New Seasons Blog

I am no longer posting to this Blog, please visit the 2016/17 seasons Blog is available ramblingwithal2.blogspot.com

The new seasons schedule for Saturday's and Thursday's are shown there.

La Bola

Today  a few of the Thursday rufti tufti's took a hike to the top of the Sierra de Mijas and the weather radar at the peak known as la Bola. Apart from John Campbell and myself no one else had done this before and the route that we took was new to me.

The route took us to the Fuente de Acebuche and then to the Casa Forestal, two landmarks that have become quite well known to us over the recent weeks. It was then up from the Casa along what was possibly the Mule Train route over the mountain which is narrow in places and very rocky underfoot. We then reached Puerto de la Encina, which we crossed and then onto a very sandy and rocky path towards the summit. This particular path proved to be very strenuous because of the sand that was actually quite deep in places. Part way up this path a short-cut appeared and three of the girls in the group couldn't resist taking it, despite it being steep and rocky.

We finally reached the summit and took in the breathtaking 360deg views. Unfortunately whilst the weather was clear enough to see as far as Estepona the coast of North Africa and Gibraltar were obscured.

We retraced our path back to Puerto de la Encina but then took the, easier but longer, fire track back down and then retraced our route back from the Casa to the end.

The whole hike was quite tiring but very satisfying.

Mr John Campbell is a keen photographer and runs a group called Shutterbugs and he has kindly allowed me to post a 360 deg panoramic photo that he took from the Pico Mijas. This gives you the opportunity to see for yourselves the views that we experienced.

They are available in several formats to suit whatever platform you are using. Click on the link that is suitable for you, for the panorama that you wish to download.

Once you have opened a panorama, you can navigate around it by dragging the mouse in the direction of interest. You can zoom out by holding the control key and zoom in by holding the shift key.

You can look up and down as well as left and right.

This version is for Flash in HTML5

Here is the 'Flash' version

This version supports browsers - Safari 5.0 and above - Chrome 21.0 and above - IE 10.0 and above

Version for Quicktime

Version for 'Shockwave Flash'

My grateful thanks to John for allowing me to use this.

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Out of season Hog Roast

To try and keep everyone in touch out of season, this was the second get together, and at Paula's suggestion it was a Hog Roast and held at her and Davids home in Alhaurin de la Torre.

We ended up with 31 of us for the evenings social, and one of the prime reasons for holding it on this date was to wish Alan Kenah all the best as he is leaving to return to the UK at the end of the month. Also it was the week before Andy & Gina's wedding, which is next Friday in Gibraltar.

We presented Alan with 2 Polo Shirts with the new 'Rambling With Al' motif, and one of them had  the names of a number of walks that he had done with us during his time with the group. Alan has been a stalwart and valued member of the group, always taking on the responsibility of 'Tail End Charlie' when asked. It was he and I walking together on Thursdays that sporned the Thursday Adventures group, seeking out new routes and testing others.

The whole evening was a great success and our thanks go out to Paula and David for opening their home and pool to us, also to Daisy for being our Photographer in Residence, to the Hog Roast Caterers and to Stuart Hilton for the Tray Bake Deserts.

Rio Alaminos - Barranco Blanco, Coin

We were hoping to make it to the waterfall that was supposed to have been used for the Timotei Shampoo advert, but unfortunately we ended the walk about 100 mtrs short as the route was just a bit beyond us old farts. However the route that we did walk was really good and enjoyed by all. Two of our group did make it up the penultimate waterfall and to the top of the cliff and jumped into the pool below. We had to walk in the river for a lot of the way and at one point had to swim because the water was so deep Something different and a good bit of fun.

Chocolate Trail & Dove Ravine

Walking at this time of the year can be very difficult because of the heat, and the scheduled walks have now ceased until September, one needs to find shade to walk in and that is limited to the areas of forest on the north facing slopes of the Sierra de Mijas and this had a finite number of routes.

