El Santo, Pizzara - 02nd April 2016

Todays route took us on a pilgrimage route to the statue of Christ (El Santo) on the top of the hill above the village of Pizzara. We started at the bottom of the village and made our way along the  street to the entrance of the park. This took us through tall pines and area of recreation on the marked path to the summit. After a while of quite heavy inclines we reached the first 'wow' factor, the invisible entrance where one huge rock has fallen against another to form a narrow passage through, and then climb some steep steps through another narrow passage and out onto a small observation area. It's then a steady and sometimes steep climb along a narrow path to reach the first of the viewpoints above the village. Then another steady climb for some considerable distance, giving us more and wider views across the Guadlehorce valley to the Sierra de los Nieves beyond, and now a view of our destination. We come to an area of agriculture with well tended Olive plantations and then to our goal, El Santo.

The views from here are wonderful and the tile plaques that have been erected inform us of the towns and villages and peaks that are in view.

Our hike down takes us along the vehicle access track along the other side of the hill and now affords us views over to Malaga, complete with the sight of planes landing at the airport.



We follow this track untill a narrow path leaves it to the right, it is this that we take and come to the Cueva Oscura, after a short while we join the track that we ascended on and back to the steps into the narrow passage , returning through the park area and into the village.



The weather was fair and not too hot for a walk of this kind.

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Nacimiento de Rio Grande, Yunquera - 31st March 2016

This walk had been suggested by one of our members who today acted as our guide to the source of the Rio Grande, which is in the mountains near to the village.
A strong wind had been forecast but I don't think any of us expected it to be quite so cold when we reached the village, but fortunately we were mostly reasonably prepared. As the walk progressed and we dropped down into the valley it was off with a layer of clothing.

The first part of the walk afforded us magnificent views right to the coast, with Sierra Gordo, Coin easily visible.

The route took us along some very well surfaced tracks, but apparently this was due to the originals being washed away in the heavy rains of a few years ago. This was one of the clearest days that we have experienced for a while and the views across the mountains gave an almost 3D effect.
As we approached our destination the terrain became very much more difficult, firstly making a descent along a very rocky path, then down some uneven and narrow concrete steps with only a drop into the canal to one side and no handrail.

We then crossed the top of the dam, picked our way along an irrigation channel and arrived at the mouth of the cave from which the water for the Rio Grande exits the mountain. Two brave souls from the group ventured into the cave.

As the journey here had been all downhill, the trek back was all uphill.

This walk was an experience that I am pleased that I had, and we intend to return in a few weeks when the flow of water has reduced dramatically so that more of us are able to make it into the cave and it's branches.

For all the great photos from this walk follow this link or visit the Page.

Rio Pereilas, Coin - 26 March 2016

I find it amazing but gratifying that so many people want to do some walking, today we broke another record and there was a total of 36 people on the walk.

This is a fairly easy route on the outside of Coin, we started from the Car Park outside of LaTrocha and took to the track that runs along the end of the poligono and down to the 7 way junction. We then walk down the concrete track to meet the acequia track towards the 'Toblerone' bridge. After a while we reach the derelict house with the amazing graffiti, and most of the group took the opportunity to take a look inside. This is unfortunately when such a large group can come unstuck, we started off for the river taking the road after a warning to take care, and a request to stop by the river. Unfortunately a couple of ladies needed to take a comfort break at the house and the group became very spread out and it took me another 2 km to catch the front of the group, maybe I need to get some walkie talkies. All ended well as I caught the head of the group and made a head count to confirm that no one was missing, thanks to David and Ian who did a stirling job as back markers and rounding up any stragglers.

We rambled along the river banks and were now becoming grateful fro the shade from the Eucalyptus trees that bound the river. A short break for refreshment and a quick group photo and we head back out of the valley and back onto the acequia track. It's then a short sharp incline to pick up the tracks along the ridge of the valley and back up to the start. A well deserved sit down at the Cafe/Bar for a well earned beverage.

I sincerely hope that everyone enjoyed this walk, as we had a lot of new people on it and that they will join us for more walks in the future.

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

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Walk of Discovery to Sierra de la Roble, Casarabonela

Once again we were treated to some magnificent views and fabulous weather. This was a route that we had never done before and I found it on one of the walking sites on the web, so you never know what to expect, but we are rarely disappointed.

The route starts about 3km from Zalea and looks fairly innocuous but proved to be far from it.

We went off the planned route, by accident, but as it happened it was possibly better, this brought us to the junction at the top of the climb. I then followed the route that had been shown but this turned out to be a bit of rough climb and we abandoned it after a very short climb. It was then back to junction and up the fire break to the Fire Lookout post, where we were afforded the most magnificent 360 deg views. The Barranco Blanco Fire Lookout was visible in the far distance so they have the area well covered. We found the track away from the Lookout Post only for it to be one of the arms of the junction. This is what the Thursday walks are all about, it's easier to go wrong and recover with a small group that with 30 odd.

The tracks on the whole walk were in very good condition and whilst some of the climbs were a little steep, but not excessively so, it is definitely a route to be added to the itinerary.

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Monte Hacho, Alora - 17th March 2016

Today the Thursday Club walked Monte Hacho, the route that we did was almost the same as we did a couple of weeks back except that we knew where not to go to avoid locked gates. Also we ventured to the furthest point along the ridge.

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Caminito del Rey – walked 16th March 2016

Today was an experience that I am so glad that I had, in fact I had several experiences some fantastic and some typical of this country.

A friend of mine had managed to get 2 tickets for the Caminito del Rey, but unfortunately the friend that he had procured the other ticket for was unable to make it on this day so he offered it to me. I had in fact been trying to get a ticket for some weeks and officially they are only available online but due to the authorities not having clue about what they are doing about the management of this attraction after the end of March, it is now virtually impossible to get tickets.

