Sierra Lujar


The Sierra Lujar lies between Orgiva and the Mediterranean coastline at Motril. At over 1800 m it is not a small range yet it is overlooked as a walking destination as it lies in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada range to the north. Ive looked at the range for a number of years and last year did the then recently opened ''ruta de minas''( route of the mines) The more recent trip however took in the top of the range and access couldn't be easier with a surfaced road accessing the number of ariels on the summit.The track winds its way up the eastern and northern flanks and can be used by even normal road vehicles. En route to the summit we were treated to an annual spectacle as Egyptian vultures from the region gathered in order to begin their migration across to Africa. About 100 of these huge birds where circling the car as we drove up and we were even able to park within about five metres of two which were on the ground next to the track.

So what of the walking , from the masts we could see an area of cliffs off to the north across a wide valley running due north down toward Orgiva. Around the head of the valley was a faint track line which ran east to west along a ridge overlooking Motril and the coastline of the costa tropical (including the plastic green houses). After following ever narrowing track for about 2km we then headed north across an open area to a point looking across a shallow side valley filled with pine. Dropping through the pine was not to difficult however there is no path so we just made it up as we went along. At the bottom of the tree line there was the start of a low limestone raised limestone pavement which lead east to an outcrop high above the main valley itself. An ideal spot for lunch.

Throughout the short route the views across the whole of the area had been remarkable , particularly those north to the main Sierra Nevada range . Certainly I had never viewed the range from this aspect and summits from Caballo in the west, to the outliers some 20km east beyond Puerta la Ragua where magnificent and to see three central peaks of Valetta, Mulhacen and Alcazaba spread out before us was almost as good a site as the vultures had been on the ascent.

Our return route was simply to retrace out steps. Over all the trip was only about 9km however as an exploratory trip it was well worth it with a number of tracks and lines being seen and logged for a later date.