
Madeira’s rocky northeast coast, seen from near the town of Santana
PHOTOGRAPHS: BJÖRN HOFFMANN/500PX, LIVERPOOL’S ROYAL COURT, ED REEVE, TIME WHITE/ALAMY
Hiking the island of eternal spring
Spring is a fine time to discover Madeira beyond its connection with a rather stodgy cake. The subtropical Portuguese isle marooned in the Atlantic, some 360 miles west of Morocco, is known as the ‘island of eternal spring’, and the season is most fitting to those who prefer strapping on walking boots to pulling on swimsuits. While the winter rain has dwindled to the odd sprinkle, temperatures haven’t yet crept up into the twenties – perfect weather for exploring the island’s extensive network of hiking trails, which link the verdant coastline with the mountainous interior.