We had tickets for 11:30, as visitors are restricted, and arrived in plenty of time and found the last parking space. From where the car is parked it is then a 2.5 km walk to the entrance to the Caminito and you are supposed to be there half an hour before your ticket time. The walk to the start is in itself

very pleasant, taking a sometimes rocky path through the pine woods alongside the Rio Guadlehorce. We arrive at the start of the walk about an hour ahead of time and watch the queues form, not only for the walk but also for the only 2 toilets that are available.

Eventually it is our turn to join the queue and move slowly toward the point where our tickets and documentation are checked and the hard hat issued complete with hygienic hairnet.  It’s then a slow but easy walk to the actual start of the Caminito, and then the enormity of the gorge strikes you as the cliffs start to tower above you. The new path was constructed, in the main, on top of or just above the original path. It is bolted and braced into the cliff face and has a wire netting and wire hand rail for protection, underfoot it is slats of 100 x 30 mm timber. The feeling is amazing as you are walking some 1 m. out from the cliff face, virtually in mid air. The sights are very hard to describe, the gorge with the Rio Guadlehorce flowing through it and over rapids is way below you, whilst the cliff that form the sides of the gorge tower way way above you.

Many years ago I had walked to the northern end of the Caminito (which is where we started from today) when it was still derelict and impossible to navigate, I have also passed the southern end many times when driving to the lakes and assumed that it was one gorge. In fact there are two gorges, and when you exit the first one the terrain widens out, with the railway line across the other side of the valley, and Cortijo del Hoya, now derelict, in the floor of the valley. There are many interesting features in this area. The old irrigation canals, caves full of water, tunnels through which the irrigation water flows and much more. At one point the path goes into one of the irrigation canals through a collapsed wall.

After we have passed through this valley we reach the start of the second gorge, and climb a number of steps that lead to the path that is cantilevered off the cliff face. The geology of this gorge is different to the previous in that the cliffs have vertical fissures. The railway line continues on the other side of the gorge and goes through several tunnels that, from our viewpoint, seem too small to take a train. The path clings precariously to the gorge side, affording spectacular sights. We then arrive at the section of path that has a viewing platform comprising of a glass floor. By standing on this you feel that you are suspended in mid air, not an experience for everyone, but one that I am glad I took. The walk is almost over but there is another section to conquer, and this is the suspension bridge, and the floor of the bridge is made of a metal grid of 25mm squares so that as you walk across the bottom of the gorge is visible directly below you. The bridge also sways and ´bounces´ as you cross it. The path then falls and climbs around the cliffs and over the railway line. For those film buffs, this is the section of railway line that was used in the closing scenes of Von Ryans Express.

That signals the end of the actual Caminito del Rey and we are now back on Terra Firma, but still with amazing scenery with the El Chorro lake below us and the view of the mouth of the gorge behind us.

We hand back our hard hats and head for the shuttle bus to take us back to the start, these run every half an hour. There was the usual Spanish scrum to get on and all the seats were taken and some 25 people were standing, and at €1.50 per head, not a bad earner. The trip back takes about 20 mins. and time now to have lunch and chat over what a fantastic day we have had.

The weather was good, with blue skies with some fluffy cloud, but to start with very cold out of the sun and a bitter wind, but as the day wore on the sun began its magic and warmed everything.

I can’t wait to do it again!

For all the pictures from this fantastic walk follow this link or visit the Page.

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Walk to Ermita Fuensanta, Coin - Ruta SL-A-147 and more.

It never ceases to amaze me how diverse the scenery is on different routes yet in similar areas. This walk started at the car park in the Feria ground of Coin and just across the road the marked route SL-A-147 commences with a very steep uphill section of about 50 mts until we level out and find ourselves next to the new Helicopter landing pad for the Medical Centre. We pass a number of

dwellings with the obligatory tied up barking dog. Once we pass the houses we are straight out into the campo with Olive and Orange plantations, this is so close to town but so far away.

The tracks are good underfoot and the route is very undulating with quite steep ups and downs. The route is well marked and easy to follow and in is called ‘Calle Julio Romero de Torres’, this now takes us up and into very open country with views across to the Cerra Alpujata and the Quarry. The Ermita is now visible at the top of the valley side but unfortunately it is having repairs done to its roof and is covered in scaffolding and green netting.

We then join a tarmaced road for a short distance and reach the valley of the Rio Pereilas where the track now becomes well worn and loose. We cross the little bridge over the river and start up the rise

to the Ermita and its Feria ground. This has changed a lot since I was last here some 13 years ago and the Feria ground is now bounded by the skeletons of Casitas for the various Peñas and looks like the scene from a Spaghetti Western complete with hitching rails for horses.

Some time and sustenance is taken here to absorb the scenery and the atmosphere of the Ermita. From here we start our return journey along the access road to the Ermita with its overhanging rocks and cave with the obligatory shrine. This road leads us onto the old A355 which is no more than a single track road compared to the new version some distance to the side. We cross the road bridge over the Rio Pereilas and head uphill before taking a rough track on the left which then becomes a tarnaced road leading to the Venta Cruze de Piedra. It is then walking on footpaths and into the town itself, where a well deserved beverage was taken in the square outside of the Town Hall.

We then head back to the car park through the very narrow streets and alleys of the old part of Coin, several times finding ourselves at a dead end. Passing open front doors with the Madre sitting in the doorway knitting or embroidering, whilst Padre is no doubt taking several hours over a half of beer and a game of dominoes in a local bar. Eventually we find the route out of this labyrinth and to the car park.

Once again the weather was our friend with blue skies and fluffy clouds, much sunshine and good temperatures, but the wind does have a chill to it at time still.

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