Axarquia Guide Book Specification Contents

Title                 Walk! the Axarquia              

Specification:    160 page full colour paperback guidebook. Page size 210mm by 120mm. Weight 240 grams. Map sections taken from CGIN (local equivalent of OS mapping) 1:25,000 scale maps under license and resized to DWG's standard 1:40,000 scale.  Colour photographs.

Contents: 
The Author                                                                     
Introduction
Holy Stone of the South. The Mountains: oreography and man’s impact.
Scope & Aim: what we cover and who it’s for. When to Go: climate and state of the walks.
Getting there, getting about, getting a bed. The Walks. Equipment. Problems. Flora & Fauna.
Eating & Drinking. Tourist Stuff: what to do on a day off. Language. Acknowledgements.
Map Information
Map Notes. Location Maps.
Walking Information
Symbols Rating Guide & Notes. Using GPS in Axarquía. Walking Equipment.

THE WALKS: SIERRAS TEJEDA & ALMIJARA
SIERRA TEJEDA                                                                   
1 Cueva de la Fajara from Alcaucín                                      
    3 walker, 3 hours 10 mins, 10 kilometres, ascents & descents 450 metres, 4 refreshments (circular)
    A bucolic tour of classic Axarquía countryside
2 Los Castillones from Cortijo de la Alcauca                        
    4 walker, 2¼ hours, 8½ kilometres, ascents & descents 300 metres, 0 refreshments (circular)
    Big mountain, small walk: suitable for an energetic family outing
3 La Maroma: El Alcazar                                                           
    5 walker, 6-7 hours, 16 kilometres, ascents & descents 1200 metres, 0 refreshments (linear two-way)
    The Iberian peninsula's westernmost 2000 metre summit
4 La Maroma: Sendero El Robledal                                            
    5 walker, 5-7 hours, 13 kilometres, ascents & descents 975 metres, vertigo risk, 0 refreshments (linear two-way)
    Possibly the prettiest approach to La Maroma
5 El Robledal                                                                                  
    1 walker, 1½ hours, 6 kilometres, ascents & descents 215 metres, 0 refreshments (circular)
    A way into the great oak woods of the north without busting a gut on a big climb
6 Loma de la Fuente                                                                    
    3 walker, 3½ hours, 10 kilometres, ascents & descents 550 metres, 3 refreshments (circular)
    Grand tour of the grandiose landscape behind Sedella
7 Two Short Walks from La Fábrica de la Luz
    (a) Arroyo Turbilla             3 walker, 2 hours 20 mins, 7.6 kilometres, ascents & descents 400 metres, 0 refreshments (circular)
    (b) Cerro de la Cueva del Agua    2 walker, 1¾ hours, 6 kilometres, ascents & descents 250 metres, 0 refreshments (circular)
        Excursions off the walker’s beaten track
8 Puerto Blanquillo from La Fábrica de la Luz via Los Pradillos and Arroyo del Cueva Melero
    4 walker, 4 hours, 12.3 kilometres, ascents & descents 700 metres, 0 refreshments (circular)
    An unconventional version of a classic ascent
9 Camino del Río                                                                           
    2 walker, 1 hour 50 mins, 5¾ kilometres, ascents & descents 300 metres, 3 refreshments (circular)
    Delightful, easy riverside walking leading to lovely farmland
10 Malas Camas via Haza del Aguadero                                    
    4 walker, 4 hours 40 mins - 5 hours, 18 kilometres, ascents & descents 800 metres, 0 refreshments (pan-handle circular)
    Little visited summit with very spectacular views
SIERRA ALMIJARA                                                                    
11 Paraje Natural de los Acantilados de Mar y Cerro Gordo
    (a) 2 walker, 1 hour 20 mins, 4½ kilometres, ascents & descents 180 metres, 4 refreshments (circular)
    (b) 1 walker, 1½ hours, 5 kilometres, ascents & descents 200 metres, vertigo risk, 4 refreshments (circular)
    (c) 1 walker, 2 hours, 5 kilometres, ascents & descents 250 metres, vertigo risk, 5 refreshments (circular)
    One well-known short walk (Torre de Maro) & two alternative adventure-strolls exploring the best of the Costa del Sol
12 Puerto de Frigiliana                                                                    
    5 walker, 5-5½ hours, 20-22 kilometres, ascents & descents 750 metres, 0 refreshments (circular)
    A step back in time, following one of the great mule trails
13 Río Higuerón                                                                                
    2 walker, 6-7 hours, 15 kilometres, ascents & decscents 350 metres, vertigo risk, 4 refreshments (linear two-way)
    The greatest river walk of them all
14 Cuesta del Sordo from Frigiliana                                                
    3 walker, 2 hours, 6½ kilometres, ascents & descents 350 metres, 4 refreshments (circular)
    Short tour of the Sierra de Enmedio
15 Río Chillar                                                                                      
