Walk 1. Two Provinces

A 45 minute drive along the coast to Velez-Malaga and then inland up past a reservoir to Periana and a dirt road to the start at El Canuelo – a small group of houses including a bar.

Started along a wide stony track for nearly a mile up to a disused railway track. Level walking along the track to a bridge where there used to be a watering point for steam trains going from Malaga to Zafarraya. A pleasant climb up through rocks which levelled out across scrubland to a solitary date palm. Then a steady but gradual climb up along a rocky path zig-zagging through some larger rocks to a drink stop at about 1100m to admire the view behind. Continued to the saddle between two slopes, which is the boundary between Malaga and Granada provinces.

Lunch stop here at 1200m around a grassy patch with signs of wild boar activity. Then down through pines with very large cones, across a steep open fire-break which levelled out before entering a thicker forest of pines. Amazing views along this track to a wide, flat basin with the town of Zafarraya in the middle and distant views of the Sierra Nevada. Continued downhill to 970m along needle covered track then a steep climb ending in final zig-zags to the boundary back into Malaga province at 1445m.

A second stop here to finish lunch and then down a very overgrown zig-zagging path which levelled off before the hamlet of Marchamona. Then a wide dirt track for about a mile back to the disused railway and then another mile and a half back to a rest stop under the previously visited bridge, followed by another mile back to the top of the dirt track down to El Canuelo.

An extremely pleasant and enjoyable outward journey but a rather tedious return, alleviated slightly by the loud bells of a huge flock of sheep (tended by a watchful shepherd and two dogs) just below the very end of the railway track.

The drink on the terrace of the bar at the end of the walk was very welcome.