PueblosBlancosDiscoveryTours: Jimena de la Frontera

The route of the Miradors

and the Ethnobotanical gardens

"El Risco".

Prologue:

The "Risco" is a high and steep crag. This natural setting is an attractive enclave of the Nature Park Los Alcornocales (Oak trees) which is found adjoining the pueblo of Jimena de la Frontera. The walk is a circular route which takes you to 8 viewpoints that allows you to enjoy an exceptional environment where views of the river Rio Hozgarganta and the Nature Park Los Alcornocales are the predominant features.

The Walk (El Sendero) starts at Calle Llana (north-east of the village) and near a viewpoint with a fountain overlooking the countryside of Campo de Gibraltar towards the east.

The length of the circular route of the viewpoints is about 2 km. We took a longer route which took us along the river Hozgarganta and up to the Cruz Blanco (White Cross), then back to the village.

We rated it low to medium and recommend good walking shoes and bottle of water. Throughout the walk you find many opportunities to have a picnic.

Jimena de la Frontera

the castle in the center and next to it "El Risco"

Directions:

Coming from Marbella on the A7 take the turn off by Guadiaro near Sotogrande towards Castellar de la Frontera A-2100.
When you come to a crossroad turn right towards the village of Jimena de la Frontera A-405.
You bypass the village of Los Angeles and turn towards Ubrique. After 2 km you turn left towards Jimena driving past the Camping of Los Alcornocales. You enter Jimena from the north.
It is about 1 1/2 hour drive to get to the village of Jimena de la Frontera coming from Marbella.
At the north end of Calle LLana, a sign directing you to the entrance to the Ethnobotanical gardens and the Miradores del Risco.

Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the relationship that exist between human and plants.

A basic map of the Park
The elevation you cover is from 40 m to about 200 m above sea-level.

The Viewpoints "Miradores del Risco"

Mirador del Eucaliptal

Mirador de Jimena de la Frontera
Mirador de la Fuente

Mirador de Caracol
Mirador de la Laja del Águila

Mirador de la Grieta

Mirador de Poniente

Mirador de Roma

The trail is well used but easy to follow.

You find yourself walking through a lush forest with
oak trees, wild olive, eucalyptus and many more.

A sign telling you all about the climate and the vegetation of the Oak tree nature park (Los Alcornocales).

A great variety of trees can be found here. Some species like the Quejigo, (Andalucian oak) are only found in the southern peninsula and north Africa.

Rock-rose, (Halimium halimiumfolium)

Also many wild flowers and herbs are found here.

Sage leaved rock-rose, Jara o estepa, (Cistus salfiifolius)

Mirador de la Fuente (Viewpoint of the fountain)

This spot invites you to take a rest and you get an impression of the vastness of the park Los Alcornocales.

To the south you look towards the castle of Jimena and Laja de Águíla.

This view shows you to the north/west.

As far as the eye can see untamed nature.

Incredible!

Far below you see the river Hozgarganta.

As we walk on, Eucalyptus trees line the route.

Eucalyptus trees

This sign tells you about the activity of apiculture (study of beekeeping).

At the viewpoint (Mirador de Jimena de la Frontera)
you are able to see the village from behind.

To the north/west far below you see the

Camping Los Alcornocales.

This view takes you up the river valley.

Jerusalem Sage, Matagallo, (Phlomis purpurea)

Cork oak trees line the path as we walk on.

This sign tells you all about the harvesting of cork and the way it is been

done for centuries - by hand and very often carried on the back of donkeys and mules.

The cork is harvested every 9 - 12 years.

Read more: Cork oak tree, Quercus suber

Look closely and you can see a giant ant pulling along the wing of a moth.

A mighty sandstone rock formation stands right ahead of us.

Some steps leading up to our next Mirador.

This viewpoint is a bit challenging to get to!!

Mirador del Caracol

and not for the faint hearted or people who suffer from vertigo.

Mirador del Caracol

The panoramic views are simply breathtaking!!

and certainly worth the effort.

Eucalyptus forest

Rio Hozgarganta

At the top of Mirador del Caracol

From up here the scenery is just stunning.

