Fire Lookout, Barranco Blanco, Coin

What a glorious day, weatherwise, it was for a walk in the wonderful Barranco Blanco (White Ravine) area of Coin, there were clear blue skies, bright sunshine but a breeze that at times was quite cool.

The walk started from the Rio Nacimiento car park with its picnic areas and the lake which today had its fountain working. The route leaves the car park and takes us up a stony path on an easy gradient and leads us to the picnic area in the trees near to the Spots Stadium. This stadium is in the middle of nowhere and with only recently improved tracks to get to it, to me it looks like a typical Spanish White Elephant. Our route then takes us across the almost moorland landscape, with splendid views of the forest all around.

After we have crossed this open ground we take another stony track with an easy gradient to start with but gradually gets steeper until we reach the tarmac road that leads into the Finca la Fuenta area, with its stream and waterfalls and the legend that the Timotei shampoo advert was filmed there.

We then take the track that leads not only to the Fire Lookout but also to a recently added Mirador. The track rises gently toward the first viewing point, and we are rambling through tall standing Pines with occasional glimpses through the woods of views over the Guadlehorce valley and beyond. The first view point is reached to the sound of some Ooos and Wows as the spectacular view is revealed. We take a short break here for a group photo and the opportunity for the taking of many more pics, this point gave us some very clear views down to the coast as well as to Alhaurin Golf and the Sierra de  Mijas.

It’s then a backtrack along the track and then onto the access track to the Fire Lookout, this is now manned for 12 hours per day from May to October following the tragic fire three years ago when it was only manned 3 days per week, and the fire started on a day when the Lookout was empty. As we get back onto the access track we spot some half a dozen Deer just down the slope from us, a real added bonus as they are normally very shy. The track takes another easy incline, but then we come across a tree that has fallen across the track and required a bit of Limbo dancing to get through.

It would seem that the Brica fire authority will have some clearing work to do before they can man the lookout in a few weeks time. From passing this brief obstacle we reach yet another viewing point before continuing up a slightly steeper incline to reach the Lookout Post, this after negotiating yet another fallen Pine. These must have been victims of the unusually high winds that we have been experiencing of late.

After a short climb we reach the Lookout building to more Ooos and Wow’s, because the views from here are even better than from the first Mirador. It is now time to take in some sustenance and the wonderful views. From here there are virtually 360 deg views that stretch for miles. The ideal place to site a lookout post, ahead of us are views down into the Secret orGerman Valley and in the far distance the Mediterranean Sea. Behind we have views beyond Alora and towards El Torcal.

Time now to start the descent back, but not before a slight detour to view the Finca la Fuenta area and the waterfalls. The route backtracks past and through the fallen trees and returns to the Tarmac Road, then it is straight across and along another easy track, giving us views across the valley, and after a while arrive at the lower edge of the old El Dorado studios. We then take the seemingly never ending ‘white’ track back down to the Spots Stadium and return to the car park on the path that we started on.

It was another successful ramble with everyone saying how much they enjoyed it, this route is always a joy and one that I never tire of doing.

To see all the photos from this walk follow this link or visit the Page

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