    4 walker, 6-9 hours, 13 kilometres, ascents & descents 200 metres, vertigo risk, 0 refreshments (circular)
    Wading in the water: the Axarquía's most famous stream
16 The Limán Trail                                                                            
    5 walker, 6 hours, 19 kilometres, ascents & descents 800 metres, 0 refreshments (circular)
    A classic linear walk turned into a major loop
17 Cortijo Imán from Pinarillo                                                        
    4 walker. 5 hours, 14 kilometres, ascents & descents 750 metres, 0 refreshments (linear two-way)
    Perhaps the most spectacularly located ruin in the parque natural
18 Venta Los Pradillos and Cerro Gavilán from Casa de la Mina
    3 walker, 3-3½ hours, 12½ kilpmetres, ascents & descents 400 metres, 5 refreshments (circular)
    A walk on the wildside for those who'd rather not stray too far from domesticity
19 Lucero from Rambla de la Mota                                                
    3 walker, 2 hours, 14 kilometres, ascents & descents 450 metres, vertigo risk, 0 refreshments (linear two-way)
    The region's most spectacular peak
20 Navachica via Barranco de los Cazadores                                
    5 walker, 6½ hours, 16 kilometres, ascents & descents 1300 metres, vertigo risk, 0 refreshments (linear two-way)
    Culminating point of the Sierra Almijara
21 Tajo Almendrón and La Puerta                                                    
    5 walker, 4 hours 20 mins, 11 kilometres, ascents & descents 900 metres, vertigo risk, 0 refreshments (circular)
    Dramatic rocks and dizzying panoramas
22 Tour of Tajo de los Bueyes                                                        
    3 walker, 3 hours 20 mins, 14 kilometres, ascents & descents 500 metres, 3 refreshments (circular)
    Two lovely ravines and some great views
23 Alto de Cielo from Barranco de la Higuera  descending via Cortijos de la Civila
    5 walker, 5 hours, 11 kilometres, ascents & descents 1300 metres, 0 refreshments (circular)
    Knocking on heaven's gate - the hard way
24 Two Short Walks off Loma de las Cuadrillas 
    (a) Peñon de los Castillejos 
    2 walker, 1 hour 5 mins, 3.2 kilometres, ascents & descents 200 metres, 5 refreshments (off route) (linear two-way)
    (b) Barranco de los Gigantes 
    2 walker, 1 hour 40 mins, 5 kilometres, ascents & descents 100 metres, 5 refreshments (off route) (linear two-way)
    Easy access to wild places: turning the perfidious works of the tarmacadam cowboys to our advantage.
25 Pico de Lopera via the ‘back door’                                            
    1 walker, 2-2¼ hours, 9 kilometres, ascents & descents 200 metres, 5 refreshments (circular)
    Small summit, short on effort, long on spectacle
26 Barranco Bacal & Cuerda de los Morros                                    
    2/4 walker, 3/6 hours, 6.4/16 kilometres, ascents & descents 175/350 metres, 0 refreshments (linear/circular options)
    Wet-footed fun for children of all ages
27 Río Cebollon                                                                                    
    2 walker, 2¾-3 hours, 10 kilometres, ascents & descents 100 metres, vertigo risk, 0 refreshments (linear two-way)
    More messing about in rivers
28 The Waterfall of Petrified Wood                                                    
    3 walker, 3 hours, 9.3 kilometres, ascents & descents 350 metres, vertigo risk, 0 refreshments (circular)
    Exactly what it says: one of nature’s marvels
29 Río Verde                                                                                            
    3 walker, 2¾-3 hours, 14 kilometres, ascents 350 metres, descents 1000 metres, vertigo risk 0/5 refreshments (linear/circular options)
    The grandest gorge of them all and the best river-bathing in the region
30 Alternative Walks, Sierras Tejeda & Almijara
    (a) Traverse of the Sierra Tejeda: El Alcázar to Canillas de Aceituno descending from La Maroma (Walk 3) via Camino de la Casa de la Nieve
    5 walker, 2½/9 hours, 16½ kilometres, descents 1400 metres, 4 refreshments (linear one-way)
    Making a big walk bigger: the most spectacular of the three La Maroma paths
    (b) Traverse of the Sierra Tejeda: El Robledal (Walk 4) to Sedella via Tacita de Plata and Llanadas de Sedella
    5 walker, 5-6+ hours, 16 kilometres, ascents 850 metres, descents 1200 metres. 3 refreshments (linear one-way)
    The Ballet of Natty Bumppo: spectacular traverse for the more inspired pathfinder
    (c) Sierra de Almijara: The Apretaderos Ridge path (Walk 16) and Chillar acequia (Walk 15) from Pinarillo (Walk 17).
    3 walker, 2½-3 hours, 12 kilometres, ascents & descents 400 metres, vertigo risk, 0 refreshments (circular)
    Easy way onto wild ways

GPS Waypoints Lists                    
Glossary                                           
Appendices
A Useful Information. B Cycle Routes. C Bibliography.
Place Names Index

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