Walk 2. Tres Ventas (Three Inns)

 Winding drive up to Competa, then stone road to Auberge Casa de la Mina (sadly closed).

Started along a forestry road, which followed the 880m contour for over two miles. Then a sudden turn up the spur of Loma del Daire to the surprise of many of the group. After the initial steepness through rough scrubland, the path levelled out to a pleasant rise through vegetation until a steep drop into a dry river bed followed by an even steeper zig-zag path of loose stones up to a level track leading to the first of the three disused inns – Casa de Donaos. Just past the inn was a calera (lime kiln) and lots of pottery pieces along the track.

A short walk downhill to Venta de los Pradillos for a lunchstop with extensive views down to the sea. Then a very pleasant path, sometimes clambering over rocks, descending through pines and passing the third inn – Venta Maria Guerrero. Then down an equally pleasant wider track to a forestry road with views of the firewatch building on top of the hill just ahead. Then a further descent to a right fork going down to Competa.

The short but very steep descent to the left down to Casa de la Mina presented a problem for some of the group, so seven continued down the fire road to a junction with picnic tables, to be picked up later, while the other eleven descended the loose, steep track to the finish.

A very pleasant day’s walk with only a small proportion of it on the flat forestry road, ending with a very welcome drink and delicious olives at the picnic spot, magically conjured from a cool-box by Paul & Vicki.