THE MOUNTAINS OF NERJA
SIERRAS TEJEDA, ALMIJARA Y ALHAMA
by Jim Ryan
JUNIPER HOUSE, MURLEY MOSS,
OXENHOLME ROAD, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA9 7RL
About the Author
Jim Ryan is a chartered civil engineer with a passion for the outdoors. He has published several successful guidebooks and one work of fiction.
Jim’s approach to guidebook writing is not simply to take the reader to the destination but to provide them with a total experience. Geology, the natural environment and the folklore and history of the locality are very important to him. Jim splits his time between Cork in Ireland and Nerja in Spain. He has been climbing the mountains of Nerja for over 15 years. This guidebook is his way of repaying Nerja and Andalucía for many years of pleasure. His share of the proceeds from this book go to Cudeca, a cancer hospice charity in the province of Malaga.
Other Cicerone guides by the author
Aconcagua and the Southern Andes
© Jim Ryan 2014
First edition 2014
ISBN: 978 1 85284 754 8
Reprinted 2017 (with updates)
Printed in China on behalf of Latitude Press Ltd
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Cartographic base 1:25,000 © National Geographic Institute of Spain
All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
Acknowledgements
This guidebook is dedicated to the people of Nerja and surrounding towns and villages from whom I have derived tremendous camaraderie, friendship and cooperation. My late wife, Sue, was my inspiration and she proofread the initial issue. My new partner, Birgit, was my companion on many of the walks and I thank her for her assistance. Richard Mills, bird photographer extraordinaire, supplied the image of the Griffon vulture in Walk 14 and the peregrine falcon in Walk 19.
Updates to this Guide
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/754/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal LA9 7RL.
Mountain Warning
Mountain walking can be a dangerous activity carrying a risk of personal injury or death. It should be undertaken only by those with a full understanding of the risks and with the training and experience to evaluate them. While every care and effort has been taken in the preparation of this guide, the user should be aware that conditions can be highly variable and can change quickly, materially affecting the seriousness of a mountain walk. Therefore, except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law, neither Cicerone nor the author accept liability for damage of any nature (including damage to property, personal injury or death) arising directly or indirectly from the information in this book.
To call out the Mountain Rescue, ring the international emergency number 112: this will connect you via any available network. The telephone number for the police throughout Spain is 091.
Front cover: Climbers on Almendrón with the iconic almond-shaped tower in the background
CONTENTS
Walk 1 Frigiliana to the Cave of Nerja
Walk 2 El Fuerte
Walk 3 Cruz del Pinto
Walk 4 The Gorges of the Rio Chillar
Walk 5 The El Cielo Circuit
Walk 6 The tour of Almendrón
Walk 7 La Fabrica de la Luz
Walk 8 Lucero
Walk 9 Cerro de la Chapa
Walk 10 The oak forest of Salares
Walk 11 Cómpeta to Los Pradillos
Walk 12 La Maroma from Canillas de Aceituno
Walk 13 La Maroma from Alcaucín
Walk 14 La Maroma from Sedella