Stage 33 of the GR249 - Tough 18km hike (Mijas to Benalmadena) & superb coastal and mountain views. скачать в хорошем качестве

Stage 33 of the GR249 - Tough 18km hike (Mijas to Benalmadena) & superb coastal and mountain views.

Stage 33 of the GR249 - Mijas to Benalmadena, Malaga, Andalucía, Southern Spain This walk near Malaga, Southern Spain, follows the GR249 from Mijas to Benalmadena. Mijas is a superb typical Andalucian white washed village which deserves a visit in its own right. We were staying for a few weeks in Torremolinos where we have stayed many times before. There are many walks in the vicinity, as well as fantastic beaches and restaurants. Transport links are good, with a regular bus service to Mijas and Malaga. We caught the bus number 121 from where we were staying in Torremolinos at 9am, to Mijas Pueblo, arriving 50 minutes later in the main square. Mijas being close to the coast is a real tourist hotspot. There are public toilets in the main square next to the tourist information from where we obtained very useful free maps from an English speaking assistant. In Mijas there is a multitude of cafes/restaurants and a couple of supermarkets. On this walk there is nowhere to purchase any supplies so we had brought sandwiches, food and water with us. We set out from the main square at 10.10am,taking the steps at the side of Bar Gonzalez and going straight on over the road, following the walkway up to the main road, before turning left for 150m. We crossed over the road to a very useful information board with many local walks displayed, and a sign to our destination Benalmadena 17km along the GR249. After ten minutes of walking we reached the very beautiful Hermitage built in 1792, we have been here on a few occasions and it is always locked. If in Mijas make sure you walk here even if nowhere else. The views up and down the coast are stupendous. We re-traced our steps for about 50m then followed the red and white signs uphill, leaving here at 10.30am. After 25 minutes we turned right following the red and white signs and a blue sign on a post. Ten minutes later at a sign for Sendero Puerto Malaga we again followed the red and white, continuing uphill and on reaching a road we turned right. We followed the relatively level track round the corner, turning right signposted Benalmadena, passing a quarry to the right, many beautiful trees, then through a disused gate. After 40 minutes of walking, the track opens up in a clearing with various routes off it. We turned right up a wider track heading slightly uphill. We passed through a gate down concrete steps, missed the sign and went straight on along a narrow path. After about 200m we saw the error of our ways, as we were on the top of a very steep drop directly above a disused quarry!!! Very scary. Given how well worn this path is, we realised a lot of people had taken the wrong way. We very carefully retraced the path back to the concrete steps and saw the sharp left turn we should have taken. Be very careful at this point not to make our scary mistake. Ten minutes later we arrived at a road unusually with no sign. We chose the uphill route, but after about ten minutes realised this must be wrong and turned round following the road back down hill. Eventually we saw a sign saying right to Benalmadena 10.6 km. Another 10 minutes brought us to a clearing with more amazing views, on one side was the sea, another way views of all the countryside behind Malaga, and in the far distance snow on the mountains behind Nerja and ahead of us a hill with many television towers on. At 12.50pm we sat on chopped down tree trunks and ate our lunch. We continued along the mostly well sign-posted rocky path, through trees, with intermittent views. After a further 90 minutes at 2.10pm we reached the road to the towers. Here there is a choice to follow the road or continue along the path, we are not sure which was quicker but we followed the path. At 2.30pm we reached the road again and followed it up the final couple of metres to the top. After 4 hours of walking including breaks, we reached the highest point of the walk, by the television towers, which are a landmark for miles around. The weather was fantastic, windy and sunny, so different to a cold February day back in England. We were treated to some of the best views we have ever had, stretching all the way along the coast to Gibraltar, and a large part of North Africa. We have been previously walking in Spain in January and February and found the views excellent, maybe due to the colder air. Slightly retracing our steps, to the right there is a concrete bench and an information board with details of all the walking routes above Benalmadena and Torremolinos. We took the path in an easterly direction, the gently undulating route being quite easy to follow, with sandy or rocky terrain. The YouTube text limit has been reached, but if you would like to read the rest of Barbara's blog then please checkout www.hikingwithdaveandbarbara.com