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The Axarquia is a great place to get out and about, and where better than in the Sierras Almijaras. Finding your way around can be a bit tricky, as guide books often give vague descriptions such as “turn left at the rock with the lizard on it”. Walking World have devised a system of using a combination of walk descriptions and photographs taken at points where decisions need to be taken. All routes which have been submitted to the system have been done with a GPS and by people familiar with the area. You can download some walks from http://www.walkingworld.com, although there only a few in the Cómpeta area. |
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Interpretive panels and advice about walking in the area are starting to appear courtesy of the local townhalls which are great starting points. There is one at the entrance to Cómpeta near the basura.
Good walking boots are recommended, take a mobile phone and contact number of either someone you know who can rescue you in an emergency, or the emergency services number. Always let someone know where you are going if you are walking alone. Taking a bottle of water is also recommended, even in the winter time.
The Axarquia is a great place to get out and about, and where better than in the Sierras Almijaras. Finding your way around can be a bit tricky, as guide books often give vague descriptions such as “turn left at the rock with the lizard on it”. Walking World have devised a system of using a combination of walk descriptions and photographs taken at points where decisions need to be taken. All routes which have been submitted to the system have been done with a GPS and by people familiar with the area. You can download some walks from http://www.walkingworld.com, although there only a few in the Cómpeta area.
Interpretive panels and advice about walking in the area are starting to appear courtesy of the local townhalls which are great starting points. There is one at the entrance to Cómpeta near the basura.
Good walking boots are recommended, take a mobile phone and contact number of either someone you know who can rescue you in an emergency, or the emergency services number. Always let someone know where you are going if you are walking alone. Taking a bottle of water is also recommended, even in the winter time.
Maps
Good walking maps are very difficult to find in Spain but to get a general feel of the area you can buy military maps of the area are available in Marco Polo – sheet number 18-43 Zafarraya. Sheet number 18-44 Velez Malaga gives the area to the coast. All Spanish maps are based on the Hayford grid system (possibly dating from Wellington and the peninsular wars) as opposed to the European 1950 grid. The Hayford Grid approximates to the European 1950 grid that is effectively WGS84 but Hayford has a slight shift in the Northing and Eastings. The shift varies across Spain and can even change from sheet to sheet. The shift In the Axarquia region is about 202m N and 110m East.
A route of how to get to the football pitch is available free from Todo Papel, Cómpeta and other outlets.
This month´s walk: Cómpeta to Cruz del Monte
Walk length: 5 miles
Duration: 1.5 hours
Grade: Easy
Starting from the Plaza Almijara, Cómpeta, head for Plaza Carmen and head uphill to the start of the football pitch road. The walk climbs rapidly to the impressively situated football pitch above the village which must be one of the most spectacular locations for a football pitch anywhere.
At the entrance to the football pitch, bear right on to a footpath that goes around the right hand side of the stadium following the fence line on your left. When you arrive at the broad track and interpretive panel showing routes in the mountains, the left turn takes you uphill and you can take a long circuit right around the Cerro Verde massif climbing over the Puerto Blanquillo, the Cueva del Malero valley through and the heart of the Sierra to the Fabrica de la Luz recreation area close to Canillas de Albaida. Throughout the whole of this part of the walk you are treated to fabulous views of the surrounding mountains and the Mediterranean Coast from Malaga to Torrox and Nerja.
This is a route of about 14 miles, and is an all day walk .
This month´s walk is an easier route however and again provides some spectacular scenery down to the coast. At the interpretive panel, turn right, and follow the broad track past a huge new house on the right. This is like an English country lane and very pretty with easy going underfoot. The track emerges in the urbanisation Cruz del Monte where there are some very nice houses. Continue downhill until you reach the entrance to the urbanisation. Turn right and follow the broad track to a shrine, and you can either turn right down the concrete road and then straight down into the village, or continue the zig zagging road when you will eventually come out at the Venta de Palma. If you take the concrete road down to the crossroads, by crossing the road and following it down, you will come to the new Spar supermarket. Turn left and follow the road down again, and you will come to Plaza Vendimia.
If you prefer, you can turn right at the crossroads and follow the road round until you come to a left hand turn which takes you to Plaza Carmen. Either route will lead you to well earned refreshments, either at La Vendimia restaurant or a Bar David in Plaza Carmen.
Tina Irving
Caledonian Iberian ConeXions S.L.
http://www.iberacal.com
