Very Good. 12k. 750m (1,000 with extensions). Medium (Hard). 5 hrs (6/7 with extensions). Prickle Factor low – High on the Ruta and Ibex to TV extensions.

This is a lovely walk through interesting scenery, with no difficulties beyond steepness EXCEPT on the above extensions which have a variety of minor difficulties and some very prickly sections.

From the motorway roundabout take the Ojen road for a few hundred metres and the first turning left via a central reservation lane for this purpose (signed Cementario – very appropriate as you will find a cemetary as well as the cement works). Take the small road (not the works road right) badly surfaced in 2005 for about half a k to a parking place at a bridge and Waterfall Restaurant.

You want the country road going up right and can take your car up it for about another half k with parking on both sides when a gate is reached. The main track/path goes straight ahead taking the right fork to avoid a house (Casa del Pino). It then breaks through the rock band steeply and passes an old olive/lemon grove and ruin.

However about 300m from the barrier at the start there is a track right (old metal post and broken marker) which leads pleasantly and less steeply to the ruin taking the path left when signs are reached (see footnote re the track right). I suggest using this in ascent and the main path in descent to vary the route, but you may prefer to do it vice-versa. The path then always more or less following the left bank of the waterless river.

Nearing the Puerto (col) the path turn right away from the river and a faint separate path goes left and back up to the shoulder of the Cruz de Juanar. This path (usual X) has signs at the shoulder indicating Salto del Lobo right. Left goes to Calana (the next valley) and is now largely overgrown so I've not explored very far. A good track will be found from here to the main La Concha - Cruz de Juanar path from which the right fork will lead you to the Cruz summit in 10 minutes. Return to the Puerto and Mirador down the large path on the opposite side.

If you don't take this path soon after the junction you should see an Ibex perched above you – he doesn’t wander far away! This main path soon reaches the main vehicle track and right turn to the Mirador. The Ruta Miguel Alvarez goes on from here to a vantage point above rocks and then down and up to another ridge viewpoint. In the last two years its size to here and just beyond has increased dramatically and although it continues on a little further it seems to fade out - possibly it is still under development, certainly the clearance has been done by rangers and is not just the result of walkers using it.

Back at the Mirador you can go up to the monument and faint tracks lead upwards until they run out at gorse. A path to the TV aerial and 1087 can be seen high up but you need to continue on the main road to a wide vehicle track on the right opposite the buildings which goes in the wrong direction for a while before turning back, becoming a path and leading gently and nicely upwards (take care noting where it goes for your return!).

If you've not taken the previously mentioned path left you can also take the obvious zig-zags up the Cruz but as they’re horribly stoney and usually in full sun I wouldn’t bother unless you don’t intend to do walk 4.

Return down the main track not, I suggest, doing the Cruz the opposite way to that already described as you may never find the descent route.

Footnote: The sign at the junction "Vertfdero"? takes you up a nice, slightly prickly path for a nice short walk with good views eventually reaching a concrete marker where it overlooks an underground reservoir. The main path goes left and may once have gone somewhere but now finishes where you can see signs - which are on top of the huge quarry, don't fall over! Faint signs of a track down right soon peter out as does the scramble up the ridge on the left although it is easy to get to a nice top in 15 mins.

Walk 4
Juanar – La Concha

Simply Superb. 11k. 500m. 6 hours. Hard. Prickle Factor low.

I’ve already praised this walk so will simply explain that I have increased the height gain because that on the map takes no account of the numerous ups and downs.

From Juanar take the main dirt track to the dirt track right past the old Juanar refugio until you left turn at a signpost going up through the woods to reach the ridge. The path left takes you to the Cruz and is used on the return. That right leads round the shoulder of 1212 and to the gentle slope of Salto del Lobo.

You’ll soon find why it doesn’t go up but instead turns right of it descending slightly to take you semi-precariously across the face of Salto’s huge cliff. A fine situation calling for steady nerves. Easy enough but not for those with a fear of heights. The path continues on by-passing the hills on their left until La Concha and its ridges comes into sight and the path turns left and, at a cairn, goes slightly down and across another small rock band (same comments as last time!).

A signpost now indicates you can go down to Istan on a path not shown on the map (see walk 5) but you should carry on along the very tops of all the rocks to reach Concha’s summit. There are usually tracks below the ridge on one side or the other just as there are on Striding Edge – but you wouldn’t want to use these would you?

A hundred metres further along is a slightly lower summit perched on top of the huge cliffs and giving fine views of the Embalse de la Concepcion, Istan and, possibly, Gibralter. A fine spot for lunch.

Return to the signpost which indicates that Juanar is straight up. And so it is, thus avoiding one of the traverses! It is also a good idea to go up the next hill to the cairned summit of El Lastonar as this is probably 1273m and thus the highest point of the Sierra Blanca. Continue straight on down its rounded ridge to rejoin the path just before Salto.

On reaching the path descending to go round Salto’s cliffs you will note a faint track (X) leading straight on. Take this red rag to a bull to reach the ledged cliffs only a few metres right of its vertical edge. The earth shows obvious signs of people passing and although the first two ledges are quite high up the holds are huge and the scrambling is easy. Once on them they are so wide that there is no fear of falling. The rest of the scramble is simple. There are one or two obvious lines with earth/vegetation markings confirming the way, and, all too soon, a marker proclaiming you’re on Salto del Lobo is reached.

This is for some odd reason well below the summit and you can walk on top of the gently rising summit ridge on a very minor Striding Edge in a fabulous location – the fall right is a few inches but that off left is horrendous – so, please, don’t! Straight on to rejoin the path – a minor track can be found. Slightly prickly!

I don’t recommend going over the next hill (1212) as its very prickly (see Walk 5) so its straight on and up to the summit of Cruz de Juanar – it takes under 15 minutes from where it leaves your ascent route. The cross is a magnificent viewpoint of the area, Marbella and the Med so a photo break and second lunch are indicated. There used to be a summit book but that went a couple of years ago.

You will find the descent zig-zags looking over towards the Puerto de Marbella in the east. Going down them is the worst part of the day. After that its left down the main dirt track back to your car.