded. The walk begins at the car park above Rabacal and takes a higher route through the tree heathers along the Levada. The walk took around two and a half hours with a couple of most enjoyable coffee stops and a picnic at the waterfall. It's an easy, level walk in the mountains, with a few gaps in the heather to enjoy the amazing views. The Levada itself is full of trout and we very much enjoyed feeding them bread at lunchtime. 

Stephen's castle and Ringwood forest, eastern side.

A beautiful walk at Stephen's castle and Ringwood forest and a lovely morning. We started by parking in the village centre and walking through the memorial ground and up the side of Stephen's castle on the bridleway. Then turning right behind the top of the heathland. Keeping on the wide path through the forest, passed the telegraph station and turning right at the old house. After reaching a wide junction take the upper right track that ascends the hill once again. This undulating track finally passes the Stephen's stone and then reaches another junction. Where the track turns either up or down hill take the small path through the pines opposite. This one reaches a track leading down to St Stephen's rd. If you want to go up over the top of Stephen's castle for the beautiful views above Verwood turn right and left in about 20m. Or turn down to another small path that crosses the heathland below the ponds. This track turns left and then right among beautiful gorse bushes, to return to a small path lead left to Hillside school or right back to the park.

Dewlands common, south

Dewlands common for a rather wet walk with Phoebe. It's still pretty about with lots of lovely colours in the gorse and bracken.