Sierra de Crestellina - Cerro de las Chapas

Nice combination of a family-trip (the track in the Sierra de Crestellina as defined by the tourist office of Casares - "easy") with a little bit of off-road climbing (to the Cerro de las Chapas - "Moderate"). Also extended by an extra walk to Mirador del Castillón.
The route starts in Casares and the climb to Puerto de las Viñas is a good warm-up. After the barrier the path called "Crestellina Natural" starts and after about 350 m there is a path at your right hand side where the climb to the Cerro de las Chapas starts. Halfway the climb, when the vegetation stops, there is no real path anymore and you will have to follow milestones to the top, where you can enjoy the view on the Costa del Sol at the south and the Sierra Bermeja at the north and the east. Real die-hards can go to the other peak of the Sierra de Crestellina (which is called Cerro de Crestellina) but since I wasn´t sure whether I could go down there and I didn´t want to do the crest twice I decided to return directly to the Crestellina Natural path. Back on track, and after the path turns southwards you will have a beautiful view on the village of Casares. Not enough views? take the path to the Mirador (only 2x350 meters extra) before going down to the Refugio. From the refugio to the normal road is a tricky descent but absolutely doable.

-Route Milestones: Casares (408 m) - Puerto de las Viñas (640 m)- sendero Crestellina Natural - Cerro de las Chapas (946 m) - sendero Crestellina Natural - Mirador de la Cosalba o del Castillón (602 m) - Refugio Crestellina - Casares

-Realizada el 13/08/2009