Algatocín - The Wild Friar's Walk

Park at Venta Solera and take the small path uphill.

View of Benarraba below.

Signposts, bear right at the corner and keep on the main track.

NB - In November 2023 these signposts had been knocked down by a JCB for some track repair work; hopefully they will be re-installed once the track has been repaired. Take a moment to look left to a gate on the corner - you will return to this gate at the end of the walk.

Leave the main track and head for this gate; climb over the stile on the right.

Leave the track and climb up the hillside on the right towards a pylon ahead.

There is no path here, just make your way uphill towards the first pylon. From the pylon head straight uphill. You are aiming for a triangle shaped large rock ahead, and then keep going in the same direction until you reach a fence.

Pass the pylon and then head straight uphill in the same direction.

Climb over the ladder at the corner of the fence then continue uphill, with the fence on your left.

Keep the fence to your left as you pick your way up the rocky valley. When you see the fence curve round directly ahead, bear right and uphill (the fence is still on your left)

Head for the gap in the rocky wall.

After the gap in the wall you reach a grassy plain ahead.

Once you have dropped down slightly from the rocky wall into the grassy plain, head to a gap in large rocks to the right to see The Friar. Then return to the centre of the grassy plain.

From the far side of the grassy plain head up to the left towards another gap in the wall and a large cairn.

From this point follow the ridge line; there are a few cairns to help - and basically stay on the highest point. When you reach the end of the ridge, drop down and pick your way towards the left (there are a few goat paths and you can zig-zag downhill) where you should head for an open "quarry" area you will see ahead.

Quarry area.

From the quarry you are going to follow a reasonable goat path which stays at roughly the same contour line and crosses the mountainside to a ruin. At first the path is not very clear, but don't gain or lose height and aim to pass below two triangle rocks (see photo). After this the path becomes much clearer. After 10-15 minutes start to look for the ruin ahead and to the right, by two trees. You won't miss the ruin because eventually - whatever route you take across the hillside - you will come to a fence ahead. Follow the fence downhill to the right and you'll come to the ruin. The gate is next to the ruin but rather hidden in some prickly bushes.

Head for this ruin by two trees.

Pass through a gate next to the ruin; please fasten the gate carefully to protect the livestock.

Meet a wider driveable track and turn left.

Pass through gate (if unlocked) or climb over the ladder stile.

Leave the track on the corner and head cross-country, up to a ridge ahead.

This is a short cut which leads you back to the signposts and the gate on the corner from earlier in the walk. If you prefer, you can stay on the main track, climb over two more ladder stiles, and retrace your steps.

Climb the gate or the ladder stile to the left.

You are back at the signpost corner from earlier in the walk. Turn right and retrace your steps back to Venta Solera.