Lucero

This walk comes highly recommended by my Spanish neighbour who at this time of year goes to work on skis. Lucky man, he works at the observatory above the Granada.

Lucero is the majestic pyramid shaped summit best seen as you drive from Malaga east toward Nerja.

Starting from the North of the mountain the drive is as good as the walk itself. From the road between Fornes and Arenas del Rey follow the clearly signed track to the Resinera Information Centre. About 150m after the centre the track forks, turn right uphill (Vivero de la Resinera to the left). The track climbs to cross an open area of pine forest before a wonderful switchback section traversing a steep hillside. After 11km the track drops to cross the river bed on a large concrete pad, 500m after a narrow track forks left. Marked by a Zona de Reserva and a Prohibited Traffic sign this marks our return route so park nearby.

We now walk west for about 2km along the track which becomes quite rough, then climbs to reach the start of the waymarked trail to Lucero. It’s an obvious route climbing to reach a large col where we get our first real view of Lucero’s summit and its ruined Guardia Civil watch post. The route becomes rockier from this point as it traverses the flank of Lucerillo before final steep and somewhat exposed zig zags to the summit. Once you get to the summit it’s clear to see why it was used as a view point by the Guardia during the civil war as the views from the top over the nearer ranges as well as across the Med. to the Rif Mountains of Morocco and North East to the Sierra Nevada are stunning.

Once you have had your fill of the summit return to the large open col below Lucerillo. Whilst you can return the way you came there is a better if far less used route back to the car. A boundary stone here, marked MP, marks a feint path running North. Take this path which is marked by a large stone arrow then by cairns and later red paint. Follow the path though open forest, cross a couple of dry stream beds then after about 15 minutes zig zag down to a further stream bed. Turn right to a cairn to rejoin the path as it now levels to join a wider track at a waymarker. Turn left to follow the track down hill then left again at a T junction as the track levels out at a rocky stream bed. This soon takes you back to the track where you left the car some four or five hours ago.

Lucero is obviously a popular summit, I saw seven! other people on the day I did the ascent, not quite Snowdon on a Bank Holiday but busy by local standards.

10km , 4-5 hours , No water en route, steep ascent

Sierra de Huetor.

The Sierra De Huetor national park which lies to the north of the Sierra Nevada about 15 minutes east of Granada.

To get there take the autovia from Granada toward Almeria and come off at junction 259, clearly signed for the national park. From the junction follow the road on the north side of the autovia and turn right to park at Casa Forestal de Penoncillas. The walk starts on the east side of the access track at an information board and way marker. To be honest for most of the walk a description would be superfluous. The route is well marked and follows a clear path winding and climbing slowly through a ‘Karst’ limestone landscape. Whilst initially we walk though forest the habitat quickly opens up to a more open Mediterranean scrub or maquie. The non native pine forest in the area is slowly being cleared to extend the important native habitat of shrubs and scrubby oaks.

After about an hour the path reaches a magnificent natural mirador and the highest point of the main walk. This spot gives great views north to the rocky summit of Pennon the Mata. Also clear is the fire spotter’s cabin on the summit of Las Minas to the north. The path now re enters a more dense forest before dropping left at a way marker to zig zag down into a shallow valley before reaching a broad forest track. At the track turn left to reach a sign post. To the right Mirador de los Minas is signed and is well worth the short, though steeper detour with its 360 views of the whole of the area.

The main route, signed for Puerto Lobo drops left from the sign post. The next section is a delight as the path drops down through a classic piece of limestone landscape, a dry river valley. The valley is well used by both domestic and wild goats so is a bit muddy in wet weather. The foot of the valley is marked by a rock pinnacle, El Pulpito. Follow the path back through forest and turn left at a junction to soon reach another forest track. Heading down hill though a sided steep valley brings us to Fuente de la Teja, a main source for water used in the Alhambra gardens.

At the next junction continue straight along the main track to begin a final slow climb back up to the finish of the walk.

I did this walk at the end of November on a cloudy damp day, the forest sections gave some shelter and would also provide shade in summer. Whilst the walk is good at any time of year Spring would bring wildflowers and would perhaps be the best time of year to do the route.


12.5 km
5 Hours
Water at Fuente de la Teja (3 hours)

Cerro de Caballo

On a recent trip up Cero de Caballo above Lanjaron I finally managed to locate a small bivvy refuge that I had been told about during last winter. At the time there was to much snow to find it and the recent trip was my first chance to go and have a look.

The shelter is a small stone arch over a pit and could have been constructed as a store for the now ruined Refugio de Lanjaron which lies near by.

The refuge is 100m north of the ruin which is found at the bottom of the south eastern spur of Caballo. From the ruin head approx 50m west along a descending path through an open bowl, at the lowest point of the path follow the shallow gully North to the bivi which is at the base of the cliffs.

Ermita de Cristo de Zapato

This walk is in the Lecrin valley, a lush area to the west of the Motril – Granada motorway. Follow signs for Pinos de Valle from the motorway, the road crosses the dam wall of the Embalse de Beznar and climb up into Pinos, at a T junction at the top of the village turn right for about 100m and park.

The walks climbs from Pinos up to the Ermita de Cristo de Zapato perched high above the village. Struck by lightening about 18 months ago the ermita has since been rebuilt.