The start of todays walk took us on one of our well trodden routes, departing from the track on the edge of the woods and taking the Camino Forestal until we met what we know as Tina’s Trail, a well used path through the forest which meets the fire track ot the old Helicopter landing area. 

It is then along the really quite well maintained fire track towards the Casa Forestal, but just before this is the start of the Chocolate trail, so called because of the number of Carob tress on it. The actual name of this ancient water course is Cañada de las Paloma (Glen of the Dove)and I am reliably informed that no water has run in this course for at least the past 10 years (despite some prolonged periods of very heavy rain in that period) and possibly for many hundreds of years before. We have walked this course before and we emerge back onto the Camino Forestal, which we now cross and venture onto new territory to us the bottom section of the Cañada. 

This is more open that the upper section and with many rocky ‘steps’, what would have been at one time, waterfalls. The floor of the route is strewn with loose rocks and in places became quite wide which would possibly have been large shallow ponds.

The banks of the Cañada are in places sheer cliffs and are potted with many small orifices and some larger caves. One of these we climbed up to and found that there were several bats flying around.

At, what is now, the bottom end of this Cañada is the former home of Gerald Brenan CBE writer and Hispanist, from here we took the metalled roads through an urbanised area and back to our parked cars.

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Trees & Lakes

The purpose of our Thursday walks is to check out new routes and assess their suitability for the main Saturday group, that has diverse abilities, and today the route was suggested by John Milborrow from Teba.

We made an early start as the temperature at this time of year is usually very hot, but fortunately today’s weather was almost perfect with a cloudy sky and a cooling breeze.

The general area of the walk was the Embalses near to Ardales, otherwise known to most as ‘The Lakes’ and our route started from a parking area just over one of the dams. The first section of the

route was along a somewhat rough track which rose quite steeply from the main road and after only a couple of hundred metres we encountered our first problem, a locked gate across the track. This was obviously to prevent vehicles from entering the Olive Groves as we found that the fence stopped some metres short of the gate and we were able to access the field and by-pass the gate and then back onto the track. This track took us through some very large commercial Olive Plantations but offered us some amazing views across the vivid blue lakes and to the surrounding patchwork of fields.

The route then takes a right turn up a quite steep field track and departs the Olive Plantations and takes us along the edge of the Pine Forest. At the top of this rise we were treated to more splendid views, this time towards

Teba, with it’s Castle and the Embalse Guadalteba which flooded the village of Peñarrubia in 1972. We continue our ramble along the well maintained access tracks in the forest and eventually come upon an information board relating to the Necrópolis de las Aguilillas and decide that a detour is called for to investigate this.

This proved to be a very interesting find, we followed the route to the Necropolis and then onto

discover a Trench that was built and used to defend the hill in the Spanish Civil War. Whilst in this location we were privileged to see almost a dozen Eagles soaring on the thermals above us and one even passed within 10 metres of us, a magnificent sight. We continued to follow the marked route back to the entrance of this feature and re-joined our planned route back to the start, through the Pine Forest, until we reached the Tarmac road back to our parking area.

We then ambled across the dam, viewing the large fish in the water below us, and to El Kiosko for a well earned lunch.

This route is definitely included in the Saturday schedule.

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The Chocolate Trail

The ramble today was unfortunately the last one of the season, the temperatures are just getting too unbearable to walk in, and it was fitting that we ended the season on one of my favourite trails.

Because of the high temperatures and blazing sun our routes for the past few weeks have been in wooded areas that offer good shade and today we started on the Camino Forestal outside of Alhaurin el Grande. The early part of the walk is on well surfaced and maintained tracks, as these are necessary to provide access for Fire Fighting vehicle in the event of a forest fire, but have quite steep inclines as we head for the Fuente de Acebuche. After a short break under the shade of a large Carob tree we head again upwards towards the Casa Forestal, and this particular path was originally constructed as steps without the aid of machinery and all the materials would have been found in the vicinity. We have now made several visits to this Casa and one can never tire of the views.

