To the Viewpoints
Puerto Saucillo, and to Puerto Bellina.
Prologue:
The village of Yunquera is situated 50 km to the north of Marbella and 38 km to the east of Ronda.
On a lovely warm February day we decided to go for a hike near Yunquera, and into the Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park. The hike took us through a large forest of Pinsapo, the unique Spanish fir trees which are native to this region of Andalucía.
This area is known for its outstanding beauty, not only for its wonderful views, but also for its biodiversity. Quite often you can see the Iberian Ibex, Cabra Montes, on the rocky slopes of the limestone mountains.
I like to divide the hike into two parts;
1st part is up to the viewpoint Mirador de Saucillo, a 1,9 km walk up on a forest road with an altitude difference of 200 meters. You can enjoy fantastic panoramic views along the way, reaching as far as the bay of Málaga.
2nd part is a circular route of 5 km which takes you along a footpath through a pristine forest. It is a moderate walk and it takes you up to 1467 meters above sea-level. Throughout the whole hike you will experience outstanding natural beauty. We learned about the ancient trade of snow wells which this area is known for.
Note: When walking in this high altitudes of the Sierra de las Nieves be sure to wear appropriate clothing as in the winter months you might find snow in this part of the mountains and often low clouds can appear out of no where and you find yourself surrounded by fog. In this case make sure you find yourself on a proper pathway. Of course take plenty of water with you.
Directions:
- From Marbella A-7 you take the road towards Ojén A-355.
- Drive onto Monda there you turn towards Guaro/Ronda A-366. You bypass the villages of Guaro, Alozaina and Jorox.
- On reaching Yunquera after 47 km and approx. 1 hour drive, you stay on the Ronda road until you reach a roundabout, where you take the 2nd turning towards Sierra de Nieves Nature Park (Parque Natural Siera de las Nieves) and the Sports ground (Complejo Deportivo).
- From the Roundabout you drive for about 5 km on a forest road until you reach a gate which is the entrance to the Nature Park.
- It is from there where we started our hike.
- The Hike is approx. 8,8 km circular route. The starting point is at 1067 meter above sea level and the highest point being approx. 1467 meters.
We stopped at the watchtower of "Torre Vigía" which is near the crossroad.
The former watchtower is emblematic to Yunquera, and to the locals is extensively know as "El Castillo" the castle. It is believed to been built by the Arabs, and during the independence war it was used as a watchtower from where signals were given. The ancient tower has been restored and now serves as an interpretation centre for the Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park.
From here you have fantastic panoramic view across the village of Yunquera and towards the Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park.
We drove as far as to the entrance gate to the nature park, from where we started our hike.
If you don't mind the steep windy forest road, you can of cause, drive up to the Mirador.
It is about 2 km to the viewpoint from the gate, where you find a small car park.
An Information board informing you about the
Sierra de las Nieves nature park.
Sierra de las Nieves was declared a Nature Park in 1989, it is located in the western part of the Málaga Province, bounded to the south by the western Costa del Sol, to the east by the Guadalhorce Valley, to the west by Sierra of Ronda and to the north by the district of Guadalteba.
The highest peak is the mount Torrecilla (1919m).
We turn right at the way sign and follow the forest road uphill to "Puerto Saucillo".
As we walk up we become aware of the magnificent nature area around us.
A view across the ancient forest and towards the Mediterranean coastline.
In the centre of the photo you see the Sierra Blanca mountains and to the left,
the Sierra Alhaurín.
Pinsapo, the Spanish fir is the protagonist of the area.
The Spanish fir, El Pinsapar (Abies pinsapo) is a species of fir found in 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 Málaga, and Sierra de Grazalema in the province of Cádiz at altitudes of 900 - 1,800 meters.
Every so often, we stopped to look at the amazing panoramic views.
From this point we get a glimpse of the village Yunquera, with the mountains of Sierra Cabrilla and Sierra Prieta in the background.
This view is across the Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park with its highest peak being Torrecilla (1919 m).
A view towards the east.
In the centre, the Sierra Blanca mountains and beyond the Mediterranean coast
On the horizon the Bay of Málaga and the Mediterranean Sea.
In winter you are able to see the snow covered mountains of the Sierra Nevada.
The higher we walk the better view we get of the village Yunquera.
Magnificent Spanish fir trees "El Pinsapo" line the road.
Below, the road we came on.
After 2 km we have reached the viewpoint "Mirador de Puerto Saucilla".
Before we carry on with the hike, we admire the panoramic views.
On the right side of the viewpoint a footpath leads into the forest.
