Sunny Walkers 180224: Cascada del Prior, Pilita del Acebo and Puerto de la Albarda from Los Barrios

A great but technically challenging hike with exceptional views.
This hike starts from the rural center of Benharas trekking along the Vereda del Mesto to ascend the Arroyo del Prior stream to Puerto de la Albarda.
The mountain range continues to be crested by a firebreak, until reaching Cerro del Amarguillo. Crossing successive slabs, and leaving aside the Garganta de la Sepultura, we look for the best pass in the Garganta de Benharás, in the area of ​​Carrera del Moro. Arriving at Peñas del Cuervo, the course is changed to descend towards the starting point.
We look for the Vereda del Mesto, which takes us among cork oaks, mastic trees and heather, to the Arroyo del Prior, where we connect with the path along which we ascend this beautiful canuto. In the shade of its magnificent alder and ash trees, we initially walked very close to the river course, where the royal ferns and ojaranzos are the protagonists.
As we ascend, the alders intermingle with cork oaks, strangled by vines and ivy. Given the steepness of the terrain, the path begins to detach itself from the stream, now passing between strawberry trees, laurels and holly trees. We pass by the Pilita del Acebo, and as we pass through the cork oak forest, we looked out at a rock in the forest, which served as a vantage point to have a better perspective of the joint.
The cork oak is giving way to the resin pine, which is opening windows through which we can appreciate the ridge of sharp slabs that we will take in the Sierra de la Palma, managing to see our first objective, the Cerro del Amarguillo (589 m.)
We arrive at Puerto de la Albarda, a crossroads where the fence of the private estate of Cortijo de Ojén will be our reference. To the left follows the path that would take us to Pico de la Palma and Carril de Las Corzas. The Vereda del Arenoso that we came from continues along the tram, which would reach the outskirts of Puerto de Ojén. Now we turn to the right, towards the ridge in search of Amarguillo.
Crossing successive sandstone slabs, we enjoy excellent views of the rest of the mountain range, the Prior Gorge, the Bay of Algeciras and the Rock of Gibraltar. The marked path that we follow is blurred at times, but we always sense the footprint that guides us along this firewall. The fence of the private property of La Zorrilla is our permanent reference, without ever crossing it.
Among flowering heathers, jaguars and an exuberant colony of flytraps, we travel through this beautiful firebreak, alternating between herrizas and slabs, following cattle tracks as a timid path. Along this soft ridge of capricious sandstones, we walk over the Cerro del Amarguillo, a point from which we have fantastic panoramic views of the Garganta de la Sepultura. Behind us we have Cerro del Águila and Cancho del Toro. Further away, we see the Cruz del Romero in the Sierra del Niño. And in the distance, the Sierra del Aljibe.
We continue along the slab ridge, from which we can simultaneously see the highest levels of the southern mountain ranges: Pico de Luna, Tajo de las Escobas, Cerro de las Vacas, Pico del Algarrobo, Pico de la Palma, Cerro de the Enclarecida Altas and Cruz del Romero. You can also see Mount Hacho de Ceuta.
We continue to have fabulous views of the bay and the rock, and we begin a short but abrupt descent towards the Benharás Gorge. Here there is an inevitable stretch of about 50 meters, where several descents will have to be made. They do not pose a major risk, but they can be difficult for those who are not used to it.
Arriving at the bed of the Benharás Stream, we stop at a small waterfall with a pool in the shade, surrounded by flowering ojaranzos and a dense grove of trees. We continued walking, making the small climb back towards the ridge easier.
Now we only have to reach the curious Peñas del Cuervo, linking with a marked and wide path, which through a profuse cork oak forest will take us to the ancient ruins of the Cortijo de Arriba de La Greera.
A stile in the fence will allow us to reach the road in the Benharás neighborhood, which will take us to the starting point.

Loop trail from Los Barrios passing through:
- Cascada del Prior (2.6 km)
- Pilita del Acebo (3.3 km)
- Puerto de la Albarda (4.6 km)