From the wash house where there is a nearby spring here for filling your water bottle signs point to Ermita de Cristo de Zapato. The track winds up behind a building near a quarry, after 5min. at a second sign, follow the path as it climbs steeply before levelling out in the forest. Now it’s simply a matter of slowly plodding up the many zig zags to the ermita.

After 10 minutes you pass a building on the right with pipes running to it through the forest. ( Where the pipes leave the path into the forest marks our return path and is marked by a yellow arrow.) Continue uphill to eventually reach the ermita perched on a painted rock outcrop. The ermita is normally open and is worth looking in. Behind is a new lightening conductor and beyond a short rock ridge can be followed for about 500m.

Return down the track we climbed until the junction noted during the ascent; here turn right along a narrower but clear path alongside water pipes. The path traverses through the forest passing a large alburca before slightly dropping and turning to the west. Pass a boundary marker and cairn above a small almond grove then re enter the forest. At the next clearing you get stunning views east across the Alpujarra as far as the Sierra de Gador inland of Almeria some 70km away. Cross through a baranco before the path descends to a T junction above a concrete track. At the junction turn left.

The return path levels as it crosses though grassland and scrub before meeting a wider track at a new alburca. Follow the track tacking care as it passes bee hives. The path drops to a cross road, here head down hill to join a tarmac road just left of a small bridge. Turn left for about 10 minutes back into the village.

Even if you have a map of the area don’t expect to see all of this route, like many local paths it simply does not appear even though it’s clearly old and well trodden.
As any regular walker will know in comparison to the UK’s Ordnance Survey maps Spanish maps, even if available leave a lot to be desired. A bit of perseverance and willingness to explore areas has it rewards as you will find if you do manage to do this or other routes in the sierras of the region.

4-5 hours
water at start
Easy route finding , steep ascent.

Fuente Fria / Monachil Gorge

This route extends the normal Monachil Gorge walk of the previous blog and makes what is a great half day route into a fuller much more strenuous days outing.
The key to the extension lies in a path which climbs steeply up the southern side of the valley about 2km from the end of the gorge section of the main valley. At this point a number of paths are signed and there are about half a dozen finger posts directing walkers in various directions, the highest one on the ridge line above and to the south of the path points the way to Fuente Fria.

Initially the path climbs gradually zig zagging in and out of a shallow gully to the right of the main ridge before climbing onto the ridge itself to ascend more steeply to the edge of the forest. Here the path becomes very vague but is marked by occasionally cairns as it climbs through the pine trees. After about 10 minutes of ascent in the trees the path emerges to a more open area marked by felled logs and a path traversing the hillside through the forest. Follow the path west (right ) across the hill side before it climbs below a rock outcrop and becomes more defined. After about 15 of traversing you will reach a path junction with a way marker head south (left) and ascend steeply through the forest until a further finger post is reached. This marks the return route however we continue for another fifteen minutes or so to reach Fuente Fria itself, views here of the Monachil valley and beyond and a great spot for a rest before you return back down hill to follow the route signed to Cortijo Umbria and the return to Monachil.

5-6 hours, 12km, 500m of ascent, Water at Fuente Fria(?)

Monachil Gorge

The Monachil Gorge walk is one of the gems of the Sierra Nevada. Just on the outskirts of granada itself it offers wire bridges, rock tunnels streams and a load of fun.

To get to the start from the village a there are a couple of routes however to get the most out of the walk I park in Monachil itself head upstream to cross the last bridge across the river turn Left and uphill for about 1km until a track heads left away from the tarmac , a finger post at the end of the track point uphill. Follow the track downhill to a small hydro plant then turn right up a flight of steps to an obvious path. Follw this as it descends to the river and the first small bridge. A description of the gorge itself would not do it justice however if you dont like the small bridges you have to cross the last big one may well be unpassable, beware.

After 2 - 3 km in the gorge itself the valley widens and you can picnic here or anout half an hour updtream at a small building and weir. Retun down stream to return to monachil either via the gorge or on either side of the valley making use of narrow paths that zig zag above the cliffs and river.

4-5 hours giving plenty of time for photos /picnic. easy walking with very narrow sections, no drinking water en route but often plenty of shade.

Puerto Palo, Alpujarra.

Whilst this route has recently been waymarked it is clearly an old route up to Puerto Palo. To get to the start of the route turn off the Orgiva to Pampaneira road as you pass the hermita at Padre Eterna, there are signs here for horse riding and the tibetan monestry. Follow the rough track, tarmac then dirt for about 3km to a point where a pine tree marks a sharp right hand bend and a board gives information about the walk.

Follow the obvious track west passing a small building on your left after about 1km you reach a tree nursery/research plantation and the track narrows to a path and begins to climb via a series of zig zags up the valley side through a wonderfull section of native woodland. The route is obvious and after about an hours ascent you reach a wide track , turn left to descend to the Puerto Palo bridge. from here ypou can continue up the track 500m to a picnic area.

To return retrace your steps allong the track passing the point where you joined it. Easy walking downhill takes you past two distinctive fuentes (neither marked as drinkable). About 500m after the second fuente a track joins from the right, you pass this to a second track marked with sign posts for the Sulyar route take the track to the Right and drop steeply passing a ruin, the track is wide but rough and occasionaly overgrown it eventualy brings you back to the track you started out on, here turn left back to the car.

Time 4-5 hours with break, distance 8km, No drinking water en route.