Hiking in Gaucín

We walked this weekend the path of La Herriza and La Alquería with a group of walkers promoted by the tourist office of Gaucín. This classic route carries the number XI among the remarkable offer of trails that run through the municipality. It has recently been approved as a Small Route P.R. and is very well signposted. Circular route of 13 km and 400 meters of positive difference in altitude. Low-medium difficulty.

This trail goes around the Hacho de Gaucín, a very attractive and well-known landmark that culminates at an altitude of 1,011 m and marks the entrance to the Genal Valley. However, this P.R. does not seek the geodesic point and stays on the slopes of the Hacho. The whole environment is very interesting for the diversity of its Mediterranean scrub and its large mixed forest composed of holm oaks, cork oaks (which in our areas we call chaparros), gall oaks and wild olive trees, dotted with ash trees and an abundance of shrubs.

We start the route at the tourist office walking towards Jimena de la Frontera. The haze of the day covers the sky and visibility is very low. Today we can not see Gibraltar or the Djebel Musa… At the crossroads towards the Colmenar, the muleteer’s path really begins, crossing a beautiful meadow between Mediterranean vegetation. We enjoy the striking reddish flowering mastic using a thread story.

We came across a nice goat looking for attention and cuddles… Good photos and laughter assured in the whole group… even some walkers discovering a shepherdess vocation. We continued walking, enjoying everything that the path could provide us: Corn Bunting asparagus, thyme for infusions, beautiful views over the valley of the Guadiaro, the sound of small streams formed after the rains, without forgetting the beautiful flowers of the Lilly pink (Aphyllanthes monspeliensis).

We also had time to learn… talking about the adaptations of plants to the Mediterranean climate, a typical woody vegetation with hardened leaves that allows them to survive water stress. Of course, we must get to know the Quercus of the bush, learning to identify them, either by their foliage or their bark. The most Mediterranean of them is undoubtedly the kermes oak (Q. coccifera) with its shrubby, evergreen, shiny and very prickly leaves. Even the dome of the acorn prickles on this plant.

With spring, a festival of green hues invade the slopes of the mountain. All the new foliage of the gall oaks.

… the striking contrasts between the new cream-colored leaves and the old glaucous green leaves of the oaks, without forgetting some trees covered with their yellowish flowers. The landscape becomes very varied and the forest is full of nuances… and with the delicacy of the flowers of the hawthorns.

We enjoyed a stop at La Herriza, a glamorous place located at the foot of the trail. We appreciated the warm welcome from all the staff and all the beauty of the farmhouse. The establishment is located halfway and at the low point of the trail. So we had a good stretch left and the bulk of the climb, which with 400 meters of elevation gain, is already noticeable in the legs.

The way back brought us beautiful surprises. And we finished our tour on time. We would like to thank the group for their good company in the countryside, Josefí from the Tourism Office and Anne from the Gaucín Town Hall for making this route possible.