Coastal Walks in Andalucia. Guy Hunter-Watts

a junction by an information board marked El Pinar de Pinos Piñoneros (2hr 20min) turn right away from the main track. Passing a line of animal pens the track runs on through the pines before crossing a cattle grid then reaching the A2233.

      Stone pine forest (Pinus pinea) in La Breña

      Stone pines (Pinus pinea) have been cultivated for their edible pine nuts for at least 6000 years and have been extensively used as ornamental trees in gardens and parks since being popularised at the time of the Italian Renaissance. The trees of La Breña were planted in the 19th century as a means of fixing the coastal dune system which suffered constant transformation due to the fierce levante winds.

      Cross the road, climb through a stile, then cut left along a broad sandy track parallel to the road. After 300m the track angles hard right. After 50m you reach a junction. To shorten the walk by a kilometre head straight ahead for 70m then angle right along a broad path. Follow marker posts through the forest past two signboards marked Nos Miran and Aromas del Bosque to the Torre del Tajo. If you wish to walk a longer section of the cliff path turn left and continue parallel to the A2233.

      Just as the track angles back towards the road you reach a cattle grid. Here angle 45 degrees to the right then after 75m cut right through the scrub and drop down to the sandy bed of a gully. Here cut left and follow a narrow, sandy path down towards the sea. The gully widens before reaching the Barbate–Caños cliff path (3hr 5min).

      From here head west past a steep cliff face, parallel to the sea. Soon a rail and post barrier runs between you and the ocean. The path leads past a sign about Pinares Costeras or the coastal pine forest: it was planted to stabilise the dune system. 200m past the sign you reach the Torre del Tajo (2hr 45min). Be sure to visit the mirador some 100m west of the tower for the finest cliff views of the walk.

      The mirador next to Torre del Tajo

      The Torre del Tajo is one of dozens of coastal watchtowers that were built at the end of the 16th century during the reign of Philip II to protect the southern coastline of Spain from raids by Barbary pirates.