CR Adventures: 171119 - Cala Secreta - Ensenada del Tolmo - Cerro de Punta Acebuche, del Jardinillo, Camino de Calafate (Cádiz)

This is a slightly shorter version of the hike we did with Sunny Walkers earlier in the year but the weather on this occasion changed halfway through the hike and apologies as my phone failed on the last stretch but the path is clearly identifiable.

The hike starts from the main parking area of the Punta Carnero Lighthouse Urbanization along the coast from Gatares.
The route consists of walking the steep coast of the Cerros del Estrecho, from Cala Secreta to Ensenada del Tolmo. Then ascending towards the interior, treading the geodesic vertices of the Punta Acebuche and Jardinillo Hills. The descent is along the Calafate Road, to link again with the coast at the height of Cala del Peral.

At Cala Secreta we follow the path that runs along the coast towards Tarifa, crossing cliffs and successive coves of pebbles and boulders, by the so-called Colada de la Costa. All along the route we have incredible views of the African coast, highlighting Mount Hacho de Ceuta and Mount Jebel Musa in Morocco. Closer, we observe some islets and coastal geological formations called flysch.
From Cala Arena, the coastal route continues along a recently cleared path that runs along the top of the cliff. It is impossible to reach the Torre del Fraile from the south, due to the high, closed and thorny brush, being feasible from the north by the Road of the Screens, according to the waypoint that indicated it. Nor is it possible to continue along the shore, as the steep cliff prevents it even at low tide.

During the hike we observe ruins of successive installations and military fortifications of different periods: old barracks of the Civil Guard of the early twentieth century, Fort of Tolmo of the eighteenth century, a beacon tower of the sixteenth century called Torre del Fraile, and a military barracks of the twentieth century abandoned a few years ago.



We also have views of the Rock of Gibraltar and the peculiar coastal geography towards Tarifa, until we reach Ensenada del Tolmo. At this point we change the course to ascend a disused military track, towards Cerro de Punta Acebuche (196 m.), Crossing the ruins of several cattle farms and an abandoned military barracks.

After enjoying the sunset in this privileged enclave of the Strait of Gibraltar, we continue another gentle ascent to Cerro del Jardinillo (295 m.), where the panoramic views of the southern sierras, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Bay of Algeciras are the protagonists. After nightfall, we look for the return link with the so-called Highway of the Screens, and descend the Calafate Road, which allows us to reach the coast and return to the starting point.

The predominant vegetation is formed by wild olive trees, mastic trees, gorse, jérguens, rockroses, palm hearts and other tall scrub species. As for the fauna, griffon vultures and other migratory raptors fly over on their way to Africa, as well as different marine and coastal birds.