PueblosBlancosDiscoveryTours: El Cerro del Tambor

Picnic on Drum Hill

in the Nature Park of Del Estrecho

Prologue:

Drum Hill (El Cerro del Tambor) overlooking the Straits of Gibraltar is one of our favorite picnic spots.
The hike is easy and very scenic. A bird watcher and nature lovers paradise and at certain times of the year you might even catch sight of whales going through the Straits. The whole area between Algeciras and Tarifa is very unspoiled.

Directions:

From Algeciras you head towards Tarifa N-340.
At km 96 at Pelayo (on the side of the coast) you take the service road to the visitors Center Huerta Grande.
You can start your hike from here. It is a very pleasant walk of 6,2 km and it takes roughly 1 h 30 minutes.
But you can drive as far as the windmills on the farm road and park your car there. The hike then takes you only 20 minutes.

For the first few kilometers you walk amongst the cork oaks.

The unspoiled countryside is all around you.

In Spring and Autumn you can see many migrating birds in this area.

This time we noticed many Hoopoes.

The Hoopoe. La Abubilla (Upupa epops)
Read more: Birds of Andalucía

In spring Genista (Broom) adds more color to the countryside.

Genista (Broom)

At times you will have to share the road with cows and their calf.

On the way you pass the farm house and sheds.

Typical for the Cadíz province are the rolling hills and meadows.

Looking ahead the Straits of Gibraltar are visible and on clear days the Moroccan coastal mountains come into view.

Soon the windmills come into view.

Windmills have became a common feature in this area.
To the dismay of many nature lovers.

You have reached the end of the farm road.

From here a foot path leads to the Viewpoint

Mirador El Cerro del Tambor.

Iris

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina)
Read more: Butterflies of Europe

Daisies

In the distance you can see the viewpoint.

To reach the Mirador you have to pass an old military bunker.

Some steps leading down to the Viewpoint.

The mount of Jebel Musá becomes touchingly near.

From here the views are just magnificent.

This place gives you the feeling of being on the edge....

of the world.

The drop to the coast line is about 100 m.

This area is the most southerly part of Europe.

The coast is rugged and the water has many shades of blue.

It is here where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.

The Gibraltar Straits is one of the busiest maritime zones of the world, with up to 300 vessels sailing through daily, not counting the ferries which cross between the harbors on both coasts of the Straits as well as many fishing and pleasure boats.