From the Casa Forestal we again head upwards and again on a path that appears to have originally been stepped, it is thought that many years ago this was possibly a major route between Mijas on the south side of the Sierra and Alhaurin on the north side. After a reasonably challenging climb along some very rocky stretches we reach the trail that, had we turned left, eventually leads to the Picas
Mijas or summit, but that is not our goal today and we take the route down. After a quite rocky descent we reach the upper reaches of the stream bed that we will eventually take, but now we climb out of this and onto some softer and easier surfaces. This path now takes us past the ´hidden mine´ and down to the old Helicopter landing area.

Our route now takes us along a well surfaced track and reasonably level and offers magnificent views to our left over the Guadalhorce Valley and to Malaga. This is the easiest stretch so far and leads us to the start of what is known as the Chocolate Trail. It´s a bit of a scramble over a few rocks as we leave the main track and head into what is a stream bed, now very dry, who’s official name is Cañada de las Paloma or ‘Glen of the Dove’. This particular trail is exceptionally beautiful and at times dramatic, and also some sections are a little challenging as we have to climb down what would have been (and no doubt will be again) waterfalls.

This trail brings us out onto the Camino Forestal and we then have an easy walk back to the start.

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Albuqueria & Dolomite Cantera – Saturday 02nd July 2016

We are getting to the end of the season as the temperature is getting just too hot, there was a much diminished Saturday group due to the time of year, however those who were in the walk did enjoy it very much. We started from the car park outside of the old Eldorado studios, which is now a paintballing venue, and their participants were also turning up to play, we thought that there was a military excersise taking place as the paintballers arrived in full combat gear, including helmets and side arms, it was Cowboys & Indians in our day.
I had planned this route be in as much shade as possible as the temperature was already in the 30s at 09:30 and predicted to reach the mid 30s before we finished. The route started on the tarmac roads that give access to the old studios and to the quarry and then we turned off this into the woods and along a rough track that took us through old olive groves and gave us views over the tops of the trees in the Los Llanos woods.

This track emerges at the service road which runs alongside and above the A355 and then meets the road to the main quarry entrance, as one walks along this road everything is covered in a white dust of which clouds of the stuff are being generated by the quarry activities, surely this can't be good for the environment. The rock being quarried that produces the dust is Dolomite.

After passing the quarry entrance we follow the valley of the Rio Pereailas, which is currently totally dry, until we turn onto an ascending track that leads us out of the valley floor and into the old disused part of the quarry. This is one of the most difficult parts of the route as there is no shade and the track that we are walking on is white as are all the rocks around us, so the sun and heat is being reflected onto us, it was like walking in an oven, the only compensation being the views. It reminded me of a scene from Dr No.

We eventually emerge out of this old quarry and onto the track that leads us to our final stage and was the last section of the 20km hike that we did earlier in the year. Thankfully we are now back into reasonable shade as we tackle the very rocky path which then becomes even more so where the rain has washed out most of the soil and exposed the bedrock. A short stretch of this path required a bit of clambering over rocks, but the goal of the service track to the finish is in sight.

The final section of the walk involves a reasonably surfaced track that is used for vehicular access to the antennae, so good progress is made and again mainly in the shade as the track is lined with trees. This is an easy walk back the the car park which is at the start of this service track.

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New Cave, Fuente, Casa and the Chocolate Trail.

It all started a few months ago when  just two or three of us went walking on a Thursday and discovered some new routes. I then found that others were interested in walking on a Thursday also, and the Thursday Explorers group was formed, and today was a great example of what this group is all about.

I had plotted a route to check out an alternative for the planned Saturday Group walk, but it soon proved that this route would only be suited to a limited few so the original plan went out of the window and we followed our collective noses.

Our route started at the beginning of the Camino Forestal,  which runs at the foot of the Sierra de Mijas behind Alhaurin el Grande, and took us past the Jurrasic riverbed which we discovered last week and along a well used track that passes the water deposito fed by the Fuente Acebuche. However whilst on this track I was in need of a comfort break and ducked into what appeared to be a gully between the rocks only to discover the mouth of a very well hidden mine (disused). Even to John (who has walked these tracks many, many times) this was a new discovery.

