- DifficultyDifficult
- Length22 km
- Unevenness462 m
- Duration8h
Great route, which allows us to reach the beautiful village of Montejaque, through forests and mountains, of great solitude and beauty. Lost and hidden corners, without roads, ideal for a quiet walk, and with good panoramic views.
We leave the Tambor by the gate of the Río Campobuches (TBLL int-2. Río Campobuches), which is signposted in blue from the hotel. When we leave the farm, we turn right, following the path upstream (1) along the Cañada de las 10 Pilas, towards the Puerto del Viento. To avoid the track that runs along the Cañada de las 10 Pilas, we cross the river Campobuche to take a path that enters the forest, without having to reach the track (2).
In 10 minutes the path crosses the track (3), and continues between the cork oaks, climbing gradually up to the Puerto de los Vientos, joining the track on the final ascent. Here we encounter a beautiful panorama (4) as we face the rocky mountain of Los Lajares, and then descend along the track to Los Álamos. There we turn left, at the base of the crags, and take the track of the Pozo de los Álamos in an easterly direction, towards Montejaque. Two portholes open up (Malaga-Cadiz provincial boundary). A few hundred metres further on, we find another gate, and a second one, when the path crosses the stream, which we have to open and leave closed, and which gives us access to the path that takes us along the rocky mountainside to the pass (5). After passing through another gate, on our left we border a beautiful doline (6).
The path continues to the top of the small pass of Zurraque, and crosses the Zurraque plain, entering the holm oak forest again, until it reaches the El Burfo plain. On the Zurraque plain, we must be careful not to lose the route. We need to cross the plain in width before we reach the farmhouse at the end (7). It is worth taking a detour to see the small farmhouse, a good example of the human settlements that once populated these mountains, and which housed families who lived very independently (bread oven, own cereal crops, livestock etc.). There are large dates drawn with stones in the meadow, marking the place where we must cross the plain. The path winds its way through the young holm oak forest to take us to the Burfo plain.
There the route runs along the length of the plain. We have to pass through the north-western part of the plain, following the well-marked path and then the track that leads to the village of Montejaque. We return via the Cortijo de los Calabazares and the Cañanda Real del Campobuches, following the course of the river upwards, until we reach the Tambor del Llano. On various maps, this area is shown as being covered by a reservoir (8) (Motejaque reservoir). This reservoir has never come into operation, and there is no such sheet of water. Walking upstream, after passing the Calabazares farmhouse, we soon come to a pretty stone bridge (9) with an abundance of oleanders.
Continue along the track until you reach a bend just past a hut on the left (10), where it is possible to leave the track to take a path near the river, which is more beautiful. If you continue along the track when it forks, take the branch to the right, the one closest to the river. This river path joins the track again when we come to the Forcila stream (11). Further up, we reach a small reservoir (12), which holds water all year round, even when the river dries up. From here onwards the path always follows the river, crossing it in a couple of places, or always keeping to the left bank of the river.
In total there are 22 kilometres. You need the whole day, and you can stop in Montejaque, where, depending on your strength, there is always the option of returning by taxi.