Grazalema ruta circular 4.6km (Lower Endrinal)

Helipad

Grazalema

Vista de Grazalema. View over the village of Grazalema

Angarilla 1

First wire 'gate'

Subiendo por el bosque

Climb up through mixed woodland and clearings.

Riachuelo

Seasonal streams criss-cross the hillside

Peñon Grande 1309m

The iconic rock of 'Peñon Grande' stands at a height of 1309m in the Sierra del Endrinal. This mountain is named after the 'Endrinas' = Blackthorn or Sloe (Prunus spinosa). The same fruit known for flavouring sloe gin is used locally in the liqueur called pacharan. Las endrinas se utilizan en el pueblo en la elaboración de pacahrán casero

Abrevadero

A water trough for livestock with fabulous views of the north side of Peñon Grande

Al este / eastward view

Riachuelo de musgo

In winter mosses covering the rocks in the narrow stream turn a rich green, during the dry summer months they dry out.

Pino tumbado

This leaning pine tree marks the end of the initial climb

Angarilla 2

Second wire 'gate'

Avenida de Pinsapos (Abies pinsapo)

Mixed trees line both sides of this narrow path, you'll walk between the famous Spanish Fir trees (Abies pinsapo). These trees are known as 'living fossils' and are only found in the wild in this southwest corner of Andalusia.

Monet 1446m, y San Cristóbal 1556m

The limestone mountain peaks are Monet 1446m to the left and San Cristóbal 1556m to the right.

Conos del Pinsapo

The seeds of a Spanish Fir tree are held in upright cones which develop through the summer months. These cones disintegrate during the winter, falling away as winged seeds dispersed in the wind.

Baño de barro de los jabalíes/ Wild boar wallow

Vistas a la Sierra del Pinar

Views towards the 'Sierra del Pinar.' The ridgeline holds the highest peak in the Sierra de Grazalema, el Torreón at 1654m 'Pinar' refers to pine trees, as the Abies pinsapo fir tree was thought to be a pine tree until the Swiss botanist Edward Boissier registered the species for the first time in 1835

Angarilla 3

Third wire 'gate'

Cancela a el Merendero. Gate to the 'Merendero' parking area

It is worth a few minutes detour here to visit the mountain pass 'Puerto del Boyar' viewpoint

Merendero aparcamiento/ parking & path to Mirador El Boyar

Mirador Puerto del Boyar 1103m

A fabulous view looking westward across the foothills of the Sierra and toward the Cádiz coastline

Bajada por el sendero 'Los Charcones'

'Los Charcones' footpath takes you downhill beside the Guadalete stream. 'Charcos' are small pools. The name 'Charcones' derives from the deeper pools that are formed in the stream bed and which remain after the winter flow has ceased. As it leaves the mountains, this stream forms a river that flows into the Atlantic Ocean at the Cádiz coast.

Cruzar la carretera / cross the road

Sign for the Sierra de Grazalema with the emblem of a Spanish fir tree and flying Griffon vulture, cross the road here.

La bajada a Grazalema / pavement beside the road to Grazalema

Ruta circular finalizada / Circle complete!

I hope you enjoyed the sierra!!