We depart from Antequera after crossing the "Granada gate", following the road to the cemetery until we reach a roundabout, where we continue straight on. In front of us, we can discern the Peña de los Enamorados (Lovers' Rock), standing at 878 metres high. This rock will be our faithful companion until we reach Archidona. The track crosses the vast fertile plain of Antequera, traverses the River Guadalhorce and proceeds to the A-92, where it crosses over a bridge.
The asphalt road ends, and we return to a dirt track, gently arriving at the small town of Cartaojal amidst wheat, sunflower and olive plantations. We traverse the town from one end to the other, exiting by turning right towards Cortijo Peña Jaime.
Once we have passed this cortijo, we turn to the right, descending towards Arroyo de Carmona. Once the stream has been crossed, the track begins to ascend again, towards Camino del Puerto and Cortijo Capilla Santa Eufemia. After passing the cortijo, pleasing our eye with the Peña, we reach the top of the ridge amongst large olive trees that provide us with shade. For the first time, we are able to make out the white houses of Archidona, through a clearing in the olive trees. On our descent, we leave behind Cortijo del Hoyo, and via a dry stream, we reach a railway line. With great care, we cross to the other side (km 17).
The trail runs parallel to the track for a short stretch. Then, on our way up Cerro del Condestable, the trail separates from the track and veers off to the right. After a short while, and a gentle ascent, we reach the top of the hill and once again we are able to see Archidona.
After descending from Cerro del Condestable, we reach the Arroyo de La Moheda, which we cross over a bridge. We begin to ascend, until we join an asphalted path which crosses the A-92 over a bridge. We take a left turn, along the A-92 service road until we can retake the old trail (today cut by the A-92), which after a challenging ascent will take us to the centre of Archidona. We pass Plaza Ochavada, and leave Archidona along a path which we take on the road to Loja and which leads to an industrial estate.
This trail, goes gently and constantly along the hillsides of Los Castillejos and Cerro del Morrón, and through scenery covered with vegetation typical of a Mediterranean forest: dwarf, evergreen and cork oaks, and aromatic plants.
We cross the A-92 through a tunnel. We follow the trail, parallel to the Arroyo de la Negra, until it crosses the railway. Soon after, the trail joins a road next to Venta de la Paloma (km 36.6) which we will have to cross.
From this point, the trail tends to descend, but with an occasional steep slope that is easily summated with a good run up from the descent. To the right and among thick evergreen oaks, we are able to see The Bobadilla Hotel. With Sierra de Loja and Monte Hacho.
We join the A-328 road, which going down, takes us to the venta the Santa Barbara. We cross the Genil river over a Medieval bridge made of blocks of stone, next to the mill. Soon after we are back on the road and then on a path until the old Fuente Santa, at the foot of a hill, where the fresh water will rid us of the dirt from the trail.
From Fuente Santa we reach Loja, a town set in a mountain pass, where the Genil river cuts through Monte Hacho and Sierra de Loja. We continue along the trail which leads to the Alfaguara neighbourhood and to the Fuente de los veinticinco caños (fountain of the 25 spouts).
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