of the Parque Natural de la Breña. Crossing a cattle grid the track arcs right then merges with a broader track which, running on in a westerly direction, reaches a junction with tarmac road. Here, turning right and crossing another cattle grid, you reach another junction. Here turn left then after 125m cut right at a horse-riding sign for Vejer de la Frontera along a broad track which climbs back towards Vejer.
Leaving the last village houses you reach a fork. Here angling right continue along a narrower track which runs just a few metres to the right of the one you’ve just left. After running back towards the broader track it once more angles right before meeting it once again opposite the gates of Los Altos de Paternilla. Continue along the main track which soon passes between the two lines of wind turbines before you reach the sign you passed earlier in the walk at 50min for El Bosque y Matorral Mediterráneo (2hr 50min).
From here retrace your footsteps back past the last of the wind turbines to reach a group of buildings and a Stop sign. From here you could shorten the walk by returning to Vejer via the same route you followed earlier in the day.
At the Stop sign angle hard left down a broad track. Views open out towards the Atlantic and Conil as you descend past a riding school then a set of gates marked Buena Vista. The track, now with a concreted surface, arcs right then hard back to the left towards a 20km speed limit sign. Here cut right away from the tarmac down a dirt track. Reaching a brown wooden gate follow the track as it angles right then climbs past an ochre-coloured house. After descending, and angling right, the track loops once more left and resumes its former course as it cuts through a thick stand of bamboo.
Windmill to the west of Vejer
Reaching the road that leads from Vejer to Los Caños de Meca, A2230, angle right and follow the road for 350m to reach the roundabout next to Venta Los Olivos. Here, bearing right and passing just right of the restaurant, cross a cattle grid and continue up a farm track that climbs steeply towards Vejer. Angling left past a No Entry sign the track becomes cobbled before it narrows, now more overgrown, before it crosses a wooden footbridge.
Reaching a restored windmill the path levels then angles right to reach the first houses of Vejer where, following a tarmac road, you descend to a junction. Here bear right past a stone arch then follow the road as it arcs left in the direction of a sign marking Centro Ciudad, Zona Monumental. Passing a line of restaurants continue along Calle Corredera then cut right to return to the Plaza de España (5hr).
Spring flowers on the return leg to Vejer
WALK 4
Los Caños de Meca circuit
| Start/finish | Outside Hotel Madreselva in Los Caños de Meca |
| Distance | 18km |
| Ascent/descent | 315m |
| Grade | Medium/Difficult |
| Time | 5hr |
| Refreshments | None en route |
This longish circuit gives you the chance to sample the twin natural habitats that make the Parque Natural de la Breña such a special treat, introducing you to its vast forest of stone pines as well as to the spectacular cliffs which rise 100m above one of the best beaches in Andalucía. The walk begins with a section of forest walking as you follow sandy paths and tracks towards San Ambrosio. Here you can make a detour up to the Torre del Tajo.
After heading on towards Barbate via a broad forestry track you cut south through the stone pines to reach the A2233. Here you have a choice between following a sandy gully to reach the beginning of the cliff path that leads up to the Torre del Tajo – this adds an extra kilometre or so to the walk – or cutting straight through the forest to the Torre.
I’ve graded the walk Medium/Difficult not so much for the distance covered but rather because of the additional effort required when walking on the sandy paths that cut through the Breña forest.
The walk begins in Los Caños de Meca outside Hotel Madreselva which you pass as you head east through the village on the A2233. From here head east past a row of palm trees. Reaching a sign for Barbate/San Ambrosio turn left. The road soon arcs left. Just beyond the km14 sign cut left along a sandy track past a sign Monte Dunas de Barbate. After running west the road arcs right as it passes beneath the Torre de la Meca. Reaching a three-way junction bear right at a sign Prohido Arrojar Basuras passing between two rusting metal posts. The track climbs gently as it runs eastwards: views open out above the treetops. Shortly beyond the top of the rise you pass a sign marking the path up to the Torre de la Meca (45min).
To climb up and down to the tower, waymarked with wooden posts with white arrows, add 40 minutes to these timings and 2 kilometres to the distance.
Just beyond the sign you reach a fork. Heading straight ahead the track passes by several different species of eucalyptus trees: about a dozen are marked with their Latin names. Some 35m before reaching a metal gate and the Majadales del Sol picnic area cut hard left along a sandy track. Continue parallel to the enclosure fence then, reaching a fire break, cut left. Follow the fire break north for 300m then angle right along a narrow path that shortly passes a signboard about Piñares Costeras (1hr 30min) then reaches the edge of the El Jarillo picnic area. Here head straight on between a line of low white marker posts.
Passing stone tables and benches towards a recycling bin you reach a tarmac road. Cutting left along to the road you cross a cattle grid then after some 650m reach a junction where a sign points left for San Ambrosio. Ignoring the sign carry on along the track which arcs right, passes a sign prohibiting access to lorries, then reaches a fork (1hr 50min).
Keep right along the main track (ignoring a sign left for Palomar de la Breña) which you’ll now follow without bifurcating for a little over 2km. At first you follow a line of pylons but these soon angle away to the left. Reaching a junction by an information board marked El Pinar de Pinos Piñoneros (2hr 20min) turn right away from the main track. Passing a line of animal pens the track runs on through the pines before crossing a cattle grid then reaching the A2233.
Stone pine forest (Pinus pinea) in La Breña
Stone pines (Pinus pinea) have been cultivated for their edible pine nuts for at least 6000 years and have been extensively used as ornamental trees in gardens and parks since being popularised at the time of the Italian Renaissance. The trees of La Breña were planted in the 19th century as a means of fixing the coastal dune system which suffered constant transformation due to the fierce levante winds.
Cross the road, climb through a stile, then cut left along a broad sandy track parallel to the road. After 300m the track angles hard right. After 50m you reach a junction. To shorten the walk by a kilometre head straight ahead for 70m then angle right along a broad path. Follow marker posts through the forest past two signboards marked Nos Miran and Aromas del Bosque to the Torre del Tajo. If you wish to walk a longer section of the cliff path turn left and continue parallel to the A2233.
Just as the track angles back towards the road you reach a cattle grid. Here angle 45 degrees to the right then after 75m cut right through
