Improve your stability and lessen wear and tear on your joints by using walking poles.
Start and Finish: Casares Village
Grade: Low if you walk from Casares to the mirador and then return the way you came, total distance 10 Kms. However if you do the circuitous route of 8 km. the last section includes a precipitous track into the valley bottom and should really only be attempted if you have stout walking boots.
The Sierra Crestillina walk was one of the first walks to be properly signposted by the Junta de Andalucia and takes you up onto the Sierra Crestillina from where there are are marvellous views of Casares village, the wind farm at Manilva, the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and Africa on a clear day.
Wildlife: It is unlikely that you will do the whole walk without seeing Griffon Vultures of which there is a healthy population. You may also spot Bonelli's eagles and Peregrine falcons along with many other species too numerous to mention. You will probably also see signs of where the wild boar have been digging.
Essential Equipment: Boots for the round trip, walking shoes would be suitable if you follow the there and back route. Food and water.
How to get There: Take the A377 off the N340 to Casares on arriving at the village look for Restaurante Laura and park somewhere nearby, don't go down into the village itself. In front of the restaurant on the right hand side you will see a steep tarmac track which has a sign at the bottom detailing the Sierra Crestillina walk. Take this track. The first kilometre is tarmac. You will go passed the fuente on your right and then up a steep hill at the top of which the tarmac ends. You are now on an old smugglers track used to take contraband from the coast into the interior via La Puerta de las Vinas.
Keep on this track for about 3.5 kilometres after which it splits and you are now overlooking the Valley of the River Genal and opposite, on the north side of the valley, Benarraba and Algatocin. Closer is the village of Genalgaucil on the south side of the valley. The land below is part of the Monte del Duke estate, given to the family by Franco and now owned by an Italian family. It still has its own private police force.
Bear to the left and continue straight on until you come to a green barrier, go through this. You are now entering the Crestillina side of the valley. Continue along the good track along which you will probably have already noticed the wooden poles with yellow arrows pointing the way. Keep on this path without taking any of the others off to the right.
As you emerge form the woods the track descends slowly and you can see the crags of the Crestillina above you to the right. To the left, across the valley you will be able to see the track you have just followed up from Casares.
At the end of the ridge is a Junta signpost pointing right, 300 metres to a Mirador. It is at this point that you should have boots to carry on or after admiring the view return the way you came. It is worth the small diversion to go to the Mirador and take in the excellent views. Then retrace your steps to the signpost, turn right and descend to the refugio. The path goes on past these buildings and descends very steeply to the valley bottom.
At the bottom you will come out onto a broad track where you turn left and then immediately right and shortly afterwards you will emerge onto the main Casares road. Turn left and walk up the hill to where you left your car, you can always have a drink in Laura's first!!