Camping los Alcornocales

Castle of Jimena (Cerro del Castillo) with the tower (Torre del Homenaje) and Laja del Águíla to the right.

In the far distance you can make out the massive of Libar in the Sierra de Grazalema Nature Park.

Far below the river valley.

This makes an unique place for a picnic.

Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)

Even in the remotest of places you can find flowering plants.

You will find many benches throughout the park.

This sign telling you all about the cork oak trees.

Read more: Cork oak tree, Quercus suber

As we walk through the cork oak forest we were so very aware of the trails which have been used for centuries by many different civilizations.

Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, Christians and now us.

A welcoming bench to rest, and reflect with your thoughts.

You feel in harmony with nature.

Nearing the Mirador of Laja de la Águila.

At this viewpoint a sign tells you about the history of Jimena's castle.

Read more: A Paradise of History and Nature

Rain and wind has formed this bizarre sandstone rock formation.

Star of Bethlehem, Leche de gallina, (Ornithogalum broteroi)

Deep down below the river Hozgarganta as it follows its course south.

On the left you see "Laja de Águila".

Looking towards the south and on a clear day,
in the distance you are able to see the Rock of Gibraltar.

From here we look up towards the Eucalyptus forest from where we came from.

Eucalyptus forest

As we walked under the massive rock the sound of birds filled the air.
We watched as some swallows were feeding their young under the cliff.

This narrow passage leads you to the viewpoint
Mirador de la Grieta (the Crack).

You find yourself standing next to a huge cliff.
It was awesome!

From here we realized how small we are
and things are put into perspective.

We were very happy to be able to have visited this beautiful spot.

When you follow the river Hozgarganta south it flows along to

El Cao (the Canal) and la Fabrica de bombas (Ammunition factory).
Which you are able to reach from the southern side of Jimena.

Read more: The river Hozgarganta and the old ammunition factory

The Rock of Gibraltar is visible on clear days.

This view takes you to the opposite direction.

We walk back through the la Grieta (the Crack).

And again we find ourselves in the cork oak forest which is terraced.

Remnants of the peeled off bark from a cork oak.

The stone wall makes an ideal place to take five.

Árboles autóctonos (native trees)

Straight ahead we see the Mirador de Poniente.

Mirador de Poniente (viewpoint to the west)

Deep below us, the river Hozgarganta.

as well below, we see the Mirador de Roma.

From up here we were wondering how we would get there.

We found a small overgrown path between the rocks and so we were able make our descent to the Mirador Roma.

You can find Succulent plants and Lichen in the smallest of cracks in the rock.

Succulents take the moisture from the air and retain it in their fleshy leafs.

As we reached the Mirador Roma

A bench offered us a welcoming rest

and a chance to take in the magnificent views.

The river Hozgarganta is a slow moving river and its rock pools are ideal for cooling down in the summer time.

High above you can see the Mirador de Poniente
from whence we came.

This area is of great geological interest.

Mirador de la Grieta

From the Mirador de Roma our hike took us down to the river.

The descent got more difficult as we walked on.

The track was much steeper and it seemed less used and it looked washed out and overgrown.

But we could see it was laid by human hands.

We are getting closer to the rio Hozgarganta.

Towards the right we passed a finca which has made good use of solar power.

As we study the map again and we retrace our steps.

We have come down from a sparse and rocky landscape to a very lush and dense river valley.

Before our journey takes us along the river valley we take a last look up at the route we had followed.

The Mills (los Molinos) of the river Hozgarganta have been used for centuries to grind grain.

As we reached the river near a mill we turn right and walk upstream.

We arrived at a river clearing where a forest road leads across the river.

It is a very idyllic spot and very often you will find horses and cows grazing by the river.

We discover a strange looking plant growing in the undergrowth.

This certainly makes a good spot for a picnic.

Cooling off time for our weary feet.

We take a last look up to "El Risco"

A farm road takes you back up towards the village of
Jimena de la Frontera.

We are nearing our final destination,

the monument of the white cross (Cruz Blanco)

from where a path alongside a tarmac road leads us back to the village from where we have started from.

Some wild flowers which you see growing at the roadside.