Monday 09 March 2020: Valle de Abdalajís to El Chorro
Distance: 11.0 km Time: 3:10 Ascent: 400m Descent: 520m – Wikiloc
Today starts with a 330m climb over 5 km. The whole day spectacular walking below towering limestone cliffs.
El Chorro is famous for a scary walkway, Caminito del Rey (King’s Pathway), which hangs 100m above the base of the Gorge of the Gaitanes. Luckily for us it was closed when we arrived!
Tuesday 10 March 2020: El Chorro to Carratraca
Distance: 17.4 km Time: 6:00 Ascent: 880m Descent: 580m – Wikiloc
The time (and distance) includes waiting 40 minutes for Bobastro to open and 30 minutes at the Ruins.
We started with a 4 km climb to the reservoir 350m above El Chorro which took 1.5 hours. Followed by a descent to the Bobastro Ruins where Omar Ben Hafsun at the end of the 9th century converted to Christianity and built a city with a church in the mountains at Bobastro. It’s the only Mozarabic (Christians who lived in Moorish Spain) Christan place of worship existing.
After that the route seemed a continuous climb; around every bend another hill. A hard day for us.
The highlight was lunch at Fonda Casa Pepa. Like Sunday lunch at grandma’s there are no choices, everybody gets the same. Huge bowls of soup and plates of meat from the kitchen are piled on the table and you eat as much as you are able, wine included.
In honour of the Virgen de la Salud, who helped sick people when they came for the curative waters
Wednesday 11 March 2020: Carratraca to El Burgo
Distance: 22.9 km Time: 6:30 Ascent: 840m Descent: 810m – Wikiloc
Looking at the profile, this is a 6 “bump” day – 6 climbs, 6 descents from a low point of 390m up to 860m. Although it mostly follows wide forestry tracks there is a tricky section of almost invisible path marked by cairns.
With maintenance over centuries it still carries traffic today as it did 2000 years ago
Within the old Arab fortified site, built in the 16th century on an ancient mosque
Thursday 12 March 2020: El Burgo to Ronda
Distance: 27.2 km Time: 7:30 Ascent: 830m Descent: 670m – Wikiloc
The longest stage on the Andalucian Coast to Coast walk and our longest day in a long time.
The walk starts with a comfortable climb on about 200m over 8 km following the Turón River. It then dips into the Valley and climbs 500m in 6 km mostly over loose scree, hard going. On reaching the top at 1169m, the path descends steadily into the Ronda plateau along a wide dirt road.
Friday 13 March 2020: Ronda
A rest day in Ronda. These are the photos from last time, 2015.
“Ronda is the place where to go, if you are planning to travel to Spain for a honeymoon or for being with a girlfriend. The whole city and its surroundings are a romantic set… Nice promenades, good wine, excellent food, nothing to do…”
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)
The new bridge (1751) spans a deep chasm between the old and new towns
The old bridge, 16th century
The first bridge across the Guadalevín River may have been Roman
Inside the Arab Baths, the best preserved in Spain
Steam room of the Arab Baths, with roof vents
The old road into Ronda from the Arab Baths
Mudejar walls & entrance, 14th century (restored 1975)
Almocábar door (C13th) with 3 successive gates, part of the heavy fortifications
After the reconquest of 1485, the main Mosque was converted to a Church
All that remains of this mosque is the minaret (14th century)
Arab influence remains in the array of sweets
Entrance to Ronda's Bullring
Saturday 14 March 2020: Ronda to Montejaque
Distance: 11.7 km Time: 3:10 Ascent: 380m Descent: 430m – Wikiloc
The first half is mostly downhill, descending 250m from 720m at Ronda. The second half is uphill, sometimes steeply, gaining 300m in 4 km before the descent into Montejaque. Click here to see our 2015 photos.
After 255 km this is where our Andalucian Coast to Coast walk comes to an end. In response to the Coronavirus the Spanish Government has banned people from leaving home except to buy essential supplies, or for work and ordered all restaurants and bars to be closed. Thus it is no longer practical to keep walking.