Gaucin - Maravillas - Double Circle Walk

Park by the cattlegrid on the '5.7 kms' track.

From Gaucin, head towards El Colmenar (Estación de Gaucín) and turn left at Km 5.7. Drive all the way down the rough track until you reach the cattlegrid. Park here.

Fork left

Fork right and pass through red/rust coloured metal gate.

Leave the main track at the corner and bear left. Pass through the right hand gate.

There are two gates next to each other; the left hand gate is probably locked.

Fork right.

Fork left and uphill, then stay on this track as it bends left and downhill.

Bee gate.

Pass through this gate (there used to be beehives here). Go straight ahead for just a couple of minutes, then head downhill to the right.

Go downhill around here.

Find the hidden entrance and cross the rocky riverbed

Climb up from the gully and turn right up a rough track.

When you meet a fence, follow the fence around to the left and in 5 minutes you meet a driveable track.

Meet driveable track by rocks; turn right.

Pass through this hidden gate; it's a bit overgrown but soon gets clearer.

Fork left.

Cross gully and go straight ahead. When you emerge in a field, go left to a second gully.

Cross the second stony gully and turn right, following a line of rocks.

Rocky path.

Abrevadero ruin.

Pass through wire gate and turn left onto track.

Fork right.

Pass through wire gate.

At the junction, turn right towards Los Ranosos.

Pass through the gate into a field.

Make sure dogs are on a lead because there may be loose cows in the field, and you are going to pass directly past a farmhouse. Once through the gate, bear left and head towards the farm building ahead and pick up a rough track which heads downhill.

Pass through wire gate.

Leave the main track and take this rough path on the left.

Beehives - take care.

Stay on the main track as it bends around to the right.

At the junction turn right and downhill.

Go straight ahead, over a stream bed.

Fork left.

Meet track. CHOICE OF ROUTES.

For the full route and the second circle, turn left. If you want to cut the route short and return to your car, then turn right onto the track and follow it back to the red/rust coloured gate from earlier in the walk; then uphill back to your car.

Leave the main track here and turn right down a steep rocky route.

Go left on the path

Cross stream bed to path directly opposite

PATH JUNCTION. Go right at open area and climb up rocks.

BEAR RIGHT. Climb over some flattish rocks on the ground and go to the right.

After stepping over the flattish rocks, bear around to the right for a few seconds (there are bushes on your left) and then immediately go left and up, following a rocky gully uphill. From here up to the "picnic spot" there is a rough path but it is not easy to follow due to overgrown vegetation. Keep looking underfoot as the colour of the path is brown and has some gun cartridges on the floor from time to time (these look like blue or green plastic cigarette lighters).

Keep going uphill, heading for a large oak tree ahead.

Large oak tree in clearing.

From the oak in the clearing, head left and then right, next to this broken tree.

Head for more oak trees ahead, and a sandy patch on the hill in the distance.

Picnic spot. About 2 hours 30 minutes to here.

Go straight ahead into bushes past flat rocks.

Go straight up the hill (firebreak), heading straight for the pylon.

Head for the pylon. Then keep going uphill, following a fence on your left, to a track and a gate.

Meet track, turn left, and go through gate

At the junction by farm buildings and animals, turn right onto a wider track.

Pass through 'dangerous' gate! Take care - the gate swings downhill very quickly!