| My favourite walk begins in Competa at the turn | | | | some beehives we arrive at a wide good quality |
| off to Casa Mina. The white town of Competa, | | | | track, where we turn left. A very gradual descent |
| which looks very picturesque huddled against the | | | | takes us to a tarmac road (13.25 kms). The walk |
| mountain (La Maroma), is called by locals the | | | | becomes flat and easy taking us through |
| "sleeping princess" because of its distinctive shape | | | | cultivated land of olives, almonds, oranges etc. until |
| from this view. We climb gradually up a good | | | | we arrive at the Ermita at the top of the village |
| track through pine trees and the sad remains of a | | | | of Canillas de Albaida. This is a very pretty steep |
| forest fire and into the Natural Park of the Sierras | | | | white village, which so far unlike Frigiliana has not |
| of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama. There are | | | | been discovered by many tourists and it makes a |
| fabulous views of the coast, mountains and | | | | delightful place to stop for lunch at a lovely |
| Competa. After 3.5 kms we arrive at a fabulous | | | | restaurant in the main square. (15.5 kms. After |
| viewing point, where we can rest and see Torrox | | | | lunch and a short tour round this picturesque |
| Costa, Frigiliana, the mountains of the Sierra | | | | village we continue our walk by following a tarmac |
| Almijara and of course the Mediterranean. These | | | | road which drops steeply to the river Cajula |
| are really beautiful views and our guests are | | | | taking us past the chapel of San Anton and an |
| always stunned. We drag ourselves away and | | | | ancient Roman bridge ( 16kms). Next we continue |
| turn left to continue our climb, at times quite | | | | along the tarmac road which now climbs quite |
| steeply until we are directly below a look out | | | | steeply until we reach the track of Los Eriales |
| station for forest fires (5.2 kms) The track is | | | | (18.6 kms) and we continue along this good quality |
| shingle and stones so can be a bit slippery, but if | | | | track with beautiful views of the Sierra Tejada, |
| we are lucky we might see Ibex, the wild goat | | | | Lake Vinuela and the coast. The Sierra Tejada |
| and eagles. We are very high so the views are | | | | takes its name from the yew tree (tejo in |
| amazing particularly of El Lucero (1,700 ms) and | | | | Spanish) which used to be widespread in this area |
| La Maroma (2,065 ms). Again it is lovely just to | | | | but has largely been destroyed because it is |
| stand still for a while to absorb not only the views | | | | poisonous to sheep and cattle The land here is |
| but also the total peace, disturbed only by | | | | cultivated, growing almonds, olives and vines, but |
| birdsong. | | | | in Spring there are fields of poppies and lots of |
| The track levels off and we continue for another | | | | other wild flowers such as Bermuda buttercups |
| couple of kms along gentle ups and downs, | | | | and wild lupins. We continue until we reach the |
| enjoying the staggering views, until we start to | | | | steep climb down the ridge to Daimalos, where |
| descend through lovely fragrances of rosemary | | | | Steve and Sheila are lucky enough to live and |
| and sage. The track is steep in parts and quite | | | | guests stay in distinctive village houses, for their |
| slippery on loose stones. Shortly after passing | | | | walking holiday (24kms). |