PueblosBlancosDiscoveryTours: Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja

Pico los Reales

Prologue:

We have chosen a clear autumn day to take a drive up to Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja. (It is recommended to do this trip on a clear day for the stunning views). From the recreation park Salvador Guerreo it is a 4 km circular walk to the top, close to the Tv/radio antennas.

Sierra Bermeja is located in the south west part of Malaga province, between Estepona on the coast and Casares in land to the west and the Genal Valley to the north. The Sierra Bermeja is a mountain range with an average height of 1000 m (its highest point being 1500 m), covering 1236 ha. It is an area that has undergone major volcanic activity; the rocks are rich in the olivine mineral. Rainwater has oxidized the iron and the magnesium present in the rocks and the iron oxide has coloured the rock reddish-ginger, a hue that gives the sierra its name.

The massif of the Sierra Bermeja is the second greatest outcrop of plutonic rock in the world. Because of its peridotite nature which refers to its peculiar shade of red, this particular lithology allows only plants species of a very specialized type of substrates to grow, like the black pine (Pino Negro) and the unique Spanish fir (Abies Pinsapo) and other endemic species.

Directions:

From Marbella, take the motorway AP-7 in direction Algeciras.
At Estepona take the 2nd exit (155) towards the town center.
You drive down Av. Juan Carlos and turn left at the 2nd roundabout into Av. Andalucía, drive on until you can see the sign Jubrique and Genalguacil on the left. (It's easy to miss!!)
Follow this road Av. Los Reales MA-8301.
About 30 min., 17 km, after leaving Estepona and at Puerto de las Peñas Blancas you reach a crossroad (Jubrique/Genalguacil).
You turn left onto a forest road and after 2 km you reach Salvador Guerrero recreation park.
The Hike is a moderate 4 km circular route with 200 m elevation to the peak Pico de los Reales 1450 m.

Just 5 minutes from Estepona you come across the first viewpoint (Mirador) where you are able to get some impressions of the countryside. From here you look towards the south/west and along the coast to the Rock of Gibraltar.

Half way up the windy road, you find Mirador de Ciclistas (cyclist viewpoint). This road is loved by cyclists and on occasions the professional cycle tours come this way.

As you reach the crossroads Puerto Peñas Blancas 975 meters, you can leave the car here, or as we did, turn left onto the forest road and towards Los Reales. Take note that this road is narrow and one-line mainly.

We passed the Refugio Augustin Lozano and parked at the recreation/picnic park Salvador Guerrero.

This is where we started our hike.

A 380 m long footpath leads you towards the viewpoint
Mirador Salvador Guerrero.

It is an easy and panoramic walk to the viewpoint. Don't forget to take your binoculars along, because very often you are able to watch birds of prey (Short-toed snake eagle, Booted eagle, Goshawk, Griffon vulture) as they sail the winds. You see them fly from the direction of the Sierra Crestellina by the village of Casares.

It is a casual walk with stunning views all along the way.

Far below we see the road we came on and the town of Estepona.

You can see the Mirador at the outermost point of the ridge.

The views from here reach as far as the bay of Marbella to the east until Campo de Gibraltar to the south/west.

And on very clear days you are easily able to see the African coast.

The panoramic views are just amazing.

It is an ideal place to rest and enjoy.

The view takes you to the north and towards the Nature Park of Sierra de las Nieves with it highest peak of Torrecilla (1919 m). We just can make out the San Pedro/Ronda Road as it winds along the side of the mountain.

We retrace our steps until signs direct you to the peak of Los Reales (1500m) which will be a difference in altitude of 200 m from the Mirador.

From here a path leads you through very rocky terrain.

The plant life is varied.
You are able to find many herbal bushes here like Lavender, Rosemarie, wild Sage, Genistae and others.

Autumn Crocus, Narciso de otoño (Colchicum autumnale)

We walk steady uphill.

A marked pole tells you that you are on the right track.

The path leads onto the other side of a border fence.
The sign tells you to close the gate again after you .

As we walk along the fence,

we look down towards the coastal areas of

Casares, Torre Guadiaro and Sotogrande and across the

Campo de Gibraltar.

The south/west side of the Sierra Bermeja is very rocky and virtually tree less.

As we make our way through the rocks we notice some stones with white and green paint which also indicate the route to take.

The path takes you back through the fence and towards the forest.

The European black pine (Pino negro) is a variable species of pine to be found across the southern Mediterranean, from Spain in the west, to the Anatolian peninsula of Turkey in the east, also including Corsica, Cyprus the Crimea and the high mountains of the Maghreb Morocco North Africa.

It is an airy forest here, and therefor young trees have a good chance to grow.

Read more: Arbolapp:Black pine, Pinos negral

After about 700 m the path joins a cement service road which we follow to the top.

We looked to our right and noticed a group of mountain goats
(Cabras del Monte).

They looked very relaxed and not perturbed at all, and as it was a week day and hardly any hikers on the road, we were able to watch them for ages.

The group was just crossing the road in front of us.

The ram closely following the female.

The Iberian Ibex (Cabra del Monte) is normally a very shy animal but during the rutting season November/December, you might be lucky to see them close up because they seem to lose their inhibitions.

Read more: Wikipedia Spanish Ibex

The Spanish Ibex (Cabra del Monte) are strong mountainous animals characterized by their large and flexible hooves and short legs. These physical adaptations allow them to be able to run and leap on bare, rocky, rough and steep slopes. They are usually found above 1000 m altitude and are the symbol of the Serrania de Ronda (Sierra Blanca, Sierra de las Nieves Sierra de Grazalema).

And here we have, the famous and unique Spanish fir (Pinsapo).

It is an evergreen tree which can grow to a height of 30 meters and live to 200 years.

It is a very attractive tree and its branches are used in festivals.

The Spanish fir Pinsapo (Abies pinsapo) is a species of fir native to southern Spain and northern Morocco. Related to other species of Mediterranean firs, it is considered the Andalusian National Tree, and is native to the Andalusian mountains. It appears in the Sierra de las Nieves by Ronda and Sierra Bermeja in the province of Malaga, and also the Sierra de Grazalema in the province of Cádiz at altitudes of 900 - 1,800 meters.

Read more: Spanish fir or Spanish silver spruce (Apies pinsapo)

You find a footpath at the end of the service road leading to the highest point of Pico Reales.

This concrete pole indicates the highest point (1450 m).

This information board welcomes you to this extraordinarily beautiful protected natural area of Pico Reales and Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja Nature Park.

A perfect spot to get a 360º view.

Just terrific!!

Estepona and the Costa del Sol

On this day we were a bit unfortunate, it was hazy, but on a very clear day you can see as far as Malaga bay from here.

The view towards the east.

To the west you can look almost as far as the Bay of Barbate on the Atlantic coast, Cadiz province.

The distant villages are like white specks amid the green countryside.

This view takes you across to the Sierra Crestellina and towards Campo de Gibraltar and beyond to the Nature Park of Los Alcornocales.

This view takes you across the Lower Genal Valley and to the Nature Park of Sierra Grazalema.

Overlooking the Pinsapo forest.

We walked back on the service road and then followed the electric pylons to reach the car park.

Deep down you see the town of Estepona.

Remark: It is certainly worth a drive up to Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja to get away from the coast and to take in the marvelous views. This trip can be done any time of year but remember to take water with you.

How to get to Los Reales: