Located in the parish of Lomba de São Pedro, further east of the 14 parishes that constitute the municipality of Ribeira Grande, we can find the Trail of the Mill of Felix – Cascades.
It is a circular trail with beginning and end in the centre of the parish, next to the church of Lomba de São Pedro. It presents an average difficulty, a distance of about 5.5 kilometres and an estimated duration of 2 hours. The code of the trail is the TM06.
During the trail, besides being able to appreciate the best that nature provides, you will have the opportunity to pass by some places of special prominence, such as the Lomba de São Pedro church, the Cascata do Homem, the Moinho do Félix, the Cascata do Teófilo, the Cascata da Gruta and the Poço da Truta and, following the path to the Lomba de Baixo already at the end of the trail, you will find several fountains that served, in other times, to supply the population with water.
Starting at the foot of the Lomba de São Pedro church, go west until you pass the last visible house, then turn right towards the dirt track that will take you towards the sea.
Follow this path until you find the next intersection. At the next crossroads, turn right until the Miradouro da Rocha where you will find a beautiful panoramic view of the northern coast of the island of São Miguel, a merendário and still the Cascata do Homem.
Go down to the Cascata do Homem (Man’s Waterfall) and, on your way back, turn left on a standing path that will take you to the next point of interest of the trail, the Félix mill and the Teófilo Waterfall. The waterfall is called Teófilo because a young man named “Teófilo” lost his life in this place, beside the waterfall you will find his headstone.
The Félix Mill is a water mill, structures that are very typical in the municipality of Ribeira Grande due to the water that supplies the municipality. It belonged to an old miller couple and, moved by a wooden caster, it ground wheat and corn, thus serving the population of Lomba de São Pedro and Fenais da Ajuda. Attached to the mill, you will find a small structure that served as a shelter for animals and, perhaps, to store the cereals.
Descending the side stairs to the ruins of the mill, you will find the Teófilo Waterfall.
Resume the trail and turn left to go to the Cave Cascade. On your return, turn left again at the next exit of the trail and follow until Poço da Truta. When you finish your visit, resume the trail and go up to the limit of the regional road.
When you get there, turn right and follow Lomba de Baixo. Along the way, you will find several fountains that used to supply the population with water.
The trail ends at the same place where you started your journey.