After a short while we came upon some bukdings which John informed us was part of the Gun Club and indeed there were actually toilets (locked) and an open area where Clay Pigeon or Skeet shooting would take place.

We continued along the track until we came to the point where I had planned to turn right and take the track that I had found from Google Earth, and again this was new to John. However the track was VERY steep, long and very rocky, most unsuitable for the Saturday group. It took quite an effort for us to get to the level track at the top. Fortunately this track had a better surface and was thankfully flatter. This track led us to the access to the Fuente Achebuche, which we took and then John took us up the steps to the Casa Forestal which again was a discovery for me and the rest of the group.

We took a well deserved break at the Casa and admired the amazing views from the terrace of the Casa and watched an aircraft take off from Malaga airport in the distance, and knowing that we were actually higher than the plane.

An alternative route was then proposed by John, and being that this was the Rufti Tufti Explorers group we decided to try it. The route that we took, we believe, was at one time the main route over the mountains to between the Alhaurins and Mijas, as although time, footfall and the weather had took it’s toll, it was obvious that the path had been constructed, with steps and retaining rocks still visible. This route again took us through some excellent wooded area with plenty of fauna which was showing plenty of new growth, indicating that there must be water not far below the surface.

This path joined the path that leads up from the helicopter landing area far below to the fire track some considerable height above us, we take the route down and pass the ‘hidden mine’ which we have now visited a couple of times, and make our next decision at the helicopter landing area. Decision made, we are to take the Chocolate Trail, so called because of the amount of Carob Trees, whose seeds were used to make chocolate many years ago and their pods are used as animal feed.

The path down the Chocolate Trail, is possible one of the best that I have ever walked on, it was truly stunning, in fact we were walking on the dry bed of the Cañada de las Palomas (Glen of the Pigeons).

This ended at the main Camino Forestal and it was this that we took back to our start.

In essence a most satisfying hike, enjoyed by all.

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Caves, Mines, Fuentes and a Casa Forestal - 09 June 2016

Today was areal hike of discovery with a small group of the Thursday Explorers. We started at the beginning of the Camino Forestal opposite the Mirador Hotel in Alhaurin el Grande, and the first part of our route was up to where our walk the previous Saturday had turned around and then along that route for a couple of kilometres. We then left this main Camino and took to the narrow rocky path that leads down to the Cave.

Although a couple of us had been there before it was a treat for John as he missed our last outing to this. We then re-traced the path back to the main Camino, crossed it and took to the steep service track for the High Voltage electricity lines, crossed another fire track and then onto the rocky path to the Hidden Mine.

The only evidence from this track is a spoil heap which would be unnoticed unless you knew what it was. Again John was in his element and explored the extent of the mine. Another back-track to the fire track and then along this rather pleasant level path with magnificent views across the valley and to Malaga.

It was then by chance that I spotted some conifers that are not common in this forest by are more suited to where there is habitation, a narrow stoney track took off to the right and after a short walk the building came into sight, and this was the Casa Forestal. There are no signs to it and could be very easily missed. A visit to this building was made, which was originally the base for the Forest Guardia, now recently renovated as a somewhat bland monument to times past, despite this the views from the terrace where splendid.



We retraced our steps back down the stoney access path and returned onto the main track and with a short distance were at the path leading to the Fuente Acebuche, which unfortunately due to the extended length of the dry spell is reduced to a trickle.

From here we slightly deviated from the planned route, but this doesn't matter as we are exploring, and took another path down to a a main Camino which lead us back to the Camino Forestal but not before another discovery of what appeared to be the remains of a very ancient well head and then another of some very unusual rock formations which John believed to be at one time, millions of years ago, a river bed.

Overall a very pleasant hike with some very interesting finds, fortunately mainly in the shade of the trees as the temperature was 38c when we returned to the cars.

