La Herriza Walk #1 - A circular walk through cork oak forests and around the lower slopes of Gaucín’s mountain “El Hacho'

Start at Hotel Karma La Herriza

From the grounds of the hotel, go through the grey metal gate just near the little round "Sauna" wooden building. Look for the Roman numeral 'XI' sign and follow a rough path along the fence (or you can walk up the main vehicular driveway to the archway of the hotel by the main road.

Go through the pedestrian gate at the side of the main hotel archway and cross the road

Cross the road with care and then go downhill on the track opposite. Pass a farm on the right and the entrances to some private houses. After passing "Hacienda Las Palomas", keep on the main track but look out for another Roman numeral 'XI' on the left.

Leave the track at the Roman numeral 'XI' and pass through the gate, then follow the path to the right

Pass through the gate

TAKE CARE HERE and go uphill by the blue stripes

Go straight across and walk between two fences; the lawns of the house are on your right

Pass through the large metal gate and head uphill towards a white building

You are following a fence around the back of the private property

Pass through the gate and keep following the main rocky path

Pass through the gate and don't let the goats out!

Pass through the gate

Stay on the main track around to the right

After passing through the last wire and post gate and then going uphill for the final climb, you reach an earth vehicle track. Turn right and follow for 100 metres. When you reach an open grassy area leave the track and go left up the slope on a path that has been covered over by the earth track. You can’t see it at first, but there is a gate at the top right hand corner so keep climbing until you see the gate.

Pass through the gate, at the road go left and walk below the road barrier

At the road junction cross over and walk on the 'paseo' pedestrian walkway towards Gaucín

Look out for a track joining from the right and a sign to 'Casa Torviscas'

Shortly after the sign to Casa Torviscas you are going to cross the road and go uphill on a rough rocky track opposite. If you want to walk into Gaucin village then just keep walking on the pedestrian walkway to the side of the main road and you will arrive at the petrol station at the entry to the village in about 20 minutes.

Go up this rough rocky path; you are now following Town Hall route II (backwards)

Look out for blue stripes of paint to reassure you that you are on the right route.

Ruin and rest stop; follow the path around to the left past a water trough

Go through the wire gate

The path widens into a track; there are lovely views down to the coast

Lovely views

Go straight on at quarry area

At the junction fork right and uphill - this is the last uphill section of the walk!

The rough track becomes a concrete one; when you reach the water deposit go left on the grassy track

About 2 hours to here. Go left on the grassy track which you will see inbetween the little square brick water tank and the large water deposit building. Follow a rough path around to the right and then downhill, past fallen pylons and some old tin baths. After a few minutes you will descend to a vehicle track below. Turn right onto the track.

Go through the black metal gates

Immediately after the pink gateposts to Finca Labranzuela, go LEFT by the large rock. You are now on the GR141.

You have now re-joined Town Hall Route XI. Pass inbetween the fence and the large rock which has green paint saying "no parking". Then you'll see a metal gate below with GR141 white/red/yellow markings and blue stripes of paint. Pass through the gate and walk downhill on the vehicle track, ignoring the track to a private house on the left.

Immediately after the cattle grid and just past the white gateposts, leave the track and TURN LEFT

Leave the track and take a small path to the left. There is a red/white cross on the vehicle track indicating you should not go any further (this becomes a private road).

Pass through the gate

Follow the rough track around to the left by the GR paint marks and cross a small (dry) streambed.

After going slightly downhill at the streambed you then climb up only BRIEFLY and then you will need to fork right off the main path - LOOK FOR more GR paint marks on a rock ahead.

Look for blue paint and white/red/yellow markings. TURN RIGHT HERE and pass a huge oak tree

If you miss this right fork, you will continue uphill on a wider path and follow a line of electricity pylons; this is not correct, you should re-trace your steps to the streambed. From the large oak tree, go left and pick up a good path through the woods, marked with blue paint.

Meet wider track and turn left, but you are going to follow the bigger track for only a minute.

Leave the track and take a smaller path to the right by the pylon.

There are blue stripes on the pylon and a red/white cross on a rock on the left. (This indicates you are leaving the GR141 - you will re-join it in a short while, but this route is much prettier and includes a grassy picnic spot).

Pass through wire gate and then head straight on, following a rocky path up towards a pylon.

At the pylon the route bears left by 90 degrees. After another 5 minutes or so on the rocky path it becomes grassy and bears around to the right. You then come into a field.

Grassy picnic spot

Meet track by a gate and turn right. You have rejoined the GR141

Just before these gates to a private house, go right and follow the marked route around the perimeter of the house

Views of El Colmenar

Pass through the GR141 gate

Pass through this large metal gate; in a couple of minutes you will be back at the hotel where you started