Conil de la Frontera, February 2014 Walking programme. WALK 1 Coast walk from Conil to the North. Variable length: 2, 5, 9 or 11 miles WALK 2 Coast walk from Conil to the South. 7 miles WALK 3 Cape Trafalgar and La Brena forest. 7.5 miles WALK 4 Vejer de la Frontera - 6 miles WALK 5 Vejer de La Frontera to Conil. 11 miles WALK 6 Parc Natural de los Alcornes 13miles Walks 1 and 2 are easy walks direct from the hotel. Most people will probably walk sections of these by themselves. They are included in this list for information. I intend to walk the other four routes and I am willing to walk and enjoy the company of others on these ventures. Helen and I are planning to have a hire car available with which we will be able to offer some lifts to and from the starts of these walks where public transport is not a viable option. This area of Spain is new to all of us and although these routes have been chosen with care, we have not reconnoitred any of them and are unable to forecast conditions and obstacles. The distances have been measured from Google Earth and should be trustworthy. Needless to say, everybody will be walking at their own risk and they should ensure that they are suitably equipped. Keith Rose Bedford 27 December 2013
WALK 1 Coast walk from Conil to the North. Variable length: 2, 5, 9 or 11 miles Walk 1 is an out and back walk, returning along the outbound path. There are 4 suggested turning points, each with a beach bar or restaurant. Leave the hotel and go down to the beach. Turn right here to walk along the beach. After a small mirador, La Fontanilla, the beach narrows. Continue ahead to Fuente del Gallo (at 1 mile) where there is a beach café. Beyond here the path continues along the top of cliffs to the small Cala de Aciete with another café (2.5miles). After this, pass the fishing port which we believe has no facilities. The next stopping point is at Roche (4.4 miles) and the last is at Barrosa (5.5 miles) Cala del Aciete
WALK 2 Coast walk from Conil to the South. 7 miles Leave the hotel and go down to the beach. Turn left here to walk along the beach or front, passing the many beach bars and restaurants of Conil. After 1.2 miles cross a small river using the footbridge. Continue along the footpath and later transfer to the beach. At 3 miles there is another small river, but no footbridge. Access to the café on the other side of this river is via the beach, but probably not at high tide. Return to the hotel by retracing your outbound route. This café marks the start of El Palmar, an area of private housing. The small centre of El Palmar is 1 mile further ahead. The front at Conil de la Frontera
WALK 3 Cape Trafalgar and La Brena forest. 7.5 miles Cape Trafalgar is 8 miles South of the hotel in Conil. This walk starts at Canos de Meca, 1 mile beyond Cape Trafalgar, and heads along the beach to the lighthouse at Cape Trafalgar, then returning, and continuing East to the Parque Naturel de La Brena. The footpath follows the cliff tops which reach 100m above the sea and are backed by pine trees in La Brena forest. We will turn round at the Torre del Tajo and retrace our steps back to Canos de Meca. The walk could be extended inland to Torre de Meca which provides a good view over Canos de Meca to Cape Trafalgar This walk will depend on being able to use private transport or taxis to get to and from the start point. There is not a bus service between Conil de la Frontera and Canos de Meca. Lighthouse at Cape Trafalgar Cliffs and Torre del Tajo
WALK 4 Vejer de la Frontera - 6 miles Vejer de la Frontera is an attractive hill-top town about 10 miles inland of Conil. It has previously been occupied in turn by the Phoenicians, the Romans and the Moors. There is a bus from Conil which we can use to travel to and from Vejer. The walk leaves Vejer and descends to the Rio Barbate, it then follows along the edge of the flood plain. The return is via the hillside along the Ruta de las Quebradas back to Vejer. There will be approximately 600ft of descent and ascent on this walk. Vejer Ruta de las Quebradas
WALK 5 Vejer de La Frontera to Conil. 11 miles Using the local bus service we will travel inland to Vejer, returning along quiet tracks and lanes to Conil. The first half of the walk through La Muela and Patria will be hilly, the second half is across flat farmland.
WALK 6 Parc Natural de los Alcornes 13miles This walk will require a car drive of about 20 miles to reach the start point, near the Embalse del Celemin, a large reservoir, the tip of which appears at the top left of the above image. The Parc Natural de los Alcornes ( Alcornes are cork oak groves) is a large area (650 square miles) of mainly forest. The underlying rock is limestone and there are caves in the area with prehistoric wall art. This walk is essentially two parallel ridge walks so there should be plenty of good views. Apart from a few houses near the start/end the only other building we will pass near is a former Carmelite Monastry, the Monasterio del Cuervo (Ravens). Acknowledgements: Satellite images from Google Earth. Photographs from www.panoramio.com