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Camino Forestal - 04 June 2016

It is now becoming difficult to find routes that offer a reasonable amount of shade now that the summer is upon us, however todays route is one that is always a favourite in the warm weather.
There are a few gradients and a couple of short sharp inclines but apart from that it is a fairly easy ramble along the forest track amongst the pine trees and offering great views over the valley.

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Cerca Teba and the Rio de la Venta Gorge

Todays walk was planned and led by one of our stalwart members John Milborrow, as this was his home territory. The walk started from the outskirts of the town, and we walked along a tarmac road towards what should have been an extreme end of the Embalse de  Guadalteba, but because of an extremely dry few winters the waters were nowhere to be seen. We then took to the old road that was the original way into Teba from the main road, but has long been unused and has reverted to no more than a track, this led us what should have been the side of the reservoir and into the fertile valley of the Rio de la Venta, and the small barriada of Torrox. Our guide, John, then showed us the pool which is formed by the spring water which is channelled into the paddling pool for the enjoyment of picnickers during the hot summer months.

From here we passed under the high bridge supporting the road into the town from the A357 and entered the gorge. This was an experience as it meant walking over the rocks as there was no defined path. Our path ahead at one point was blocked by the flowing water and this necessitated us crossing to the other side and a leap of faith onto a shaky rock in the middle of the stream and onto a large rock on the opposite bank. Fortunately all executed without falling in. The next challenge was to pass the remains of the old Anis Mill and to cross the stream again, and this appeared to be no mean feat.

Our guide is an experienced climber and caver but the experience in these field stopped with him and included our adventurous female member, Jane, who really does not do narrow ledges and sheer drops. However John being ever chivalrous guided her and made sure that she was safe during the traverse.  John C and Alan K found and alternative route y climbing up some large rocks and leaping large crevices. My bandaged knee wouldn't allow me the flexibility of taking this route and had already spotted what appeared to be an alternative.

I opted to go back a little way and climb the earth banks to what turned out to be a well used goat path that took me effortlessly past the ruins and along the river bank until I found a bridge across made by an old railway sleeper. I then sat on a rock and waited for the others. Those leadership courses in a previous existence seemed to have paid off! Apparently Jane did a victory dance after completing the ordeal. Despite all of this it was an experience that none of us would have wanted to have missed.

The terrain then became completely different and we were onto what felt like an open plain with high cliff to one side and open vistas to the far mountains on the other. We were still alongside the small river and walked to the sound of croaking frogs and the plopping of water voles. Our route then took us away from the valley floor and up a track into the hills above the gorge and were met by a magnificent view over the town of Teba and its castle and the many wind farms on the mountain ridges. The route back to the start was now all downhill through a mix of Almond and Olive plantations.

The weather was perfect with the temperature in the mid 20’s c but with a gentle cool breeze from the north west and a perfect blue sky and clear air.

One coincidence is that whilst we were doing the walk the Sur in English was being prepared and the story on the back page was all about the flooding of the village of Peñrrubia during the construction of the reservoirs, and we were walking at the end of that particular embalse.

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PR-A-274 Puerto Alto, Guaro

Todays hike was in the hills behind Guaro and in an area famous for its plantations of Almond Trees, indeed the local Town Hall organises walks when the trees are in blossom in the early part of the year, something that I plan to do next year.

I had advertised the route as a grade of 4.5 (out of 5) and in fact the U3A Hill Walking Group have this graded as a Medium to Heavy and it lived up to the billing. The route starts at the top end of the village and immediately starts its steep decline towards the valley of the Arroyo Seco, and immediately giving us magnificent views over the valley and to the Sierra de las Nieves in the distance. This stretch is the first test on the knees as we descend, eventually reaching the relief of a reasonably flat walk alongside the Arroyo which despite its name of the ‘Dry Stream’ has in fact a good flow of water.

The other feature of the valley is that it is lined with Oleanders currently in bloom. After we cross the stream via the bridge the rout takes a turn to the right and we start the relentless climb to the top, which is in effect a ridge between to valleys. As we climb the view become even wider and eventually we are even able to see the port at Malaga some 40 kms distant.

