KM 7: THROUGH THE VEGETABLE GARDENS OF ANTEQUERA
We leave Antequera after crossing "Granada gate", along the road to the cemetery, until we reach roundabout, where we continue straight on. In front of us we can make out Peña de los Enamorados (Lovers' rock), 878 metres high. This rock will be our faithful companion until Archidona. The track croses the vast fertile plain of Antequera, crossing the River Guadalhorce and goes to the A-92 where it crosses over a bridge.
KM 12: CARTAOJAL, UNDULATTING OLIVE GROVES
The asphalted road ends, and we return to an earth track, to arrive gently at the small town of Cartaojal amongst what, sunflower and olive plantations. We across the town from the end to end, to leave turning right towards Cortijo Peña Jaime.
KM 18: TOWARDS CERRO DEL CONDESTABLE
Once we have passed this cortijo, we turn to the right, going down towards Arroyo de Carmona. Once the stream has been crossed, the track begins to go up again, towards Camino del Puerto and Cortijo Capilla Santa Eufemia. After passing the cortijo, pleasing our eye with the Peña, we get to the top of the ridge among big olive trees that provide us with shade, where for the first time we are able to make out the white houses of Archidona, through a clearing in the olive trees. On our way down we leave behind Cortijo del Hoyo, and for a dry stream, where we reach a railway line. With great care, we will cross to the other side (km 17).
The trail runs parallel to the track for a short stretch. Then, on oue way up Cerro del Coondestable, the trail separates from the track and turns off to the right. After a short while, and a smooth ascent we reach the top of the hill and once again we are able to see Archuidona.
KM 27: ASCEND TO ARCHIDONA
After coming down from Cerro del Condestable, we reach the Arroyo de La Moheda, which we cross over a bridge. We begin to go up, until we joint 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 difficult 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.
KM 55: BETWEEN MALAGA AND GRANADA: MEDITERRANEAN FOREST
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 go downwards, 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 joint the A- 328 road, which going down, takes us to the venta the Santa Bárbara. 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.
KM 57: LOJA, KEY TO GRANADA AND GATE TO THE VEGA
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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