See below the description of the route.
Taking the path that goes down to the ravine and selecting the path on the left at all the following crossroads, you will end up again at this same point.
In its beginnings, the road runs through a valley covered by a splendid mass of repopulated resin pines, mixed with Pinsapos, the most precious botanical jewel of the place.
Reaching the crest, about halfway through the journey, you will find a flat and stony area of a great landscape quality, you will have reached Puerto Bellina.
You can take the opportunity to rest and admire the panorama that opens to the north, towards the Cañada de los Hornillos. The massif through which the route runs is entirely limestone in nature and abrupt and light in colour, so also is the impressive gorge that extends to the left of the view, and which welcomes flocks of choughs, swifts and crag martins into its hollows.
Towards the west, through a valley, the return to Puerto Saucillo begins, Pinsapos, pines, hawthorns, junipers and rock-rose, rosemary, and gorse are some of the vegetal species that will accompany you on the way. The fauna that can be found on the route is also rich and varied, highlighting the mountain goat, and the genet and the mongoose amongst the mammals, amongst the birds, partridges and all kinds of song birds, in addition to different raptors, including the Aguilar Real. Appreciate the privilege of enjoying this great natural wealth, and respectfully collaborate in its conservation.
Information taken from the board.
We follow the stony path downwards.
The sign reads, that this path is part of the great walkway around the Sierra de las Nieves,
GR 243 Gran recorrido Sierra de las Nieves.
We follow the arrow and carefully walk on.
In front of us a magnificent old tree.
This tree grew in such an unusual way that it received it's name.
"Candelabro" Chandelier.
This unique Spanish fir is characterized by its appearance rather than its dimensions. The name does not come to it by whim, but by the way in which its branches develop. At a height of 1.90 meters, a large thick branch appears and parallel to the ground that, after two meters of development, grows vertically again developing the characteristic spruce crown. like this branch there are four more that grow successively one after the other. Finally the set forms a curious chandelier.
The candlestick shape is created by the loss of the terminal bud during stressful situations, caused by mechanical or biological means. This causes a side shoot to begin to behave like the missing terminal shoot. An example of mechanical means, are the accumulation of snow in the upper parts of the tree, or browsing by herbivores, and as a biological means the attack of the beetle Crypghalus numidicus, which attacks the trunk and branches of the pinspo.
This Spanish fir is part of a dense mass of conifers, composed of other Spanish firs and repopulated resin pines. Juniper and wild roses stand out in the shrub layer. The slope is not very steep and its orientation is northeast.
Information taken from board.
In this area we find many trees covered with lichen and moss.
As the way sign points out we are 675 meters away from the Mirador, but we follow the path which leads upwards.
Walking through here, it is like a ghost forest.
Nature takes it course here, where old trees are left to rot naturally.
The footpath leads over rocks and moss covered roots.
Time for a snack!
The Mirador is 900 meters from this point.
At a steady pace we carry on upwards.
Fascinating to see, this unique growth of trees.
A view north towards Yunquera.
Soon we are reaching the highest point of the route "Puerto Bellina".
A view along the valley, whence we came from.
This cotton like structure is the nest of the processionary caterpillar.
Now the path leads through a mature pine forest.
A lonely hemp plant amidst the huge trees.
It is 1,7 km back to the Mirador Puerto Saucillo, from this point.
We have reached a clearing and the views across the tree tops are magnificent.
"Puerto Bellina" is the highest point of the trail, approx 1467 meters.
Panoramic views towards the east.
This makes a great place for a picnic.
From now on we follow the path down hill.
Astonishing in what forms, these tree grow.
From here it is 1,8 km to the Mirador.
The spring water looks refreshing.
A view across the Spanish pine forest Pinsapos.
This view takes you towards our starting point.
A very old tree stump.
We follow the arrow towards the right of the path to a snow well.
Once upon a time, snow was collected in this well to store until it turned into ice.
The ice was cut out into blocks and taken as far as Málaga.
The Sierra de las Nieves is known for this kind of industry, at the time before electric cooling was available.
From this point we are able to see the viewpoint Mirador de Luis Ceballos.
We are getting closer the Mirador Puerto Saucillo,
below us, towards the north, the white village of Yunquera.
Walking through this pristine forest showed us how unique this area is and we hope it will exist form many more generation to enjoy.
Map of the hike
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| Click on link: Wikiloc: Puerto Saucillo, Yunquera |
How to get to Yunquera
Related blogs: Yunquera, Mirador de Luis Ceballos+Peñon de los Enamorados
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