Throughout the climb we Almond groves on both sides which are now in fruit but when in blossom the whole area is covered in pink. We eventually reach the top of the ridge, if not the top of the climb and are now rewarded with views of about 270 degs. Not only do we have the views, but we are treated to carpets of wild flowers on the adjacent verges and in the fields.

During this part of the walk we have been on a marked track of two routes, ours being circular and the Guaro to Tolox route and we now come to the parting of the two, with our route taking a left and the start of our descent back into the valley. Also so far the tracks had been reasonably surfaced and generally in good condition, this being vehicular access to the Almond Trees.

This is where we leave the tracks and take to the path, and back in February when I did this walk for the first time this section had been badly eroded by the rains and the path was quite narrow and deeply gouged.

However in the past few days the path had been treated to the attention of a digger and the ruts filled and the surface smoothed. The descent is as arduous as the climbs because different muscles come into play and the knees take a lot of pressure, but again, as with the start we are rewarded with the relief of the level valley floor. Unfortunately this is short lived and the start of the climb back to the cars is soon upon us, and it is a very tough slog up this steep concrete track to the top. There was one unfortunate incident where one of our group was taken a little unwell due to the exertion, heat and lack of fluids but fortunately our plan worked and our tail man called and we got a vehicle to the scene very quickly. The good news was that a quick recovery was made and no harm was done, so we were all able to take to the nearest bar for well earned refreshment.

With regards to exertion this route probably rates alongside the hike to La Bola, and in fact in parts is steeper.

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Caminito del Rey - 19 May 2016

Back in march I did this walk for the first time and was in awe of it, and so many people said that they wanted to do it that I decided to organise for my walking group to do it. A few weeks back I booked 30 tickets (the maximum allowed in every half an hour), and whilst to start with the take up was somewhat slow the whole lot were soon allocated.

Today was the hottest day of the year so far, but fortunately there is a lot of shade on this walk and there was also a pleasant cooling breeze.

So here are the photos that I took on todays walk.................



Here are more photos, this time taken by Lesley Taylor...............

Rio Pereilas Valley and the old Donkey Safari Station

It was good to get out again after the really bad weather of the past week and everyone must have felt the same as we had almost 30 on the walk today, including 5 newcomers and welcome to you all.
This is a route that some of us have done a couple of tomes before but one that you can never tire of.
We started in the poligono behind the BP Petrol Station and set off up a gentle incline that passed between Avocado plantations. Despite the recent heavy rainfall the tracks were surprisingly dry. After a while we reach the most unusual sight of the Donkey Safari Station,unfortunately I can't find out anything about it, but can only assume that in thr 70'and 80's coaches filled with Thomson tourists arrived from the coast at the venta on the old A355 to be met by donkeys and were then ridden to the Safari station for a lunch of Paella, those were the days!

Our route then takes us to the valley side with views of the Dolamite Quarry in the foreground and the Guadalhorce valley and Malaga mountains beyond. We then descended into the valley and returned via the same route back to the Donkey Station. We then take the track with the Avocado plantations on one side and the forest on the other until we reach the old Helicopter landing area. It is then mainly downhill through the pine woods back to the start.

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A thank you from S.O.S Animals

SOS Animals have just collected us from a lovely lady in Alora. We were dumped at her house and SOS has taken us to the refuge and will now prepare us for new homes. We have to be vaccinated, microchipped, neutered and passported and this costs a lot of money.  So thank you to Al's Ramblers for raising money to help SOS do this work!

Ruta de Canca, Alora - 07th May 2016

The weather in southern Spain is most inclement for this time of the year, and we had heavy rain yesterday and have yellow alerts for heavy rain tomorrow, but today was a calm between two storms.

We have done this route before and a description is on another post along with photos, but that was a small Thursday group just checking out the route. Our group was a little smaller than normal but hopefully only due to the unsettled weather.

Click on the picture to open the viewer.

Not far to the bar, lads!

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