We had an early breakfast and were at the Station at El Curro ready for the bus to take us up to the start ready to be at the entrance for our 11.30 ticket. On leaving the bus, our route meandered through quiet forest paths for two and a half miles before we joined the crowds at the entrance to the Caminito and received the helmets everyone has to wear in case of rockfall. These are not for the fashion conscious. Once embarked on the trail, despite the crowds we were able to walk at our own pace and find our own space.
The walkway negotiates two deep and vertiginous gorges separated by a wider valley.
Although perfectly safe the route is spectacular and not for anyone who suffers with vertigo.
Annoyingly, part of the route through the second gorge was closed for repair work and the route was diverted through a maintenance tunnel, exciting in it's own right, though. We soon emerged back onto the walkway where, perhaps the most exciting part of the king's little path awaited: the crossing of the gorge on a narrow swaying suspension bridge; shades of Indiana Jones adventures. Following this it clung to the soaring vertical walls of the gorge before crossing the railway line allowing us to wander along a wide path back to the car with fabulous views back to the gorge and the Caminito. What a fantastic walk!!!
We had been enjoying great bird sightings during the day as well. We had seen our first swallows of the year, well before they had arrived on our shores, a roadside hoopoe, a woodchat shrike on the outskirts of Antequera and chough and rock doves in the gorge as well as large numbers of griffon vultures.
After our trip along the Caminito we drove back up to the lakes at the head of the gorge, first for coffee and cake in the local hotel and then for a wander in the woods surrounding the lakes. I spotted my first butterfly of the year here and was delighted that it was a spanish festoon, unknown at home. Orchids were plentiful: the stunning mirror orchid, champagne orchid, sombre bee, naked man and man orchids and conical toothed.
Eventually it was time to return to the Parador Hotel in Antequera where we were staying, stopping on the way in to photograph the Alcazaba.
An excellent first day.
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