This weekend we walked the La Herriza and La Alquería trail with a group of walkers promoted by the Gaucín tourist office. This classic route is number XI among the notable range of paths that run through the municipality. It has recently been approved as a Small P.R. Route and is very well signposted. Circular route of 13 km and 400 metres of positive gradient. Low-medium difficulty.
Between holm oaks (Quercus rotundifolia) and jerguen (Callicotome villosa).
This trail goes around the Hacho de Gaucín, a very attractive and well-known landmark that culminates at 1,011 m above sea level and marks the entrance to the Genal Valley. However, this P.R. does not seek the geodetic point and remains on the slopes of the Hacho. The whole environment is very interesting due to the diversity of its Mediterranean mountain 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 a great abundance of bushes.
Male mastic flowers (Pistacia lentiscus).
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 limited. Today we cannot see Gibraltar or the Djebel Musa… At the crossroads towards Colmenar, the muleteers’ path really begins, crossing a beautiful meadow among Mediterranean vegetation. We enjoy the striking reddish flowering of the mastic tree using a thread.
A friendly goat snooping around and looking for cuddles.
We came across a friendly goat looking for attention and cuddles… Good photos and laughter guaranteed throughout the group… even some walkers discovering a vocation as a shepherd. We continued walking, enjoying everything the path had to offer: wild asparagus, thyme for infusions, beautiful views over the Guadiaro valley, the sound of small gullies formed after the rains, not forgetting the beautiful flowers of the blue grass lily (Aphyllanthes monspeliensis).
See the caption of the previous photo!
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 it to survive water stress. Of course, we must learn the Quercus of the mountain, how to identify them, either by their leaves or their bark. The most Mediterranean of them is undoubtedly the kermes oak (Q. coccifera) with its bushy appearance, evergreen leaves, shiny and very spiky. Even the dome of the acorn is spiky in this plant.
The beautiful young leaves of the gall oak (Quercus faginea).
With the arrival of spring, a festival of green hues invades the mountain slopes. The oaks are in full bloom with their new foliage.
The “floresta” (forest) is filled with nuances.
…the striking contrasts between the new cream-coloured leaves and the old glaucous-green leaves of the oaks, not to mention some trees covered in their yellowish flowers. The landscape becomes very varied and the “floresta” is filled with nuances… and with the delicacy of the hawthorn flowers.
La Herriza de Gaucín, a very cozy and quiet hotel restaurant.
We enjoyed a stop at La Herriza, a very glamorous place located at the foot of the trail. We were grateful for the warm welcome from all the staff and for all the beauty of the farmhouse. The establishment is located halfway and at the lowest point of the route. So we still had a long way to go and the bulk of the climb, which with 400 meters of gradient, is already noticeable in the legs.
Peony (Paeonia broteroi)
Caterpillar of the Marsh Fritillary butterfly (Euphrydryas aurinia)
The way back brought us some nice surprises. And we finished our journey on time. We would like to thank the group for their good company in the countryside, Josefí from the Tourist Office and Anne from the City Council of Gaucín for making this route possible.
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